1892 Boston (Bostons, Beaneaters)
Left & Center: These renderings are based on visual documentation for uniform style only. An educated guess is made on uniform color based on a documentation from a related year and also on minor details that may be missing or difficult to determine.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Right: This rendering is based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated April 1892 to mid-June 1892. Photo year determined by appearance of players Kelly and Clarkson in combination with player Stivetts. 1892 was the last year in Boston for Clarkson and Kelly, and the first year for Stivetts. Date range of April 1892 to mid-June 1892 determined by appearance of player Stovey, who was released by the team on June 20, 1892. Presumably, the players wore the traditional Boston uniform in this photo: white shirt and pants with red lettering, belt and stockings. The cap was white with a rounded crown. The lace ties were white, however four players wore red lace ties. The lettering on the uniform of player Kelly, middle row, was noticably thicker than that worn by the remainder of the team. This thicker lettering matched that on the 1891 team uniform. Kelly joined the Boston NL team on August 25, 1891 and he may have worn his 1891 uniform in this 1892 photo. At least seven of the fifteen players wore short sleeves with a white undershirt or undersweater. One of these players wore a dark-colored undershirt, presumably red. One player in the photo wore three-quarter length sleeves with a white undershirt. Six players wore their collars turned up. At least two players in this photo wore pants with quilted padding. At least two players wore low-cut shoes. One player, back row second from right, tucked his glove into the front of his pants.
Top row, from left: J Stivetts (92-98), C Ganzel (89-97), K Nichols (90-01), H Stovey (Bos PL 90, NL 91, 92, Bro NL 92) and C Bennett (89-93). Middle, seated: H Staley (91-94), H Long (90-02), M Kelly (NL 87-89, 91, 92, PL 90, AA 91), (F Selee mgr 90-01), B Nash (NL 85-89, 91-95, PL 90), T Tucker (90-97), J Quinn (NL 88, 89, 91, 92, PL 90) and J Clarkson (Bos NL 88-92, Cle NL 92). Front, on ground: T McCarthy (UA 84, NL 85, 92-95), B Lowe (90-01) and H Duffy (AA 91, NL 92-00). Player IDs from a reprint of this photo published in the Boston Sunday Post, December 11, 1927. Years with team and transaction info on Stovey and Kelly from baseball-reference.com. Image scans of team photo and 1927 newspaper reprint of photo from Mark Fimoff, SABR 19th-century Pictorial Committee.
Dated April 1892 to mid-June 1892. Detail view of photo A. Detail view shows lettering across shirt and two different colors of lace ties, white on left and red on right.
Dated April 1892 to mid-June 1892. Another detail view of photo A. Detail view shows rounded crown on cap and rounded corners on shirt collar.
Photo B
Dated 1892. The portraits in this collage were made during the years 1888 to 1890. None were made after 1890. See the 1891 Boston (NL) page for more on these portraits. Image scan and issue date from George V. Tuohey, A History of the Boston Base Ball Club (c1897).
Photo C
Dated April 8, 1892. This drawing was published in a newspaper on this date and depicted the Boston team, as the caption stated, “going on the field” to warm-up before an exhibition game with Yale on April 7. The drawing also captured the team’s striped sweaters, “of red and black.” Image from the Boston Globe, April 8, 1892.
Photo D
Dated March 23, 1892, drawing of T McCarthy (92-95). This drawing was published in a newspaper on this day and depicted the player wearing a cap with vertical stripes. As McCarthy was new to the Boston team in 1892, it is likely this drawing was not a representation of the 1892 Boston cap, and more likely was based on a photograph from a previous team and year. The cap was very similar to the St. Louis Browns cap of 1885-1886. Indeed, McCarthy played for St. Louis between 1888 and 1891, however not in the years when the team wore this style of cap. Image and player ID from the Boston Globe, March 23, 1892. Year with team from baseball-reference.com.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1892: “The Boston club will wear out-of-town uniforms of black and crimson, and has adopted the ‘McGunnigle’ shoe.” From the Boston Herald, February 21, 1892. Note that newspaper reports from March and April 1892 suggested the black road uniform was not produced. Regarding the McGunnigle shoe, another newspaper report from February 1892 described it as an item sold by Bill McGunnigle, former Brooklyn and Pittsburgh manager. The report stated McGunnigle was to make “a big sale from it as he has contracts with Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Harvard, Yale and Brown nines” and that “extensive improvements” had been made to the shoe. From The Sporting Life, February 27, 1892. Herald and Sporting Life research from John Thorn. In the Boston Globe on April 22, 1892, G. W. Simmons & Co., Boston, ran and ad that listed “The McGunnigle Ball Shoe” for sale at $6.00.
February 1892: “The color of the Bostons uniforms this year will be black. Boston base ball patrons will be pleased to learn, however, that the black uniforms shall be worn away from home.” From the Oswego (NY) Daily Palladium, February 23, 1892. Note that newspaper reports from March and April 1892 suggested the black road uniform was not produced.
March 1892: “Manager Selee has decided on a uniform of black for the Boston champions while playing away from home next season [in 1892].” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 10, 1892.
March 1892: “I learn that Selee’s order for the black uniforms has been countermanded and not through his own wishes. —Jacob C. Morse.” From The Sporting Life, March 12, 1892.
