Uniform Rules

Below is a list of rules adopted by professional baseball pertaining to the uniform. Items are listed in chronological order, covering the years 1876 to 1900. If you have a transcript of a rule not chronicled here, please send it to Threads.

January 1877, National League — player to pay for uniform and upkeep.
“We [the National League] hereby notify all players now under contract, or that may hereafter contract with either club subscribing hereto, that each player must pay thirty dollars ($30) for the uniform furnished him by the club for the season of 1877, and must, at his own expense, keep the same clean and in good repair.” From the New York Clipper, January 27, 1877. This agreement of “Special League Rules” was signed by officers of the Chicago, Cincinnati, Louisville, Boston, Hartford and St. Louis teams.

December 1877, National League — player to pay for uniform and upkeep.
“The Special Club Rules section [of the agreement] stipulated that all players had to pay $30 for the uniform furnished them, and had to keep the uniform clean and in good repair.” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), citing the Milwaukee Sentinel, December 10, 1877. Research from Dennis Pajot.

February 1880, National Association — player to pay for uniform expenses.
“The Albany and National [Washington] clubs signed an agreement adopting the NL rule of deducting $30 from the salary of players to defray expenses for uniforms.” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), citing the New York Clipper, February 28, 1880. Research from Dennis Pajot.

December 1881, National League — color-coded uniforms by position.
“[The adopted agreement] is an entirely new departure in the way of uniforming, in which the vari-colored cap system of the Chicago Club, adopted for giving players an individuality, is enlarged, and the club uniform restricted to the mere item of stockings. The new system uniforms by position.” From the Detroit Free Press, December 11, 1881.

June 1882, National League — repeal of color-coded uniforms.
“The [National] league has voted unanimously to allow each club to select its own colors and material for uniforms for the remainder of the season. Most of them will retain the white pants, and adopt an inexpensive white or gray shirt, much lighter in weight than the resent cumbersome garments. The new uniform was a failure in point of appearance, and should never have been adopted.” From the Chicago Tribune, June 18, 1882. Research from Ed Morton.

February 1883, St. Louis, American Association — players on team to appear in full uniform.
“Last year [1882] the [St. Louis] team never came upon the field in full uniform, but this season [1883] they will be obliged to appear always in full dress, and a heavy penalty will follow the infringement of this rule.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, February 19, 1883.

April 1883, Athletic, American Association — no flirting by players in uniform.
“Below we give a correct reprint of the Athletic Club Rules for the season of 1883. They are taken from a printed copy, one of which is given to each player. [Item] VIII. Every player is required to respect the uniform of the club and shall see to it that said uniform be not disgraced. No member of the team, while dressed in said uniform, shall be permitted to flirt with or ‘mash’ any female or lady.” From The Sporting Life, April 29, 1883.

1885, National League — Uniforms not permitted in stands.
“Playing Rules of the National League […] Rule 18. Players in uniform shall not be permitted to seat themselves amongst the spectators.” From the Spalding’s Official Base Ball Guide, 1885.

April 1886, American Association — ten players required in uniform, spiked shoes allowed.
“[American] Association rules now provided for having ten men in uniform at all times during a game. Spiked shoes, allowed in the Association, were prohibited in the [National] League so Arlie Latham had to change shoes during a Browns-Maroon game.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 222.

April 1887, American Association — extra players in uniform on stand-by
“Clubs must have extra men on the ground in uniform within easy call, so as to prevent delay, and no player not thus in uniform shall be allowed to substitute.” From the Louisville Courier-Journal, April 5, 1887.

1889, National League — non-matching uniforms not allowed.
“A player in a uniform different from his teammates will not be allowed on the field (Rule 19).” From Base Ball’s 19th-century “Winter” Meetings, 1857-1900,(SABR, 2018).

November 1889, National League — distinctive stocking color for each team.
“Each club would be required to wear a distinctive color uniform for the 1890 season, and [National League executive Nick] Young was charged with selecting the colors for each club.” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), no citation. Research from John Bauer.

December 1889, National and Players’ Leagues — distinctive stocking color for each team.
“The rule adopted by both the National and Players’ League, fixing a distinctive uniform for each club, was a step in the right direction. The Cincinnati club has applied to [National League executive] Nick Young for permission to wear the old red stockings, and is to be incorporated as the Cincinnati Red Stocking Club.” From the Buffalo Courier, late December 1889. Exact date not included in newspaper scan. Note that Cincinnati had moved to the NL after the 1889 season and that the Boston NL club already had claim to the color red.

August 1890, Players’ League — home team to wear white.
“While in New York, Mike Kelly [of Boston, PL] made a kick against the Giants [of New York, PL] wearing their black road uniforms, claiming that according to the rule they should appear in white. [New York’s manager] Ewing says that the resolution by the Players’ League regarding uniforms does not make it compulsory for any club to confine itself […] at home or abroad.” From The Sporting Life, August 30, 1890. Boston played at New York on August 16, 19 & 20, 1890.

