1880 Boston (Bostons, Reds, Red Stockings, Red Legs, Beaneaters)

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

Rendering accuracy:Year: undocumented    Team: documented

This rendering is included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.

Visual documentation on this uniform:
Photo A

Dated 1876 to April 1886, possibly 1880 or 1881. Studio portrait of J Morrill (NL 76-88, PL 90), full view at left, detail view at right. An illustration of Morrill, based on this photo, was printed on a Boston team schedule card produced in April 1886. However research presented on this website suggests the uniform Morrill wore in this photo was more in keeping with that of 1876 to 1881, and does not match descriptions of the Boston uniform worn between 1882 and 1888. This photo may have been made around the time when Morrill became captain of the Boston team. An 1897 published history stated that “when George Wright went to Providence in ’79, Morrill was appointed captain of the team and remained in that position […] until Mike Kelly came [to Boston] in ’87.” A photo date range of 1880 to 1881 could be suggested for photo A by the similarities between this image and that of George Wright, see photo below. Note that in the photo of Morrill, the base of a wooden stand can be seen behind the player. This stand was used to keep the subject still during the exposure of the image, and was a common element found in the studio images of the 1870s. Morrill wore a white uniform in this photo, accented with a dark belt and dark stockings. The cap in this photo had a line of trim along the front of the bill, and the shirt had a scalloped bib with the city name arched across the middle. Also note that Morrill wore a very small bowtie in this photo. This tie was very similar to that worn by players in the portrait montage dated 1879. Newspapers from the period described the accent color for Boston as red, the traditional color of the team. Years Morrill with team from baseball-reference.com. Captaincy info from George Tuohey, A History of the Boston Base Ball Club (1897).

The mustache of John Morrill.

This facial study of J Morrill (NL 76-88, PL 90) was made to further determine the date of photo A. Note that over the period of 1877 to 1887, the mustache worn by Morrill became more full. This study suggests that image A was likely to have been made between 1879 and 1884. Years Morrill with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo B

Dated 1876 to 1878, 1880 or 1881, more likely 1880 or 1881. Studio portrait of G Wright (1871-78, 80, 81), full view at left, detail view at right. This image was published in a newspaper on April 17, 1921, as part of a photo montage celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the Boston team. The background in this portrait was very similar to that in the Morrill portrait, see above. This suggests that both images were made at the same photo session. A stand was utilized in the Wright photo to keep the subject still, also similar to the Morrill image. Based on Wright’s years in Boston combined with the suggested date range of the Morrill image (based on the mustache study, see above), it is possible both images were made in 1880 or 1881, Wright’s last two years in Boston. If the Wright portrait was made in 1880, it may have been made to promote his return to Boston in late May 1880. In photo B, Wright wore a white uniform, with a dark belt and stockings. The white cap had dark trim along the front of the visor and was very similar to that worn by Morrill. Unlike the Morrill portrait, Wright was photographed without a shirt bib. Newspapers from the period described the accent color for Boston as red, the traditional color of the team. Photo and player ID from the Boston Globe, April 17, 1921. Years Wright with team from baseball-reference.com.

Written documentation on this uniform:
January 1880: “The O’Rourke Brothers—John and James—declined to sign contracts with the Boston Club so long as the directors of the latter refused to cancel the clause taxing them thirty dollars each for uniforms, and fifty cents each daily while traveling. The lovers of the game in Boston, Mass., then subscribed the required amount, and the O’Rourkes will probably sign.” From the New York Clipper, January 10, 1880. Research from Richard Hershberger, posted to protoball.org.

1880: “Beginning in 1877 […] players had to furnish their own uniforms, keep them clean and repaired, and replace them as necessary. At first, the [National] League simply deducted $30 from salaries for uniforms. Then it began requiring players to provide themselves with ‘a uniform to be selected and designated’ by the club. Both League and [American] Association contracts spelled out in detail each article to be furnished, including a necktie. […] However, the O’Rourke boys, John and James ‘Orator,’ balked at paying the Boston Nationals for their suits. The ‘fastidious young men,’ as the Chicago Tribune called them, signed contracts only after some of their friends put up the money for them.” From Harold Seymour, Baseball: The Early Years (1960). Note that according to baseball-reference.com, the O’Rourke brothers only played together in Boston in 1880.

April 1880: “Chicago furnishes uniforms to all the [National] League clubs; also the League ball and President.” From the Chicago Tribune, April 11, 1880.

April 27, 1880, Boston v. Baltimore, at Boston, South End grounds, exhibition game: “The Bostons wore their jackets [playing the game], but seemed about ready to take them off and go to work in earnest at the end of the sixth innings [sp], when the score stood – Baltimores 4, Bostons 2.” From the Boston Globe, April 28, 1880.

May 30, 1880, Boston v. Chicago, at Boston, South End grounds: “What a surprise, Decoration Day, to the 5,000 people assembled as the South End, to see George Wright wearing the uniform of the Reds standing in his old position in the field! His release had at a late moment been obtained from the Providence club.” From the Boston Evening Transcript, May 31, 1880. The newspaper noted that “Captain Anson played the game under protest” because of Wright’s appearance.

May 1880: “Providence is an easy fourth [in the standings], though closely pressed by the Troy aggregation and the Boston red legs.” From the Chicago Daily Telegraph, May 30, 1880. This entry referenced the color of the team’s stockings.

July 27, 1880, Boston v. Cleveland, at Boston, South End grounds, headline: “The Buckeye Boys Get Away with the Bean-Eaters.” From the Boston Globe, July 28, 1880, page 1. An early example of the Beaneater nickname in use.

August 17, 1880, Boston v. Chicago, at Chicago: “A big crowd assembled at the ball park yesterday to witness the contest between the famous Boston Red Stockings and the white-hosed Chicago Club, the acknowledged coming champions.” From the Chicago Daily Telegraph, August 18, 1880. This entry referenced the color of the team’s stockings.

August 1880: “The Chicago nine concluded their series with the Boston red-legs yesterday winning the ninth game out of twelve played by them this season.” From the Chicago Daily Telegraph, August 22, 1880. This entry referenced the color of the team’s stockings.

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.

1880 Boston summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed: in studio portraits from the period
Described: April, May, August
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro.
Supposition: cap style and color, shirt style, lettering style and color
Variations:
Other items: jacket
Home opener report: no, May 4 v. Providence