April 7, 1892, Boston v. Yale, at Boston, exhibition game: “There were the red-stockinged players dashing from point to point.” From the Boston Globe, April 8, 1892.
April 7, 1892, Boston v. Yale, at Boston, exhibition game: “Boston, April 12— […] The Bostons were given a cordial welcome as they appeared on the field. […] I cannot say that I liked the uniforms at all. Manager Selee’s suggestion of black would have been far better. The Boston’s came out with scarlet stockings (an ugly color, too) and wore those detestable convict striped sweaters of red and black. […] —Jacob C. Morse.” From The Sporting Life, April 16, 1892. Game date from article, which may also imply that Boston wore a road uniform for this game.
April 1892: “[Boston] Manager Selee has sent each one of his men the following: From this date until the close of the season of 1892, I shall expect you to observe the following rules: […] I positively forbid smoking in uniform at any time.” From the Boston Globe, April 14, 1892.
April 27, 1892, Boston v. Washington, at Washington: “[Washington manager] Arthur Irwin was on the coaching line in uniform, and with [Mike] Kelly, who was doing the same act for Boston, kept the players of both teams on the move.” From the Boston Globe, April 28, 1892.
May 14, 1892, Boston v. Brooklyn, at Boston, South End Grounds: “The Bostons looked natural once more as they appeared in their white suits and red stockings, while the men from across the big bridge looked quite formidable in their gray travelling uniforms.” From the Boston Globe, May 15, 1892.
May 1892: “[Boston] Manager Selee had the members of his champion team at the gents’ furnishing department of Jordan, Marsh & Co., yesterday [May 24 in Boston] where their measure was taken for a new uniform, consisting of light blue caps, belts and stockings, white pants and shirts with an English block letter “B” on the breast, and white Norfolk jackets. The Bostons will wear this uniform at their opening games away from home and when Mr. Anson presents his colts [of Chicago] at the South End grounds.” From the Boston Globe, May 25, 1892.
May 1892: “The Bostons are to have new traveling uniforms, consisting of white shirts and trousers, Norfolk jackets, peacock blue caps, blue silk stockings and blue belts. Instead of the word ‘Boston’ the letter ‘B’ will be worked across the breast.” From the Pittsburgh Dispatch, May 27, 1892. Research from Don Stokes.
June 11, 1892, Boston v. Cincinnati, at Boston, South End grounds: “The Bostons appeared in their new suits yesterday [June 11], white shirts and pants with blue stockings, belts and caps. This uniform may do for the road, but give us the old Boston Red Stockings for the South End grounds.” From the Boston Globe, June 12, 1892.
June 17, 1892, Boston v. Philadelphia, at Boston: “The home team does not look natural in blue stockings. Give us red.” From the Boston Globe, June 18, 1892.
June 18, 1892, Boston v. Washington, at Boston, at South End grounds: “The Boston team have resumed their old uniform of white, and red stockings. The Washington boys looked well in light blue uniforms.” From the Boston Daily Globe, June 18, 1892. The Globe headline read, “Gone Back to the Red. Boston Ball Players Doffed their Blue Hose.” While wearing blue stockings at home, Boston had 2 wins and 4 losses.
July 1892: “The Bostons recently changed from the time honored red stockings to blue. No wonder they struck a streak of bad luck.” From the Havana (NY) Journal, July 9, 1892.
July 11, 1892, Boston v. Chicago, at Chicago: “Boston […] wore beards and red noses, and dressed themselves in comedic costumes. ‘During the morning,’ wrote the Boston Post, ‘they cleared out several masquerade costume shops and appeared on the field in rigs that were a cross between a Salvation Army captain outfit and a penitentiary suit. Besides they had whiskers.’ Actor Eddie Foy, a star in vaudeville theaters at the time, assisted the players with their makeup. […] Boston ‘appeared in impossible costumes,’ wrote the Boston Journal. ‘Kelly, Duffy, and McCarthy wearing false whiskers, and the entire team being clothed in some check suits of the loudest pattern.’ The Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean said, ‘the players’ faces were hidden behind hideous whiskers and preposterous mustachios, surmounted by caps of every conceivable shape and device.’ A comment from the press box likened their uniforms to Coney Island bathing suits. […] The Chicago Tribune found no humor in these antics, reporting that the Beaneaters ‘appeared in the roles of buffoons,’ with ‘costumes being ridiculous and absurd.’ […] The Boston Globe, however, was more complimentary to their team dressed as ‘antiques and horribles’ with Kelly being ‘made up as an English dude.’” From Bob Lemoine, SABR Games Project: July 11, 1892: A close victory for Beaneaters, but still a laugher, retrieved March 17, 2023, and citing a report on whiskers, Eddie Foy, checked suits and English dude from the Boston Post, July 12, 1892, and a report on caps and buffoons from the Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean, July 12, 1892. Lemoine added that “Boston had already clinched the pennant for the first half [of the 1892 split season] and had little to play for on July 11 at Chicago” and that “it was no surprise the comedic Kelly came up with the plan.”
Team genealogy: Boston 1871-1953
Boston was formed to enter the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Boston played in the NA in every year of the league’s existence and moved to the National League (NL) upon its start in 1876. Boston played in the NL from 1876 to 1953 and moved to Milwaukee for the 1954 NL season. Information from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com and from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: September 24, 2017
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, John Thorn, Mark Fimoff,