1883 Athletic, Philadelphia (Athletics)
Uniform documentation:
White– visual & written
This rendering is included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.
Visual documentation on this uniform:
Photo A
Dated August 1883. Year of photo determined by the appearance of player Bradley, who only played for this team in 1883. Date of August 1883 may be determined by newspaper accounts from August and September, see written descriptions below. Players wore a white uniform in this photo, with light-colored belts and stockings. The team name was arched across the bib on the shirt. White caps were displayed in the foreground of this photo. It is likely the stockings were light blue in color, the traditional accent color for Athletic. One player seated at right wore a uniform shirt with lace ties that did not match the others in this photo.
Top row, from left: H Stovey (83-89), G Bradley (83), M Moynihan? (83, 84) and L Knight (NA 75, NL 76, AA 83-85). Middle: B Blakiston? (82-84), unidentified, J Birchall (82-84), B Crowley? (82-84) and unidentified. Front: B Matthews (83-87), J O’Brien? (82-86), unidentified and E Rowen (83-84). Player IDs from Bill Hickman, and from Nigel Ayres. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Original photo most likely by Gilbert & Bacon, Philadelphia.
Dated August 1883. Detail view of photo A. Note that the bib for this team was scalloped at the bottom, see players standing in back row.
Photo B
Dated August 1883. This photo was made seconds before or after the photo shown above, see photo A. The difference was most noticeable in the pose of the player in the middle row, sitting fourth from left. The position of the bats in the foreground had also changed. Image from thedeadballera.com.
Written documentation on this uniform:
March 1883: “The uniform decided upon by the Athletic club [of Philadelphia] will consist of white shirt and pants made from English cricket flannel, dark blue stockings, belt and cap. Across the breast of the shirt will be the word ‘Athletic.’ The practice uniforms will be of gray flannel. The uniforms are now being made by Hyneman [sp], of North Eighth Street.” From the Philadelphia Item, March 11, 1883. Research from Richard Hershberger. Note that the team photo from this year, see photo A, appeared to show the players wearing light-toned stockings possibly light blue and not dark blue as this newspaper reports. A later newspaper report from May 1883 described the stockings only as “blue.” Adolph Heineman operated a “gentlemen’s furnishing goods” store in Philadelphia.
April 1883: “The Athletics will not don their new uniform until the 10th of May, in their game with the Metropolitans.” From the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, April 1, 1883. Research from John Thorn. The May 10th game vs. Metropolitan was the Philadelphia home opener.
April 1883: “S. B. Vandergrift, the well-known sign advertiser, of 1649 Park Avenue [in Philadelphia], has the sole privilege of the advertising fence at Recreation Park. Secure a space at once, as he is selling them rapidly. Mr. Vandergrift will have a photograph taken of the entire grounds with the players in position during action of the game between the Philadelphia and Athletics on the 16th. This photograph will include all the advertising signs.” From the Philadelphia Item, April 8, 1883. Research from Ed Morton.
April 14, 1883, Athletic, Philadelphia, v. Philadelphia (NL), at Philadelphia, Jefferson and Master streets, exhibition game: “At 3:25 Purcell flipped a coin and luck favored the Athletics in the toss-up and a few moments later the blue-legs [Athletic] took their positions in the field.” From The Sporting Life, April 15, 1883.
April 1883: “The Louisville club’s uniform is similar to that worn by the Athletics.” From the Philadelphia Sunday Item, April 29, 1883. Research from Ed Morton.
April 1883: “Below we give a correct reprint of the Athletic Club Rules for the season of 1883. They are taken from a printed copy, one of which is given to each player. [Item] VIII. Every player is required to respect the uniform of the club and shall see to it that said uniform be not disgraced. No member of the team, while dressed in said uniform, shall be permitted to flirt with or ‘mash’ any female or lady.” From The Sporting Life, April 29, 1883.
May 1883: “The new suits of the Athletics are of white English flannel, with the name ‘Athletic’ embroidered across the shield. The caps are blue, and their stockings ultramarine in hue.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 2, 1883. Ultramarine is generally considered to be a deep, intense blue color and does not seem to match the light blue color that was traditionally associated with the Athletic team and that which may be the color of the stockings in photo A.
May 1883: “On Thursday next [May 10, 1883 v. Metropolitan at Philadelphia, home opener] the Athletic don the new uniform made by Heineman, 140 N. Eighth street.” From The Sporting Life, May 6, 1883. Research from Ed Morton. Adolph Heineman operated a “gentlemen’s furnishing goods” store in Philadelphia.
August 1883: “The Athletic Club has been photographed by Gilbert & Bacon [of Philadelphia].” From the Philadelphia Record, August 18, 1883. Research from Ed Morton. The studio also photographed the team in early 1884 and published a lithograph of a baseball scene based on these photos.
September 1883: “Several of the Cincinnati players and members of the press are indebted to Manager Chas. Mason, of the Athletics, for a splendid photograph of the members of the team.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, September 20, 1883. Research from Ed Morton.
Team genealogy:
Athletic, Philadelphia 1880-1890
Athletic was formed in Philadelphia, PA, in 1880 as a touring team and joined the American Association (AA) in 1882. The AA was a major league operating 1882-1891. Athletic played in the AA between 1882 and 1890. The team was expelled from the AA after the 1890 season and the team subsequently folded. The Philadelphia team of the Players’ League (PL) joined the AA for the 1891 season after the PL folded in 1890 and used the Athletic name. Information from wikipedia.
1883 Athletic summary
Uniform: white, light blue stockings and caps
First worn: May 10 at Philadelphia
Photographed: team photo from August
Described: March-May
Material: flannel
Manufacturer: Adolph Heineman, Philadelphia
Supposition:
Variations: may also have worn dark blue stockings, some players may have worn white caps
Other items: gray practice uniforms
Home opener report: no, May 10 v. Metropolitan
Rendering posted: August 22, 2020
Diggers on this uniform: Bill Hickman, Ed Morton, John Thorn, Nigel Ayres,
Other uniforms for this team:
1882 Athletic, Philadelphia
1884 Athletic, Philadelphia
See full database