1883 Philadelphia (Philadelphias, Phillies)

This rendering is based on written documentation 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:
None

Written documentation on this uniform:
December 1882: “Committees [at a National League meeting] were appointed to make recommendations for the 1883 uniform and the 1883 championship schedule.” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), citing the New York Clipper, December 16, 1882. Research from Michael R. McAvoy. The uniform committee was most likely responsible for recommending and approving the stocking color for each team.

1883: “Messrs. Buckley, Day and Wright were appointed to constitute [a uniform] committee, who reported in favor of the clubs named being permitted to wear colored stockings selected by them as follows: Boston, red; Chicago, white; Detroit, brown; Buffalo, gray; Cleveland, navy blue; Providence, light blue. Also of allowing New York and Philadelphia clubs to select their own colors prior to the commencement of the season, which should be distinctive and not in conflict with any of the colors selected by the above named clubs.” From the Spalding Guide 1883, p.101. Research from John Thorn.

1883: “For uniforms for league clubs, in the future, no two of them are to appear in the same colors. Red stockings are to mark the Boston Club; gray stockings, the Buffalo Club; white stockings, the Chicago Club; navy blue stockings, the Cleveland Club; brown stockings, the Detroit Club; blue and white check stockings, the Philadelphia Club; light blue stockings, the Providence Club…” From the DeWitt Base-Ball Guide, 1883, p. 29. Research from John Thorn. Note, the description of the Philadelphia stocking color differs from a description from August of this same year, see below.

March 1883: “Director Reach, with the assistance of Manager Robert Ferguson, has succeeded in securing what he calls ‘a pretty strong nine for the Philadelphia Club’ […] and expects to have all his team in this city by the 25th instant. […] The Philadelphia nine will be uniformed in white with cardinal trimmings, the same as last season [1882].” From the Philadelphia Times, March 1, 1883. Research from Ed Morton. In 1882, the Philadelphia team belonged to the League Alliance.

April 14, 1883, Philadelphia (NL) v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at Philadelphia, Jefferson and Master streets, exhibition game: “The volley of cheers […] was mingled with a few hoots […] when the red-legs [Philadelphia] appeared on the field.” From The Sporting Life, April 15, 1883. This report also used the Philadelphia team nickname of “Phillies.”

August 1883: “The Philadelphia’s uniform resembles the Boston’s very much. They have white suits, trimmed with red, red stockings, cap with red visor, and shirts with ‘Phila’ woven across the shield.” From the Warrenton (NC) Gazette, August 3, 1883. Research from Don Stokes.

Team genealogy:
 Philadelphia 1882-
Philadelphia was formed to play in the League Alliance (LA) in 1882. The team joined the National League (NL) in 1883. The NL began operation in 1876 and Philadelphia has played in the league every year since 1883. Information from wikipedia.com and Robert D. Warrington.

1883 Philadelphia summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: March, April, August
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style, lettering style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Providence