All renderings © Craig Brown. Do not copy, download or use in any form without written permission from Craig Brown.

1886 St. Louis (Browns, Brown Stockings)

American Association

Left: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine and an educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:CirclesOnly_ThreeAndAHalf

Year: documented    Team: documented


Center & Right: These renderings are based on contemporary illustrations which may or may not be based on an actual uniform. Some important details may be undocumented or difficult to determine and an educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:CirclesOnly_TwoAndAHalfYear: unconfirmed    Team: documented


Visual documentation on these uniforms:

Photo A
1886_StLouis_AA_teamportraitsvertical
Dated October 1885. Montage of player portraits, full view at left, detail view of player Comiskey portrait at right. Drawings based on these portraits were published in a newspaper on October 8, 1885. The year of the montage can be confirmed by the appearance of players Sullivan and Barkley, both of whom only played for St. Louis in 1885 and were not on the 1886 team. The montage was made to commemorate the team winning the American Association championship of 1885 which ended its season on October 1, 1885. The montage included the date of 1886 indicating the team was deemed champions for the upcoming 1886 season. These photographic portraits were subsequently used repeatedly by the team over the next several seasons.

Clockwise, from top left: S Barkley (StL AA 85), B Caruthers (84-87), J McGinnis (StL AA 82-86), H Nicol (83-86), D Bushong (85-87), Y Robinson (85-89), T O’Neill (84-89, 91), B Gleason (82-87), D Foutz (84-87), A Latham (83-89), C Welch (85-87) and D Sullivan (StL AA 85). Center: C Comiskey (82-89, 91). Player IDs based on a drawing published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 8, 1885. Additional help from Nigel Ayres. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Original portraits by Joseph W. Fischer, St. Louis.

Photo B
1886_StLouis_AA_teamportraits
Dated October 1885. This montage of illustrated player portraits was used to create a drawing that was published on October 8, 1885, see photo C. The order and arrangement of the portraits in both montages were identical. The year of the montage can be confirmed by the appearance of players Sullivan and Barkley, both of whom only played for St. Louis in 1885 and were not on the 1886 team. The montage was made to commemorate the team winning the American Association championship of 1885 which ended its season on October 1, 1885. The montage included the date of 1886 indicating the team was deemed champions for the upcoming 1886 season. The illustrations were based on photographic portraits which were subsequently used repeatedly by the team over the next several seasons.

Top row, from left: A Latham (83-89), B Gleason (82-87), D Foutz (84-87) and B Caruthers (84-87). Middle: C Welch (85-87), C Comiskey (82-89, 91), (C von der Ahe, president 82-98), D Bushong (85-87) and H Nicol (83-86). Bottom: J McGinnis (82-86), Y Robinson (85-89), D Sullivan (85), S Barkley (85) and T O’Neill (84-89, 91). Player IDs based on a drawing published in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, October 8, 1885. Additional help from Nigel Ayres. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Illustrations based on original portraits by Joseph W. Fischer, St. Louis.

Photo C

Issued circa 1886, possibly April 1886 to July 1886. Soap packaging featuring player portraits. Full view at left, detail view at right. The majority of these portraits were featured in numerous printed materials from the period and were based on photographs first published in October 1885. Issue year of 1886 determined by inclusion of player Kemmler, his only year with the team. Issue date range of April 1886 to July 1886 suggested by appearance of player McGinnis, who was sold to Baltimore July 8, 1886. All portraits shown, with the exception of the Kemmler portrait, were printed on this packaging in reverse.

Top row, from left: (C Von der Ahe, pres 82-98), C Comiskey (82-89, 91). Second row: T O’Neill (84-89, 91), D Bushong (85-87), A Latham (83-89) and B Caruthers (84-87). Third row: R Kemmler (86), D Foutz (84-87), Y Robinson (85-89) and C Welch (85-87). Fourth row: unidentified, J McGinnis (StL AA 82-86, Bal 86), B Gleason (82-87) and H Nicol (83-86). Player IDs from montage of portraits, see photo A. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. McGinnis transaction info from Robert L. Tiemann, Nineteenth Century Stars, (SABR 1989). Image from Jeffrey Kittel.

