1884 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons, Red Stockings)
These renderings are based on visual documentation for uniform style and partial written documentation for color. Important details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the renderings.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated March 1885. This illustration of Buffalo player J O’Rourke (81-84), full view at left, detail view at right, was published on this date. Based on a photograph, this drawing may be showing the 1884 Buffalo uniform. The caption under the illustration stated that O’Rourke was the “champion batter of 1884.” The player was depicted wearing a white shirt with pants of a mid-tone color. The cap was also depicted in a mid-tone color. Newspaper reports from 1884 stated that the Buffalo team had both a white uniform and a gray uniform, and that the belt and stockings were red. It is therefore possible that O’Rourke was wearing the white shirt of one uniform and the gray pants of the other in this image. No reports have surfaced to detail the color of the cap, however the illustration may suggest the caps were darker in color than the pants, possibly red to match the belt and stockings. The shirt depicted in the illustration had sleeve extensions and the pants featured a wide fabric belt and metal buckle. The Boston Globe on March 20, 1885 made a comment on the illustration saying that “an advance copy of Spalding’s base ball guide for 1885 has been received at this office. It contains a cut of O’Rourke, champion batter of 1884. While not a good likeness of Jim, his position while batting is a true representation.” Years O’Rourke with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from Spalding’s Base Ball Guide, 1885, published in March 1885 as a recap of the 1884 season.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
December 1883: “[At a meeting of the National League] the uniform committee recommended that the 1883 uniform be retained [for 1884].” From Base Ball’s 19th-Century Winter Meetings, 1857-1900 (SABR, 2018), citing the New York Clipper, December 1, 1883, and stating that the uniform committee was [John B.] Day, [George W.] Howe and [Al] Reach. Research from Michael R. McAvoy. The committee was most likely responsible for selecting and/or approving the stocking color for each team.
March 1884: “The Buffalos will wear white suits with red stockings and belts during their games, having a blueish gray uniform for practice.” From the Boston Globe, March 20, 1884. Research from Chuck McGill.
March 1884: “The uniforms of the Milwaukee Club […] will outdo the Buffalo barber-poles [of 1883] in picturesque appearance.” From the Philadelphia Sunday Item, March 23, 1884. Research from Ed Morton.
April 1884, April 16, 1884, Buffalo v. Virginia, Richmond (EL), at Richmond, Virginia Park (exhibition game): “Mr. O’Rourke, manager of the Buffalos, wishes through us [Richmond Dispatch] to make an apology to the patronizing public for the broken suits of his men. He is daily expecting new suits of white with red stockings and gray with red stockings, so as to change suits alternately. Not having gotten these, he had to use the old ones.” From the Richmond Dispatch, April 17, 1884.
May 21, 1884, Buffalo v. Detroit, at Buffalo, Olympic Park, opening day: “Promptly at 4 P.M. the Buffalos appeared on the ground in their new gray and red uniforms.” From the Buffalo Evening News, May 22, 1884.
May 21, 1884, Buffalo v. Detroit, at Buffalo, Olympic Park, opening day: [The Buffalo] team, natty in gray and red uniforms, took the field to meet the Wolverines of Detroit.” From Joseph M. Overfield, When Baseball Came to Richmond Avenue, published in Niagara Frontier, Vol. 2, Buffalo Historical Society, 1955. Research from Mike Roer.
July 5, 1884, Buffalo v. Providence, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “Force and Galvin were the only ones who failed to make clean hits, and the former was the only red-stocking retired on strikes.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 7, 1884.
July 8, 1884, Buffalo v. Providence, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “The Providence club wins a ten-inning game with the Red Stockings.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 9, 1884. Use of the red stocking nickname based on the color of the Buffalo stockings this year.
July 9, 1884, Buffalo v. Providence, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “Untimely errors by the Grays and old Dave Eggler’s lucky hit to right field won the game for the Red Stockings.” From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, July 10, 1884. Another use of the red stocking nickname based on the color of the Buffalo stockings this year.
July 18, 1884, Buffalo v. Chicago, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “The only point in the game where the Red Stockings [of Buffalo] were excelled [by Chicago] was in the base running, and there were times when they were disgustingly stupid.” From the Boston Globe, July 19, 1884. Buffalo won the game 12 to 7.
October 12, 1884, Buffalo v. Boston (NL) at Buffalo: “Buffalo beats the Boston Red Caps fourteen to five. […] The red stockings [of Buffalo] this afternoon turned the tables on the red caps [of Boston], outplaying them all around.” From the Boston Globe, October 12, 1884. Use of the red stocking nickname based on the color of the Buffalo stockings this year.
Team genealogy:
Buffalo 1879-1885
Buffalo joined the National League (NL) in 1879. The NL formed in 1876 and Buffalo played in the league from 1879 through the end of the 1885 season. Information from wikipedia.com.
1884 Buffalo summary
Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed: woodcut from period
Described: March, July
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: yes, May 21 v. Detroit
Uniform: gray, red stockings and cap
First worn: May 21, Buffalo
Photographed: woodcut from period
Described: May
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style and color, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Rendering posted: September 11, 2022
Diggers on this uniform: Chuck McGill, Ed Morton, Mike Roer,