1878 Boston (Bostons, Red Stockings)

These rendering are 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 renderings.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

These renderings are included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.

Visual documentation on this uniform:


Photo A

Dated 1878. Photo montage of player portraits, full view at left, detail view of player Burdock at right. Photo date of collage confirmed by the appearance of players Manning, Leonard and Schafer in combination with players Burdock and Snyder. These men only played together for Boston in 1878. This collage utilized portraits from previous year of 1877, except for new players Burdock and Snyder, who were presumably photographed in 1878. Note difference in lettering on bib when comparing 1877 uniform to 1878.

Portraits clockwise from top left: J Manning (NA 73, 75, NL 76, 78), A Leonard (NA 72-75, NL 76-78), H Schafer (NA 71-75, NL 76-78), J O’Rourke (NA 73-75, NL 76-78, 80), J Burdock (78-88), T Bond (77-81, UA 84), P Snyder (78, 79, 81), E Sutton (77-88) and J Morrill (76-88, PL 90). Center top: H Wright (mgr NA 71-75, NL 76-81). Center bottom: G Wright (NA 71-75, NL 76-78, 80, 81). Years played with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ken Samoil.

Photo B

Undated. Portrait of G Wright (NA 71-75, NL 76-78, 80, 81). Full view at left, detail view at right. Detail view shows lettering across the shirt bib that appears to match the style shown in the portrait of player Burdock in the collage above, see detail view of photo A. Based on this, the portrait of Wright may have been made in 1878.

Photo C

Undated. Portrait of A Leonard (NA 72-75, NL 76-78). Full view at left, detail view at right. Similarity in background to photo B would suggest the two photos were made at the same time, possibly in 1878. However, the lettering style on Leonard’s uniform does not match any other photos of Boston players for any year.

Photo D

Dated 1878. Photo montage of player portraits, full view at left, detail view of player Snyder at right. Photo date of collage confirmed by the appearance of players Manning, Leonard and Schafer in combination with players Burdock and Snyder. These men only played together for Boston in 1878. Unlike the montage shown above, see photo A, where the majority of photos were from 1877, the portraits in photo D were from 1878. This can be determined by the style of lettering across the chest. The full figure image of Snyder may be one of the first of a player wearing a catcher’s mask.

Portraits clockwise from top left: J Burdock (78-88), J Morrill (76-88, PL 90), G Wright (NA 71-75, NL 76-78, 80, 81), E Sutton (77-88), T Bond portrait (77-81, UA 84), T Bond full figure, A Leonard (NA 72-75, NL 76-78), J Manning (NA 73, 75, NL 76, 78), J O’Rourke (NA 73-75, NL 76-78, 80), H Schafer (NA 71-75, NL 76-78), P Snyder (78, 79, 81) full figure and P Snyder portrait. Center top: H Wright (mgr NA 71-75, NL 76-81). Player IDs provided on item. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from REA Auctions. Original portraits by C. Webster Jeffrey.

Dated 1878. Detail view of photo D. Portraits of, from left, J Burdock (78-88), G Wright (NA 71-75, NL 76-78, 80, 81) and P Snyder (78, 79, 81). All three portraits do not match the photo montage above, photo A, suggesting the team was photographed again in 1878. Additionally, Burdock wore a mustache in this photo, but not in photo A. The hand-painted lettering on Wright’s shirt was the same as in photo B, possibly suggesting photo B was made at the same time as photo D.

Photo E

Dated circa 1878. Portrait of T Bond (77-81, UA 84). Partial view at left, zoom-in view at right. This same image was included in the photo montage shown directly above, see photo D. The lettering on the shirt matched the style of the 1878 uniform. Years Bond with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo F

Dated 1879, based on a photo circa 1875. Depiction of G Wright (NA 71-75, NL 76-78, 80, 81, Pro NL 79), full view at left, detail view at right. This rendering was published in the Spalding Base Ball Guide, 1879 at the beginning of the 1879 season and summarizing the 1878 season. The drawing was based on a photo of Wright wearing a Boston uniform and published in an 1875 pamphlet by Wright to demonstrate cricket and baseball techniques. The original photo was likely to have been made between 1871 and 1875. Years Wright with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Written documentation on this uniform:

April 1878: “All the members of the champion Boston Red Stocking Club have reported at their headquarters. They have gone into active training in the gymnasium, where they are required to practice four hours each day.” From the New York Tribune, April 13, 1878, page 5.

April 24, 1878, Boston v. picked nine, at Boston, Boston grounds: “The ‘boys’ were rather unwilling, but went to work, Bond without his uniform, a majority without their ball shoes, and all but Bond, Snyder and Burdock played in their jackets.” From the Boston Globe, April 25, 1878, page 2.

May 1878: “Harry Wright has invented a new score card. It is said to be a great improvement over those now is use.” From the Cleveland Leader, May 2, 1878.

May 1878: “Acknowledgement is here made of the receipt of a base ball score book with the compliments of Wright, Howland and Mahn. It is a model book, with all the latest and best scoring methods known, originated and perfected by the veteran player Harry Wright.” From the Boston Globe, May 4, 1878.

May 1877: “In the Boston-Cincinnati game [played May 17] the Bostons wore the uniforms of the Mohawks, having left their own at Chicago.” From the Boston Globe, May 26, 1877, page 5.

June 17, 1878, Boston v. Cincinnati, at Boston, South End grounds: “The clerk of the weather was very partial to the eighteen red stockings, as it rained at intervals all the forenoon.” From the Boston Globe, June 18, 1878. A reference to the Boston and Cincinnati nines both wearing red stockings.

August 10, 1878, Boston v. Chicago, at Boston, South End grounds: “Hankinson […] sent a skyscraper down the [Boston] outfield between Andy [Leonard] and O’Rourke, and the white stockings sped around the bases like race horses, each of the four men expecting to score a run. While they were thus engaged O’Rourke’s red stockings flew over the ground, and he, smiling, captured the ball before it struck mother earth. He had run hard for it, and was vociferously cheered as he came up the field.” From the Boston Globe, August 11, 1878. A mention of both the Boston and Chicago stocking colors.

October 25, 1878, Boston v. Providence, at Providence, exhibition game: “The Providence Grays Distanced in Two Straight Heats — The Red-Legged Bostonians Vanquish Them.” Headline from the Boston Globe, October 26, 1878. A reference to the Boston team’s stocking color.

Team genealogy:
 Boston 1871-1952
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 1952 and moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 NL season. Information from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com and from wikipedia.com.

1878 Boston summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed: during year, unspecified
Described: June, August
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 4 v. Providence