1887 Lord Baltimore, Baltimore (Lord Baltimores)

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 1887: “Tom York is going to into the sporting goods line on North Howard street [in Baltimore] and will represent Reach, of Philadelphia. […] York will make the new uniforms of the Lord Baltimore Colored Club, members of the National Colored League. It will be white pants, caps and shirts, maroon trimmings.” From the Baltimore American, March 6, 1887. Research from Ed Morton. Game reports from April and May 1887 suggested that the team wore white with blue trimmings, not red trimmings. Tom York was a member of Baltimore in the American Association in 1884 and 1885, his final two years as a player. In 1886 he worked briefly as an umpire and in 1888 returned to baseball as a minor-league manager.

April 25, 1887, Lord Baltimore, Baltimore, v. Mutual, Baltimore, at Baltimore, exhibition game: “The Lord Baltimores wore a pretty suit of white flannel, with blue stockings and belts, and white cap with two blue stripes.” From the Baltimore Sun, April 26, 1887. Research from Ken Mars, The 1887 National Colored League Reference Guide (2017, SABR).

May 16, 1887, Lord Baltimore, Baltimore, v. Keystone, Pittsburgh, at Pittsburgh, Recreation Park: “The Baltimores appeared in a pretty suit of white with blue trimmings, that appeared to a greater advantage than the dingy suits worn by the home team [i.e., Pittsburgh].” From the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, May 17, 1887. Research from Ken Mars, The 1887 National Colored League Reference Guide (2017, SABR).

Team genealogy: Lord Baltimore, Baltimore 1887-1887
Lord Baltimore joined the NCBL for the league’s inaugural season in 1887. Play began in early May 1887, however the league folded by the end of the month due to financial difficulties. Information from wikipedia.com.