1889 Chicago (Chicagos, Black Stockings, Colts)
Documentation recorded on these uniforms:
White– visual & written
Gray– visual & written
These renderings are included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated April to mid-July 1889. Old Judge baseball card of A Sommers (Chi 89, Ind NL 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date determined by fact that Sommers was released by Chicago on July 21, 1889, his only year with with the team. Photo shows a tight-fitting uniform, most likely light gray in color. The stockings and cap were dark in color. The team was sometimes referred to as the Black Stockings during this period. Note the padded catcher’s glove on left hand. Detail view shows dark-colored lace ties ending above the letters, and subtle horizontal bands on the cap. The dark lace ties distinguish this Chicago uniform from a nearly identical uniform worn in late 1888 that had light-colored lace ties. Year Sommers with team and transaction info from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo B
Dated April to mid-July 1889. Old Judge baseball card of J Tener (88, 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date determined by similarity in studio background with the photo of Sommers above. Detail view shows tight-fitting pants. Years Tener with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo C
Dated 1889. Old Judge cabinet card of B Hutchinson (89-95). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo background was similar but not an exact match to photos A and B, suggesting this photo session took place at a different time in 1889. The uniform also has slight differences when compared to photos A and B: the lace ties extended further down the shirt and the city name was positioned lower on the shirt accordingly. Years Hutchinson with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo D
Dated September 2-4, 1889. Photo of team most likely made at Huntingdon Grounds, Philadelphia. If date on caption is correct, this photo was probably taken between September 2 and September 4, 1889 as Chicago played at Philadelphia on these dates. Players in photo wore a uniform matching that shown in the Old Judge baseball cards from this same year, see photos above. Seven of the players shown wore short sleeves, two of which also wore a dark undershirt and one wore a white undershirt. Three of the players wore long sleeves. Player Williamson, front row, second from left, wore a support sock or tape on one ankle, and a small fielder’s glove.
Top row, from left: F Dwyer (NL 88, 89, PL 90), T Burns (80-91), J Ryan (NL 85-89, 91-00, PL 90), H Duffy (NL 88, 89, PL 90), unidentified and D Darling? (NL 87-89, PL 90). Front: G Van Haltren (87-89), N Williamson (NL 79-89, PL 90), C Anson (76-97), D Farrell (NL 88, 89, PL 90), F Pfeffer (NL 83-89, 91, PL 90) and J Tener (88, 89). Player ID of Dwyer from Nigel Ayres. Farrell ID from Ken Samoil. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Philadelphia game dates from retrosheet.org. Image scan from Mark Fimoff, SABR 19th-century Pictorial Committee. Original photo published in Athletic Sports in America, England and Australia (1889). Original photo by Levytype Co., Philadelphia.
Dated September 2-4, 1889. Detail view of photo D. Detail view shows lace ties ending at the letters.
Dated September 2-4, 1889. Detail view of photo D. Detail view shows subtle horizontal bands on dark cap.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
April 1889: “The [National] League’s colors are varied, of course. Boston, like Cincinnati, has clung long to the red, while the word Chicago was long synonymous with ‘White Stocking,’ but they, too, have broken away from custom. Walter Spalding writes — “Chicago’s colors will probably be the same as last year [1888], which were for the working suit gray flannel with black stockings and black cap. For dress uniform a white knit shirt and pants with black stockings and black cap, with the word ‘Chicago’ on the breast of both shirts. They wear black belts with both suits.” From the Cleveland Leader, April 8, 1889, referencing a story by Ben Mulford of the Cincinnati Times-Star. Research from Gary Kodner.
April 8, 1889, Chicago v. All-America at Brooklyn, Washington Park, exhibition game: “The Chicagos appeared on the field in their old bluish gray uniforms.” From the Pittsburgh Dispatch, April 9, 1889. Research from Don Stokes.
April 8, 1889, Chicago v. All-America, at Brooklyn, Washington park, exhibition game: “Anson’s men, in the same old lavender uniforms of last year [1888], played their prettiest, but they were no match for the job lots at any period of the game.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 9, 1889, page 2, citing a special dispatch.
