1884 Boston Union (Bostons, Unions)

This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style only. Color information is unknown and the uniform is rendered in values of gray. Some important details may also be undocumented or difficult to determine and an educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:

Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A

Dated 1884. Photo date confirmed by appearance of players McKeever, Slattery, O’Brien, Irwin and Daniels as 1884 was their only year playing for a Boston team. Players wore a light-colored cap and shirt in this photo, with white pants and dark stockings. This may be the uniform described in an 1884 newspaper report as being a black and white checked cap and shirt with white pants and dark blue stockings and belt.

Top row, from left: J McKeever (84), M Slattery (84), T Murnane (NL 76, 77, UA 84), T O’Brien (84) and J Irwin (84). Front, on ground: W Hackett (UA 84, NL 85), C Daniels (84), L Brown (NL 76, 77, 83, UA 84) and J Doyle. Inset: K Butler (84). Player IDs from photo. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Photo from SABR, The National Pastime (Number 3, Spring 1984), collection of National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Library.

Dated 1884. Detail view of photo A. Based on this photo, is likely the checked pattern on the shirt and cap was small and very subtle.

Written documentation on this uniform:
December 1883: “At the December [Union Association] meetings, [Henry] Lucas and [George] Wright discussed the possibility of a team in Boston in exchange for the Union Association to exclusively use the Wright and Ditson baseball. When the men agreed, Wright returned to organize the team in Boston; the team was officially welcomed to the UA at the March [1884] scheduling meeting.” From Barney Terrell, Baseball’s 19th Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), citing Jerry Jaye Wright, What’s in a Name? George Wright’s Influence, Favors and Deals During the Organization of the Boston Unions of 1884” (1991).

April 1884: “The Boston Unions’ uniforms are to be very neat and quite different from any ever seen in the Hub [i.e., Boston]. They will consist of white breeches, dark blue stockings and belt, and shirt and caps of small back and white check. They will be manufactured by Wright & Ditson.” From the Boston Globe, April 5, 1884.

April 1884: “The uniform of the Union nine is to consist of black and white checked cap and shirt, white flannel trousers and dark blue belt and stockings. The men practice every day in the Wells Gymnasium.” From the Boston Evening Transcript, April 5, 1884.

April 1884: “Wright & Ditson have received an order for ten thousand Union Association Guides from one house. The book will be out in a week.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 6, 1884.

April 1884: “The uniforms of the Boston Union team will consist of black and white checked caps and shirts, white pantaloons, dark blue stockings and belt.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1884, page 2.

April 1884: “Black and white checkered hats and shirts. White pants, dark blue stockings and belt.” From Frank Vaccaro, research notes citing the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 9, 1884.

April 1884: “The Boston Unions’ uniform will be white pants, dark blue stockings and belt, black and white small checked shirts and caps.” From the New York Clipper, April 12, 1884.

April 30, 1884, Boston (UA) v. Keystone, Philadelphia (UA), at Boston, Back Bay grounds, home opener: “There is no turf in the outfield, and the afternoon sun shines full in the face of some of the players. […] As it is possible to bat a ball over the fence, a rule has been adopted allowing only two bases to be run when such a hit is made.” From the Boston Evening Transcript, May 1, 1884. Not uniform related, but interesting nonetheless.

August 20, 1884, Boston (UA) v. Baltimore (UA), at Boston: “The Unions appeared in new uniforms yesterday [August 20] which are a great improvement over the old ones. They consist of white pants, very handsome white shirts, white caps with two blue stripes, blue belts and blue stockings.” From the Boston Globe, August 21, 1884.

August 20, 1884, Boston (UA) v. Baltimore (UA), at Boston: “The Boston Unions appeared in new uniforms.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, August 21, 1884, page 2, citing a special dispatch from Boston.

August 1884: “[Pitcher Dupee] Shaw eschews the nondescript Boston Union uniform, and appears attired in a neat white suit and blue stockings, with red belt. He is a great favorite with Union patrons, and deservedly so. He has worked faithfully and effectively.” From the Cleveland Leader, August 21, 1884, page 3.

August 1884: “The new uniforms of the Boston Unions were paid for by the players themselves.” From the New York Dispatch, August 24, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.

August 1884: “The Boston Unions have donned very pretty new uniforms, made by Wright & Ditson.” From The Sporting Life, August 27, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.

Team genealogy:
 Coming soon