1887 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis, Reds)

Documentation recorded on these uniforms:
White– written only
Gray– written only

These renderings are included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.

Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None

Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1887: “The uniform the Cincinnatis will wear away from home is entirely different from that they will don on their own grounds.  Their ‘traveling uniform,’ as it is called, will consist of light gray shirts and trousers, checked with red, the stripes so narrow and faint as to be hardly distinguishable. Red caps and red stockings complete the outfit.” From The Sporting Life, March 2, 1887. Research from Chuck McGill.

March 1887: “Hawley is making the Cincinnatis’ new uniform.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 6, 1887. James R. Hawley ran a book and stationery store at 164 Vine street, Cincinnati. The store was also described as a “news room” and a “Cincinnati Depot selling Spalding Athletic and Sporting Goods.” The store sold tickets in advance to local theatre events and to Reds’ games.

March 1887: “The St. Louis and Cincinnati Clubs, the only [American] Association teams that did not have traveling uniforms last season [1886], have fallen into line and will come out with brand-new costumes [in 1887].” From the Philadelphia Times, March 13, 1887.

March 1887: “‘Grandpa’ Hawley furnished the new uniforms for the Cincinnatis. They are very fine, and will set off the Apollo forms of Kid Baldwin and Charlie Jones in great style.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 20, 1887.

March 1887: “The Kids [younger Cincinnati players] will wear the new gray uniforms this afternoon and the Vets [older players] will done them tomorrow.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 26, 1887.

March 1887: “If some good, live, enterprising businessman connected with the American Association would open a uniform and base-ball supply store he would ‘hog the persimmons’ in the way of the American Association patronage, most of the Association clubs are tired of feeding Al Reach & Co.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 27, 1887.

April 16, 1887, Cincinnati v. Cleveland, at Cincinnati, Cincinnati park, home opener: “The game played by the Reds yesterday was a magnificent one.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 17, 1887. Use of the Reds nickname.

May 4, 1887, Cincinnati v. Cleveland, at Cleveland, home opener: “The red-legged and gray-garbed base ball team that represents Cincinnati […] beat the Clevelands yesterday afternoon [May 4]. They were dressed in pinkish gray flannel with scarlet belts, caps and stockings.” From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 5, 1887.

June 1887: “The color of a least one uniform of each club in the [National] League and American Association is given below. It would be next to impossible to give the several different uniforms of each club, as they change the different pieces of one uniform to another, and may appear on the field in a different make-up every day for a week. However, one complete uniform of each club is as follows: […] Cincinnati — White shirt, trousers and cap, red belt and stockings.” From the New York Sun, June 12, 1887, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 14, 1887. Research from Todd Radom.

August 5, 1887, Cincinnati v. St. Louis, at St. Louis: “The game was interesting throughout and was a splendid victory for the Red Stockings. From the Philadelphia Inquirer, August 6, 1887. Use of the Red Stocking nickname.

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.

1887 Cincinnati summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: June
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bros.
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, April 16 v Cleveland

Uniform: light gray with checks, red cap and stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: March, May, August
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bros.
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: