1869 Forest City, Rockford IL (Forest Citys)

This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style only. Color information is unknown and the uniform is rendered in values of gray. Minor details may also be undocumented or difficult to determine and an educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A

Dated July 1869 to October 1869. Year of photo from item. Date range of photo from July 1869 to October 1869 based on the appearance of player Foley who, according to historian Peter Morris, joined the team in July 1869 “when he moved to Rockford and opened a bindery.” Players wore a white uniform in this photo with a hexagon-shaped bib on the shirt. The bib displayed an “F.C.” monogram. The caps were white, the belts were of a banded fabric, and the stockings were of a mid-tone color. All of the players wore their shirt sleeves rolled up. One player standing second from right wore civilian shoes in this photo, not baseball shoes.

From left: T Foley (69,70), R Barnes (66-70), A Barker (68-71), D Sawyer (68 >), F Cone (68-70), B Addy (66-71), A Spalding (66-70), G King (67 >) and S Hastings (69-71). Player IDs from item. Years with team from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012) and from wikipedia.com. Info on Foley moving to Rockford and on time some players were with team from Peter Morris, Base Ball Pioneers, 1850-1870 (2012). Original photo by George W. Barnes, Rockford, Illinois.

Photo B

Dated 1868-1871, detail view at right. Photo of B Addy (68-71). Years with team from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012).

Written documentation on this uniform:
Late 1860s: “Per ‘newspaper accounts,’ Forest City colors were green.” From Paul Batesel, Players And Teams Of The National Association, 1871-1875 (2012).

Team genealogy: Forest City, Rockford, IL 1865-1871
Forest City was formed in Rockford, Illinois, in 1865. The team name comes from an early city moniker. Forest City joined the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league operating 1871-1875. The Great Chicago Fire in October 1871 forced Chicago, and by association Forest City, to fold after the 1871 season. Information from Peter Morris and others, Base Ball Pioneers, 1850-1870 (2012).