April 20, 1889, Chicago v. All-America at Chicago, exhibition game at conclusion of world tour: “The [Chicago] home team wore gray uniforms.” The Chicago Daily Tribune, April 21, 1889. Research from Don Stokes.
May 3, 1889, Chicago v. Cleveland, at Cleveland, home opener: “Captain Anson, accompanied by twelve Chicago players […] arrived at the Weddell house [in Cleveland], and the wearers of the gray uniform, many of whom are old favorites here, were warmly greeted.” From the Cleveland Leader, May 4, 1889, page 3.
May 1889: “Little [Charlie] Bastian will be seen in the gray uniform at short [for Chicago].” From the Saint Joseph (MO) News-Press, May 4, 1889, page 5.
May 8, 1889, Chicago v. Pittsburgh, at Chicago, Black Stocking Park, home opener: “The Blacks were unable to help their score during the ensuing seven innings. […] The spectators eventually left the grounds in thorough good humor with the exhibition of ball playing they had seen, even though the lads and black and gray had got the worst of it.” From the Chicago Tribune, May 9, 1889, page 3. Chicago lost 3 to 2.
July 22, 1889, Chicago v. Indianapolis at Indianapolis: “The Indianapolis and Chicago uniforms are much alike in color and design.” From the Chicago Tribune, July 23, 1889. Research from Don Stokes. Earlier this same month, the Indianapolis Journal reported on July 12, 1889 that the “Hoosiers have had a new uniforms made for the hot weather. They are of a light gray color, with navy blue trimmings and college caps.” This report may suggest the Chicago uniform was light gray. July 22 game date from retrosheet.org.
September 1889: “President A. G, Spalding, of the Chicago base ball club, was interviewed last night [September 22] regarding the big base ball trust [of the Brotherhood movement]. He said: ‘I shall not retire from business on account of the great plot, but get the best team I can together next season and go on. The plotters may get grounds in Chicago, but they will not play at ‘black-stocking’ park. That is certain.’” From the Cleveland Leader, September 24, 1889, page 3. Use of the black stocking nickname.
October 1, 1889, Washington v. Chicago at Chicago: “Washington won today’s game with ease. The [Chicago] black stockings played a very loose game.” From the Albany (NY) Express, October 2, 1889. Report confirms use of black stocking name. October 1 game date confirmed by retrosheet.org.
1889, referenced in January 1890: “Ad Gumbert will pitch for the Black Stockings next season [for] sure.” From the Buffalo Courier, January 27, 1890. This was a quote from Cap Anson implying that Gumbert, a Chicago pitcher, was not switching to the Players’ League for the upcoming season. By the time the 1890 season had started, Gumbert had signed to play for Boston of the Players’ League.
1889, referenced in February 1890, Chicago v. St. Augustine, at St. Augustine FL, exhibition game: “There was a great cheer when the Chicagos appeared on the field. Their uniform is a light gray with black stockings, black caps, and trimmings of the same color.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, February 15, 1890. The team may have been wearing their uniforms from 1889.
1889, referenced in March 1890: “[The Oakland uniform of 1890] is a black knit shirt with rolling collar, black knee shorts, [and] black and white cap. The suits are what they call the Nadjy pattern. They are like those worn by the Chicagos last year [in 1889], except that they are black and white, instead of gray.” From the Oakland Tribune, March 26, 1890. Research from Don Stokes.
1889 Chicago uniform summary
Uniform: white, black cap and stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style, lettering style
Variations:
Other items: light-toned coats with dark collars and cuffs
Home opener report: yes, May 8 v. Pittsburgh, wore light gray uniform
Uniform: light gray, black cap and stockings
First worn:
Photographed: team portraits from year, team photo from early September
Described: April, May, July
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations:
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.
Rendering posted: October 15, 2018
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, Ken Samoil, Mark Fimoff, Nigel Ayres,