1886 Chicago (Chicagos, White Stockings)
Left: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Right: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style only. Color information is unknown and the uniform is rendered in values of gray. Minor 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 these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated 1886. Year of photo confirmed by appearance of player Moolic, who only played for Chicago in 1886. Team was photographed wearing dark uniforms, with white caps, lettering, lace ties, belts and stockings. One player, Flynn, top row second from right, was wearing a shirt with dark lace ties. McCormick, seated at right in the front row of three players, was wearing a dark undershirt under his uniform. This undershirt had light-colored bands at the wrist and was similar to the sleeves on the 1885 uniform. It is possible that McCormick was wearing the long-sleeved 1885 shirt under the short-sleeved 1886 shirt. This photo has been cropped to focus on the players. The full view shows the entire pennant behind the team. The item reads “Champions of the United States,” and this undoubtedly was the Nhampionship pennant of 1885 raised at the Chicago home opener on May 6, 1886, see written descriptions below. Chicago won the league title in 1885 and 1886. Newspapers in 1886 described the Chicago uniform as being navy blue in color with white cap and stockings.
Top row, from left: B Sunday (83-87), A Dalrymple (79-86), N Williamson (Chi NL 79-89, Chi PL 90), J Ryan (Chi NL 85-89, 91-00, Chi PL 90), J Flynn (86, 87) and T Burns (80-91). Middle row of 5 seated players: M Kelly (80-86), G Gore (79-86), G Moolic (86), F Pfeffer (Chi NL 83-89, 91, 96, 97, Chi PL 90) and S Flint (79-89). Front row of 3 seated players: J Clarkson (84-87), C Anson (76-97) and J McCormick (85, 86). Player IDs from SABR, The National Pastime (Number 3, Spring 1984). Years with team from baseball-reference.com.
Dated 1886. Detail view of photo A. Detail view shows light-colored stitching around the placket, on the collar and around the shirt pocket.
Photo B
Dated 1886. This photo was made at the same time as photo A, only in this version players were wearing their caps.
Dated 1886. Detail view of photo B. Detail view shows light-colored stitching around the placket, on the collar and around the shirt pocket. Player at far left wore a dark braid around the base of his cap.
Photo C
Dated circa 1886. Old Judge baseball card of M Kelly (80-86). Full view at left, detail view at right. This baseball card was produced circa 1887. Kelly was sold from Chicago to Boston on February 14, 1887 for $10,000. This card acknowledged that transaction on the face of the card, confirming a production date of 1887 or later. Since Kelly was wearing a Chicago uniform in this photo, it can be assumed this image was made before February 1887. Uniform appears to match the uniform shown in the 1886 team photo, see photos A and B. Years Kelly with team from baseball-reference.com. Kelly sale date from baseball-almanac.com.
Photo D
Dated circa 1886. Old Judge baseball card of M Kelly (80-86). Full view at left, detail view at right. Similar to photo C, this baseball card was produced circa 1887. This portrait of Kelly shows the light-colored accent stitching around the shirt placket, shirt pocket and shirt collar. Kelly’s necktie seems to match that shown in photo C, suggesting both photos were made at the same time during 1886. Years Kelly with team from baseball-reference.com.
Photo E
Dated 1885 to 1886. Old Judge baseball card of J McCormick (85, 86). Full view at left, detail view at right. Baseball card dated 1887, however McCormick ‘s last year with Chicago was 1886. Shirt lettering seems to match that shown in 1886 team photo, see photos A and B. Player wore a light-colored cap with a braid above the bill, a dark-colored belt and striped stockings suggesting this was an alternate look for 1886, or possibly elements from another year or team. Years McCormick with team from baseball-reference.com.
Photo F
Dated 1885 to 1886. Old Judge baseball card of J McCormick (85, 86). Full view at left, detail view at right. Baseball card dated 1887, however McCormick ‘s last year with Chicago was 1886. Shirt lettering matches that shown in 1886 team photo, see photos A and B. Detail view shows light-colored accent stitching on shirt. Based on the configuration of the lace ties on the shirt, this image was made at the same time as image E. Years McCormick with team from baseball-reference.com.
Photo G
Dated circa 1886. Illustration of C Anson (76-97), most likely based on a photo. Player wore a uniform in this illustration that matched the uniform shown in the 1886 Chicago team picture, see photo A. Years Anson with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from Getty Images, which dated this illustration as 1885.
