1884 National, Washington DC (Nationals, Washingtons, Unions)
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 uniforms of the Nationals will be of light gray cloth trimmed with red, cardinal stockings, blue belt, and a white cap trimmed with red and blue. The suits come from Wright & Dittson [sp], Boston.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, March 15, 1884. This same report was published in the Boston Globe, March 15, 1884. Globe research from Chuck McGill. Note that later reports described the color of the uniform as blue, not gray.
March 1884: “The season will be formally opened by the Nationals on the 7th and 8th of April. […] George Wright has been awarded the contract for making the new uniforms, which will be similar to those used by the Harvard College nine, a mixture of blue and gray flannel and red stockings.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 23, 1884.
March 1884: “The National’s uniform will be the same as worn by the old club in years gone by, when the club was a tower of strength—white, with red stockings, trimmings and belt.” From The Sporting Life, March 26, 1884. Research from Justin Mckinney. Note that newspaper reports from two days later as well as from the following month suggest the uniform was blue, not white.
March 1884: “The National Club of Washington will be true to its name even in the colors of its uniforms, which are to consist of red stockings, white caps and belts, and blue breeches and shirts.” From the Boston Globe, March 28, 1884. Globe research from Chuck McGill. This identical report was published in The Sporting Life, April 2, 1884. Sporting Life research from Ed Morton.
April 1884: “The Nationals have received their uniforms, consisting of a navy blue shirt and knickerbockers, with red trimmings, ribbed red stockings, white flannel caps and belts with red trimmings, and calf-skin shoes.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 13, 1884. Research from Bill Hickman.
April 17, 1884, Washington Unions v. Baltimore Unions, at Baltimore, Belair Lot Park, opening day: “The Nationals wore blue suits.” From the Baltimore American, April 18, 1884. Research from Justin Mckinney.
April 17, 1884, Washington Unions v. Baltimore Unions, at Baltimore, Belair Lot Park, opening day: “The uniform of the National Club is blue suits, red stockings, white caps, white letter N on shorts.” From the Baltimore Day, 1884. Research from Richard Hershberger.
April 21, 1884, Washington Unions v. Baltimore Unions, at Baltimore, Union Park: “Voss was […] batted furiously and frequently, and as the outfielders were making a succession of miserable errors a general panic seized upon the blue uniforms and tarried there.” From the Baltimore Sun, April 22, 1884.
May 28, 1884, National, Washington, v. Cincinnati Union at Cincinnati: “The visitors [from Washington] looked very nice in their neat suits of navy blue flannel, with white shoes, stockings, belts and caps, and a white letter N on their shirts.” From Justin Mckinney. Game date from retrosheet.org.
Team genealogy:
National, Washington DC, 1884-1884
National was formed in Washington, DC, to enter the Union Association (UA) in 1884. The UA was a pro league that operated for one year in 1884. National disbanded when the UA folded. The team took its name from previous teams playing in Washington and in 1884 there was a second team using that name and playing in the American Association. Information from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: April 15, 2017
Diggers on this uniform: Bill Hickman, Chuck McGill, Ed Morton, Justin Mckinney, Richard Hershberger,