1885 Metropolitan, New York (Metropolitans, Mets, Indians)

These renderings are based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the renderings. 

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None

Written documentation on these uniforms:
April 18, 1885, Metropolitan, New York v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at Philadelphia, opening day: “Cushman’s left-handed curves puzzled the ‘Mets’ and the five hits they made were all scattered. […] Reipslager, one of the catchers [of the Metropolitans], occupied third base and used a heavy glove to protect his sore hand.” From the Philadelphia Times, April 19, 1885. Use of the Mets nickname by a Philadelphia newspaper.

April 25, 1885, Metropolitan, New York, v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at New York, Polo Grounds, home opener: “The first thing to attract […] attention was a large pennant that floated to the breeze from the flagstaff bearing the inscription, ‘Metropolitan, 1885, Champions.’ This was the first time a pennant emblematic of the championship has ever been raised in the metropolis. The flag is made of white bunting, with a border and letters of blue.” From the New York Times, April 25, 1885.

April 25, 1885, Metropolitan, New York, v. Athletic, Philadelphia, at New York, Polo Grounds, home opener: “The championship pennant was raised yesterday at the Polo Grounds, New York, but the champions were defeated by the ex-champions, the Athletics of Philadelphia.” From the Brooklyn Union, April 25, 1885.

May 7, 1885, Metropolitan, New York, v. Allegheny, Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh: “The nine New Yorkers, with their blue stockings, played a good game yesterday and defeated the Alleghenys by 3 to 1.” From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 8, 1885. In mentioning only the color of the stockings, this report may imply the team wore white uniforms to start the season.

May 12, 1885, Metropolitan, New York v. Cincinnati, at Cincinnati, American Park: “The local men […] were confident of slaughtering the remains of Mutrie’s band of Indians, who had dropped three scalps to the Pittsburghers in as many days. The much-abused crew from Gotham came on the field attired in new uniforms, the exact counterparts of those worn by the Chicago [National] League team this season. They […] consist of navy blue shirts, pants and caps, trimmed in white, with white stockings and belts. Although their new make-up made them appear strange, the war-whoops of Chief Roseman and his principal warriors in the yelling line, Billy Holbert, Johnnie Troy and Eddie Kennedy, had the same familiar sound.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 13, 1885.

June 3, 1885, Metropolitan, New York, v. Louisville, at New York, Polo Grounds: “The Metropolitans appeared on the Polo Grounds yesterday for the first time in their new uniforms. […] The new suits are similar to those worn by the Chicago players.” From the New York Times, June 4, 1885. Research from Cliff Blau. As the Mets played five home games in April 1885, this report therefore suggested the team did not wear the navy blue uniforms during those first games.

June 1885: “The uniforms of the various clubs in the American Association are as follows: Louisville, white with dark red stockings and caps; Cincinnati, white with scarlet stockings; Pittsburg[h], gray, with red stockings; St. Louis, white, with brown stockings; Athletics; white, with blue stockings; Baltimore, white pants, pink-striped caps and jackets and red stockings; Brooklyns, gray, with red stockings; Mets, blue suits, with white stockings.” From the Ellicottville (NY) Post, June 15, 1885. A similar report was included in The Sporting Life, June 17, 1885, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 20, 1885, and a research pamphlet by Preston Orem, Baseball From Newspaper Accounts, 1885 (early 1960s). Specific documentation was not provided by Orem but his finding most likely came from a newspaper from the June 1885 time period. Orem passage from John Thorn. Sporting Life research from Chuck McGill.

June 21, 1886, Metropolitan, New York, v. Baltimore, at Staten Island: “The ‘Indians’ bunched their hits and played good ball generally.” From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, June 22, 1886. Use of the nickname “Indians,” referring to the Mets.

July 9, 1885, Metropolitan, New York, v. Allegheny, Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh: “The nine ball-players for New York, with their blue stockings, were, metaphorically speaking, knocked beyond the clouds yesterday by the Alleghenys.” From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 10, 1885.

Team genealogy:
 Metropolitan, New York 1880-1887
Metropolitan was formed as an independent pro team in New York, NY, in 1880 and through the end of the 1882 season competed as an independent against teams from the National League (NL) and the American Association (AA). The AA was a new major league formed in 1882 and Metropolitan joined the AA for the 1883 season. They played in the new league between 1883 and 1887 and the team disbanded after the 1887 season. Information from wikipedia.

1885 Metropolitan summary

Uniform: white, blue stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: May, July
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style and color, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: none, April 25 v. Athletic

Uniform: dark blue, white stockings
First worn: May 12, Cincinnati
Photographed:
Described: May, June
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: