1884 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis)

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:
March 1884: “The Cincinnati Club (regular team) uniform will be the same this season as last [1883] except the caps. The nine will have two sets of caps, one of parti-colors and the other a white cap with two red stripes. The reserve team will be the same as the regulars, differing only in the cap, which will be red, and in the word ‘Reserves’ across the shield of the shirt. The uniforms for both teams will probably be made in Chicago.” From The Sporting Life, March 5, 1884. Research from Ed Morton. The mention of Chicago suggested the team was planning to use Spalding & Bros. for uniform manufacturing.

May 1, 1884, Cincinnati v. Columbus, at Cincinnati, home opener: “It was noticed at the beginning of the game that [Cincinnati pitcher Will] White was a little nervous, and that he did not give his trousers the Dick Deadeye hitch he is wont to practice when confident of his prey.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 2, 1884. “Dick Deadeye” was the name of an overly serious seaman in the 1878 comedic stage opera, H. M. S. Pinafore, by Gilbert & Sullivan. This report also mentioned that “it took three balls to play the game yesterday, as two were lost by being knocked over the fence.”

June 1884: “The Cincinnati Reserves were to have started for St. Louis last night, but the management gave up the the trip as a bad go, and decided to disband the team.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 1, 1884.

Team genealogy: Cincinnati 1881-
Cincinnati was formed in 1881 to join the American Association (AA) for its inaugural season in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Cincinnati played in the AA throughout the 1880s and then joined the National League (NL) for the 1890 season. The NL began operation in 1876. Cincinnati has played every year in the NL from 1890 to present time. Information from wikipedia.com.

1884 Cincinnati summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: March
Material:
Manufacturer: possibly made by Spalding & Bro., Chicago
Supposition: shirt style, lettering
Variations: also wore parti-colored caps
Other items: reserve team wore white uniform with red caps, “Reserves” across shirt
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Columbus