1878 Milwaukee (Grays)

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:

Photo A

Dated circa 1878, published 1879. Rendering of A Dalrymple (Mil NL 78, Chi 79-86), full view at left, detail view at right. This rendering was published in the Spalding Baseball Guide 1879 at the beginning of the 1879 season. It may be a depiction of the 1878 Milwaukee uniform. The rendering does not show a shirt closure which may suggest uniform had a bib front. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Written documentation on this uniform:
April 1878: “Both Milwaukee and Providence are expected to be uniformed in gray, with blue stockings. Indianapolis will also stick to blue stockings, which make the [National] League colors three blue, two red and one white.” From the Syracuse Standard, April 14, 1878. Research from Ed Morton. The mention of blue stockings differs from the research listed below.

April-May 1878: “The Grays […] clad in light pants, shirts and caps, trimmed in red with a German text M on the breast, along with cardinal stockings and belt.” From Dennis Pajot, The Rise of Milwaukee Baseball: The Cream City from Midwestern Outpost to the Major Leagues, 1859-1901 (2009), referencing the Milwaukee Sentinel, April 11 and May 2, 1878.

May 1878: “The Milwaukees were to appear in their new uniforms in a game with a picked nine [on April 27, 1878] and leave for Cincinnati to open the season on the 29th, stopping at Racine, Wis., to play with the college club on the same day.” From the New York Clipper, May 4, 1878.

May 7, 1878, Milwaukee v. Indianapolis, at Indianapolis: “The Milwaukees made a fine appearance as they came on the ground in a body, dressed in gray flannel suits and caps, and red stockings and neckties.” From the Indianapolis News, May 8, 1878.

May 14, 1878, Milwaukee v. Cincinnati, at Milwaukee, home opener: “The home club […] were clad in their gray uniform.” From the Milwaukee Daily News, May 15, 1878.

May 16, 1878, Milwaukee v. Cincinnati, at Milwaukee: “[Manager] Chapman’s grays at Milwaukee were again victorious yesterday, beating the Cincinnati red-legs by the score of 12 to 8.” From the Indianapolis News, May 17, 1878. This entry referenced the uniform color of both teams.

Team genealogy:
 Milwaukee was formed in 1877 as a member of the League Alliance (LA). The LA was not a league, but a group of independent teams that scheduled games against the National League (NL). Milwaukee joined the NL in 1878 but disbanded after one season. –Information from wikipedia.

1878 Milwaukee summary

Uniform: gray, red stockings
First worn: April 27, Milwaukee
Photographed:
Described: April, May
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style, shirt letter and color
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: yes, May 14 v. Cincinnati