Photo H
Dated 1880s. The Bat cigar box panel art featuring C Anson, Chicago, at left and T Keefe, New York, at right. The 5-cent cigar was produced by the Simmons Cigar Co., Chicago. The image of Anson (76-97) was clearly was made from the same image as photo G, circa 1886, and suggested the Chicago uniform was blue in color, with a white cap, belt and stockings. Years Anson with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from bidsquare.com.
Photo I
Dated June 19, 1886, Chicago v. Detroit, at Detroit, Recreation Park. Photo date from a reprint of this image (date not shown in crop). Photo showed Detroit wearing an all-white uniform and playing the field, and Chicago wearing a blue uniform with white cap and stockings at bat. Information on printed on the photo incorrectly stated game score as Detroit 1, Chicago 0, in 13 innings. Actual score was Chicago 5, Detroit 4, in regulation. Game research from Tom Sheiber.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1886: “Preparations for the uniforming and equipment of teams for the coming season have already begun. […] This year, as last, the total-abstinence agreement will be entered into by the [Chicago] players, and will doubtless be as rigidly adhered to. The uniform of the team this year [1886] will be practically the same as last season, navy blue with white cap, stockings and trimmings. In addition, however, each man will be provided with a close-fitting, yet yielding jacket of white material with blue trimmings, to be worn when the state of weather demands, and Capt. Anson’s Spanish bull-fighting costume, which has added so much to the picturesque effect of the scene during games in seasons past, will have to go.” From the St. Paul Globe, February 15, 1886. Research from Don Stokes and Graig Kreindler.
March 1886: “The new pictures of the White Stockings are selling well at Spaldings.” From The Sporting Life, March 24, 1886. This entry may be referencing the Chicago team photo taken in 1885 or possibly photo A, suggesting the image was taken in March 1886.
April 1886: “That afternoon [April 1, 1886 in Memphis] the boys were to put on their new uniforms for the first time this year in a game with the Memphis team and Anson had notified them to be in the office at 2:30 to go to the grounds. At that hour Burns, Kelly and Gore came down the stair way in the old familiar blue and white, with their addition of a tourist jacket of white flannel.” From The Sporting Life, April 14, 1886. This report was submitted by the newspaper’s Chicago corespondent after talking with Harry Palmer of the Chicago Tribune. Palmer had traveled with the team during spring training and returned to Chicago a few days before April 8. This April 14 edition of The Sporting Life also printed physical measurements of each player on the Chicago team, which had been supplied by Palmer. The measurements for Cap Anson were: chest 41 3/4, biceps 14 1/4, forearm 14 1/4, thigh 26, calf 16 3/4, height 6′ 2″ and weight 218 lbs. The players’ weights were recorded in Memphis on April 1. The newspaper also listed the players’ weights on March 15 at the start of spring training in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Anson weighted 227 lbs. at Hot Springs.
April 1886: “On the first of the month [Chicago] began a series of exhibition games at Memphis, Tenn., and appeared on the field in their new uniform and white flannel tourist jackets.” From the New York Herald, April 18, 1886.
May 1886: “A new feature in scoring cards will be introduced this season, in addition to the free score-sheets. A handsome pamphlet with base ball news and an enlarged scoring-sheet will be sold on the grounds at 5 cents a copy. ‘This is a custom in all other base ball cities, and it has been requested by many of our patrons,’ said Mr. Splading.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 6, 1886. An ad in this edition of the newspaper promoted the home opener on May 7 and listed the admissioncost at 50 cents, reserved seats in the grandstand at 75 cents, and seats in a private box at one dollar. Tickets were available at A. G. Spalding & Bros., 108 Madison Street; Clayton’s, 121 Clark Street; and Mayers, Board of Trade, Pfeffer & Corcoran, 447 W. Madison Street.
May 6, 1886, Chicago v. Detroit, at Chicago, home opener: “Austin’s full band was present, and played from the ‘Mikado’ as Capt. Anson and the White Stockings filed out of the club-house bearing the pennant which the club captured last season [1885]. This was hoisted to the top of the tail flagstaff amidst much applause, and the White Stockings took the field for practice.” From the Chicago Tribune, May 7, 1886. The Mikado is a Gilbert & Sullivan opera first produced in March 1885. The pennant described here was undoubtedly the same that was displayed behind the Chicago team in photo A, also see the Inter Ocean entry from May 7 below, for more details. The Tribune also reported that noted comedian Nat Goodwin attended the opening game, but was later “driven away by the cold.”