Photo D
1886_StLouis_AA_teamportraitsvertical2

Dated October 30, 1886. This montage of player portraits, full view at left, detail view of player Comiskey at right, was published in a newspaper on this date. These drawings were made from studio portraits first published in October 1885.

Clockwise from top: C Comiskey (82-89, 91), Y Robinson (85-89), H Nicol (83-86), D Bushong (85-87), B Caruthers (84-87), D Foutz (84-87), T O’Neill (84-89, 91) and A Latham (83-89). Center, upper: B Gleason (82-87). Center, lower: C Welch (85-87). Image and player IDs from The Sporting News, October 30, 1886. Years with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo E
1886_StLouis_AA_Kimmler
Issued circa 1887, photo dated 1886. Lone Jack (N370) baseball card of R Kemmler (86), issued circa 1887. Full view at left, detail view at right. Note that Kemmler’s name was spelled incorrectly on card. Photo date of 1886 can be determined as this was the only year Kemmler played for team. Detail view shows striped cap with cord at top of bill, and small lettering across the chest. This uniform matches that shown in photos from 1885. Year with team from baseball-reference.com. Baseball card issue date of 1887 from oldcardboard.com.

Photo F
1887_StLouis_AA_Gleason_cutout
Dated circa 1887. Scrapps die-cut portrait of B Gleason (82-87), full view at left, detail view at right. Portrait matches studio photo first published in October 1885, see photo A. Cut-out rendering displays color of cap, shirt ties and lettering. Detail view shows elaborate stitching around placket and pocket. Years with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo G
1886_StLouis_AA_uniformad
Dated May 17, 1886. This detail view of an advertisement for C & W McClean, a St. Louis uniform manufacturer, was published on this date. A newspaper report from May 10, 1886 confirmed that C & W McClean was making new St. Louis (AA) uniforms. It is possible though unconfirmed the shirt and pants depicted in this ad were a representation of the new St. Louis uniform. Ad from The Sporting News, May 17, 1886. Image scan from Oliver Kodner.

Photos H & I
1886_StLouis_AA_BarkleySullivancards
Dated circa 1886. Buchner Gold Coin baseball cards of S Barkley (StL AA 85, Pit 86) and D Sullivan (StL AA 85, Pit 86). Issue date of 1886 most likely as both Barkley and Sullivan had left the team before the start of the 1886 season. Most Buchner cards were issued circa 1887 however it is possible the St. Louis cards were the first issued by the company, possibly due to the success of the team in 1885. Illustrations show a maroon or brown shirt and stockings, and a blue cap and pants. There is no photographic or written documentation to confirm this uniform was worn by the team. Years with teams from baseball-reference.com. Images from oldcardboard.com.

Photos J & K
1886_stLouis_AA_mcginnisnicholcards
Dated circa 1886. Buchner Gold Coin baseball cards of J McGinnis (StL AA 82-86, Bal 86) and H Nicol (83-86). Issue date of 1886 most likely as both McGinnis and Nicol last played for St. Louis in 1886. Most Buchner cards were issued circa 1887 however it is possible the St. Louis cards were the first issued by the company, possibly due to the success of the team in 1885. Illustrations show a maroon or brown shirt and stockings, and a blue cap and pants. There is no photographic or written documentation to confirm this uniform was worn by the team. Years with teams from baseball-reference.com. Images from oldcardboard.com.

Photos L & M
1887_StLouis_AA_Oneilcards
Left: dated 1886 or 1887, Old Judge baseball card of T O’Neill (84-89, 91). Right: dated circa 1887, W. S. Kimball baseball card of O’Neill. The Kimball card portrait was based on a photo of O’Neill first published in October 1885, see photo A, and subsequently issued on the Old Judge card. On the Kimball card, the color of O’Neill’s shirt has been altered from white to red, which loosely matches the maroon shirts shown on the Buchner baseball cards from this same time period, see above. The Kimball card may help to confirm the maroon and blue outfit was an alternate uniform for the team. The game scene at the bottom of the Kimball card also shows a player at bat wearing a red shirt, a blue cap and blue pants. Old Judge card image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Kimball card image scan and issue date from oldcardboard.com. Years O’Neill with team from baseball-reference.com.


Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1886: “Mr. Chris von der Ahe left last evening for Chicago to purchase new uniforms for the Browns. He says that there will be no change as to colors, but stronger and more durable cloth is needed. Last season the club had three suits, this season they will have five.” From the St. Louis Globe Democrat, February 11, 1886. Research from Oliver Kodner.

February 1886: “Chris von der Ahe came up [to Chicago] from St. Louis Friday [February 12, 1886] and left his order for the Browns’ uniform. It will be, as last year, of white with brown trimmings.” From the St. Paul Globe, February 15, 1886.

March 1886: “The American Association players will have to pay for their uniforms this season.” From the Philadelphia Times, March 14, 1886.

March 1886: “Von der Ahe’s champions have ordered white uniforms, with brown trimmings and hose, with ‘St. Louis’ in brown letters on the breast.” From The Sporting News, March 17, 1886. Research from Oliver Kodner.

April 1886: “[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 1886: “The championship flag-pole will be planted today in the ground of the St. Louis Browns.” From the Louisville Courier-Journal, April 13, 1886. Not uniform related, however off-hand reports relating to championship banners and pennant-raising ceremonies are still interesting.

April 1886, after winning an exhibition series called the “spring series”: “The members of the St. Louis Browns […] look decidedly nobby in the high silk hats given them by President Von der Ahe.” From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 15, 1886. A similar report was published in the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 18, 1886.

April 18, 1886, St. Louis (AA) v. Pittsburgh, at St. Louis, Sportsman’s Park, home opener: “The championship season in this city was opened […] in a game between the St. Louis Browns and the Pittsburg[h] team.” From the St. Louis GLobe-Democrat, April 19, 1886. Use of the St. Louis team nickname based on the color of the stockings.

April 28, 1886, St. Louis (AA) v. Cincinnati, at St. Louis: “After the first inning yesterday [April 28] the Browns were presented with an immense silvered gourd, representing a bat, on the top pf which was a golden ball. Above this was a miniature pennant. It was a gift from the employees of the park, the gourd being raised on a lot adjoining the grounds.” From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 29, 1886.

May 1886: “The Browns are having a new set of uniforms made and this time St. Louis has captured the contract. C & W McClean are busily engaged upon their manufacture, in order to have them ready on return of the champions May 16. The colors remain heretofore—white trimmed in brown. The material is of genuine imported English cricket flannel and the best manufactured. They are simply immense.” From The Sporting News, May 10, 1886. Research from Oliver Kodner. Note, this report coincides with the manufacturer’s advertisement in The Sporting News placed May 17, 1886, see photo F.

1886, referenced in March 1887: “The St. Louis and Cincinnati Clubs, the only [American] Association teams that did not have traveling uniforms last season [1886], have fallen into line and will come out with brand-new costumes [in 1887].” From the Philadelphia Times, March 13, 1887.


Team genealogy:
 St. Louis 1882-
St. Louis was formed to join the American Association (AA) in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891 and St. Louis played in the AA in every year of the league’s existence. The team moved to the National League (NL) for 1892 season. The NL began operation in 1876 and St. Louis has played in the NL every year since 1892. Information from wikipedia.


1886 St. Louis summary

Uniform: white, red striped cap, brown stockings
First worn:
Photographed: portraits, October
Described: February, March
Material: McClean uniform, flannel
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro. in February, C. & W. McCLean, St. Louis in May
Supposition:
Variations: five suits per player
Other items: no traveling uniform, may have worn a practice uniform of red shirt, blue pants and red stockings
Home opener report: no, April 18 v Pittsburgh, 2 games



Rendering posted: August 14, 2016
Diggers on this uniform: Gary Kodner, Jeffrey Kittel, Nigel Ayres, Oliver Kodner,