February 1891, American Association — white at home, black on the road.
“It was decided [at a meeting of the American Association] to have the players wear white uniforms while at home and black while abroad.” From the Baltimore Sun, February 19, 1891.

April 1891, American Association — home team to wear white.
“In the Boston game, the home club will wear its new white uniform with maroon stockings. The [American] Association teams are required this year to wear white suits on their own grounds and some color abroad. The object of the new rule is to enable spectators easily to distinguish the local and visiting players.” From the Baltimore Sun, April 2, 1891. Research from Don Stokes.

April 1891, American Association — player to pay for uniform and upkeep.
“Under the rules of the American Association of Base Ball Clubs [the player] shall at the beginning of his term of employment provide himself, at his own cost and expense, with a uniform to be selected and designated by [the team] consisting of the following articles, viz.: Two shirts, two pairs of pants, two belts, two pairs of stockings, two pairs of shoes (if needed) with spikes, two caps, one jacket, one necktie. All of which during the entire term of his employment he is to keep in thorough repair and replenish as required at his own expense; and he agrees to appear on the field at the beginning of each game in which he is to play in an entirely el-an [i.e., lively] uniform, all cleaning of the same to be paid for by himself.” From The Sporting Life, April 13, 1891.

March 1892, Western Association — players not responsible for purchasing uniforms.
“The Western association agreed to do away with […] compelling players to purchase their own uniforms.” From the Minneapolis Times, March 3, 1892.

April 1893, Buffalo, Eastern League — players must keep uniforms clean at their expense and keep plates on shoes securely fastened.
“Manager Chapman has arranged a code of rules for the Bisons and they are as follows: Each player must keep his uniform clean and neat and in good repair at his own expense, and must see that the plates on his shoes are securely fastened.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 16, 1893.

August 1897, National League — all players required to be in uniform.
August 30, 1897, Chicago v. New York at New York: “Even though the visitors [Chicago] won, they made life miserable for Umpire [Bob] Emslie, kicking [i.e., arguing] over everything […] until [Chicago players] Everitt, Decker and Anson were each fined, and in the ninth inning the latter was put out of the game [while batting]. Anson had no extra players on hand in uniform, as the rules require. After waiting the limit for the player who should have taken Anson’s place to appear Emslie declared him out. […] When the visitors took the field, [Chicago pitcher, Danny] Friend, who was in citizen’s clothes, went to left field and then [New York manager] Joyce made a kick, as the rules require all players to be in uniform. […] As Joyce was still wrangling with Umpire Emslie, the latter called the game on account of darkness.” From the New York Clipper, September 4, 1897. Chicago won the game 7 to 5 in 8 innings.

March 1898, National League — uniform not to be worn in stands, uniforms must match.
“Rule 18 specified that uniformed players could not sit with the spectators. [Rule 19 declared that] a player in a uniform different from his teammates will not be allowed on the field.” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), no citation. Research from Jamie Talbot.

March 1899, National League — uniforms must match to play in game.
“Rule 19, relating to team uniforms, was changed [at a National League meeting in New York] so as to provide that any player who appears on the field in a uniform which differs from those of his fellow players, shall not be permitted to take part in a game.” From the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, March 3, 1899.

April 1899, National League — white at home and gray on the road required.
“While the majority of the teams will continue to wear the conventional uniforms next season while at home–as required by [National] League rules—and gray abroad, there will be several reliefs from the usual monotony. The most decided breakaway will be made by the Cincinnatis, who will return to the blue traveling uniform, with red trimmings, as attractive as ever was worn.” From the Independence (Kansas) Daily Reporter, April 15, 1899. Research from Don Stokes and Graig Kreindler.

April 1899, National League — white at home required.
April 15, 1899, Cincinnati v. Pittsburgh, at Cincinnati, home opener: “Two league rules were violated yesterday by the Cincinnati Club in yesterday’s game, not intentionally however. In both instances the home management had a valid excuse. There is a rule in the league book that requires all league teams to wear white uniform in their home games. The Reds had a suit of mixed colors yesterday—blue shirts and white trousers. It was the only uniform they could command. About a week ago Captain Ewing sent the shirts of the white uniforms back to the manufacturer because the material did not come up to sample. The [new] shirts were shipped to Cincinnati last Friday [April 14, 1899]. Instead of sending them by express they were sent by freight, and have not yet reached here. The other violation of the rule was in regard to covered benches. Treasurer Lloyd did not receive printed instructions in regard to the benches until about noon yesterday. […] They will be finished this morning.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 16, 1899. Research from Ed Morton.

May 1899, National League — all players must dress alike.
“Clark Griffith, of Chicago, declares that he has a winning mascot in a certain cap of his, which is of a brownish-green color. He wants Manager Burns to fit out the whole team with brownish-green caps, so that he can wear his and not break the new uniform rule.” From The Sporting Life, May 20, 1899.