May 6, 1886, Chicago v. Detroit, at Chicago, home opener: “The only ceremony observed [before the game] was that of the formal hoisting of the new [National] league pennant, which is a conspicuous piece of bunting, with a circular centerpiece in white, bearing the appropriate legend, and in general style suspiciously suggestive of the Spalding trade-mark.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 6, 1886. This pennant was undoubtedly the same that was displayed behind the Chicago team in photo A.
June 19, 1886, parade before a Chicago-Detroit game in Detroit: “At the head of the [Chicago] procession was a small boy carrying a broom sixteen feet long. This bore the inscription, ‘Our Mascot.’ It was not the genuine Chicago mascot, however, upon whom the team are ready to gamble. He had come [to Detroit] late last night, and was sleep at the hotel. A mascot by proxy had to be improvised. This fact was regarded as ominous by Manager Spalding, who feared that the proxy might be a Jonah. […] The rank and file [parading fans from Chicago] brought up the rear. Each one proudly carried a broom with the modest ‘Record Breakers’ inscription.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 20, 1886.
July 2, 1886, Chicago v. New York, at Chicago: “The club in the blue uniforms [Chicago] had rolled up thirteen errors to its credit.” From the Chicago Tribune, July 3, 1886.
July 1886: “The firm of A. G. Spalding & Bros., of Chicago, who are the largest dealers as well as manufacturers of athletic goods in the country, and probably the world, are forced to run their tailoring department extra time to supply the large demand made upon them for their base-ball uniforms, which are considered about correct.” From the Shullsburg (WI) Pick and Gad, July 8, 1886.
July 9, 1886, parade before a Chicago-Detroit game in Chicago: “In another carriage […] rode McCormick, Anson, Dalrymple, Williamson and Pfeffer, and the mascot Willie Hahn [sp?], carrying the silk pennant presented by New York last year [1885].” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 10, 1886. Some documentation has showed that the mascot’s surname was Hahm, not Hahn. The pre-game parade included several carriages of Detroit rooters. It was reported that each carriage was “decorated with a gorgeous tin rooster on a six-foot stick. Many of the visitors carried these emblems of victory and waved them defiantly as they passed.”
September 20, 1886, Chicago v. Detroit, at Detroit: “The Chicagos have apparently retired from the mascot business. Willie Hahn is not with them this trip [in Detroit], but still they keep on winning.” From the Detroit Free Press, September 21, 1886.
October 22, 1886, Chicago v. St, Louis (AA), at St Louis, World’s Championship game: “Anson elected to pitch [Ned] Baldwin, a young twirler […] signed by Chicago. Baldwin donned the blue uniform and came on the field.” From the Chicago Tribune, October 23, 1886.
December 1886: “It is said that Al Spalding has declared that the United States Mints cannot coin enough money to purchase the release of [team mascot] Willie Hahn [sp?]. The latter is considered to be more important than any member of the club. During a triumphal barouche ride through the principal streets of the city, at the close of the [1886] season, he occupied a private conveyance and was cheered lustily all along the route. At the theatre in the evening he occupied the most conspicuous position in one of the private boxes and attracted more attention than the people before the footlights.” From the San Francisco Chronicle, December 12, 1886. This was an excerpt of a story on baseball good-luck charms. A barouche is a four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a collapsible hood over the rear half. Some documentation has showed that the mascot’s surname was Hahm, not Hahn.
December 1886: “The Chicagos’ mascot for the past three seasons has been a little boy in short clothes named Willie Hahn [sp?]. The tiny fellow is just able to talk and always sits on the bench during the game. The Chicagos have the greatest confidence in him as a promoter of success and make great fuss over him. Two seasons ago [1885], when the Chicagos won the championship of the [National] league, they hired an open landau upon their return home, put Master Willie in it, bedecked him with flowers and wreaths and hauled him all over the city by hand.” From the San Francisco Chronicle, December 24, 1886. This was an excerpt from a second story by the newspaper on baseball good-luck charms. Some documentation has showed that the mascot’s surname was Hahm, not Hahn.
Team genealogy:
Chicago 1874-
Chicago reformed after the Great Fire of October 1871 and rejoined the National Association (NA) in 1874 and 1875 after a two-year absence. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Chicago joined the National League (NL) at its formation in 1876 and the team has played in the NL every year since 1876. Information from Paul Batesel, Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com, and from wikipedia.
1886 Chicago summary
Uniform: dark blue, white cap and stockings
First worn: April 1, Memphis
Photographed: team photo from year, possibly March?
Described: February, April, July, October
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations: may have worn with striped stockings
Other items: white flannel jacket with blue trim
Home opener report: yes, May 6 v. Detroit
Rendering posted: September 11, 2015
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, Graig Kreindler,