1868 Athletic, Philadelphia (Athletics)

This rendering is based on written documentation only 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 this uniform:
None

Written documentation on this uniform:
June 6, 1868, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Cincinnati at Cincinnati: “New Athletic uniforms were a departure from previous. They included gray pants, shirt and cap, with pants ornamented with blue cord.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1845-1881 From Newspaper Accounts (1961). No specific documentation given.

June 24, 1868, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Forest City, Cleveland, at Cleveland: “At half past two of the 24th the Athletics, clad in their quiet gray uniform, entered the grounds of the Forest City.” From the New York Clipper, July 4, 1868.

Late June 1868: “Athletics showed beautifully in gray uniforms.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1845-1881 From Newspaper Accounts (1961). No specific documentation given.

Team genealogy: Athletic, Philadelphia 1859-1876
Athletic was formed in 1859 in Philadelphia, PA, and began playing the New York-style game about 1860. Athletic belonged to the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP), baseball’s first organization operating 1857-1870. Athletic joined the National Association (NA), the first baseball league, in 1871 at its inception and competed in every year of league’s existence, 1871-1875. Athletic then joined the National League (NL) in 1876 for its inaugural season. The club was removed from the NL before the 1877 season and subsequently disbanded. The Athletic name was used by subsequent teams in Philadelphia, including the American Association team (1882-1890) and the American League team (1901-1954). Information from William J Ryczek, Peter Morris and others, Base Ball Founders (2013).