1889 Washington DC (Washingtons)
Left & Right: These renderings are 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 renderings.
Rendering accuracy: Year: documented Team: documented
Center: 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 these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated April-May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of H Ebright (Stockton CL 89, Was 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date determined in combination with Old Judge card of player Banning, see photo B. Both photos utilized the same studio background suggesting the images were made at the same time and both players were released from the team in June 1889. Ebright played for Washington in 1889 only and he most likely returned to the team after his release. An 1890 newspaper report stated Ebright was with Washington “during the latter part of last season [1889].” It is possible he can also be identified in the Washington team photo dated September 1889, see team photo below. Ebright wore a white or light-colored uniform in photo A, with a matching cap and a light-colored belt and stockings. The shirt had lace ties that ended above a letter “W” which was centered on the shirt and utilized a block-serif font. Based on this photo Ebright may have worn a cap with horizontal bands, though unconfirmed. Note that the player wore two types of fielding gloves in this photo, a fingerless glove on his throwing hand and a padded glove on the other. Year Ebright with team from baseball-reference.com. Release info from the New York Herald, June 20, 1889. Return to Washington info from the New York Herald, January 16, 1890. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo B
Dated April-May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of J Banning (88, 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date determined in combination with Old Judge card of player Ebright, see photo A. Both photos utilized the same studio background suggesting the images were made at the same time and both players were released from the team in June 1889. A newspaper report from June 2, 1889 stated Banning had been recently released. Note the oversized fielding glove worn by player. Detail view shows how similar in tone the uniform and the shirt letter appeared when represented in values of gray. Years Banning with team from baseball-reference.com. Release info from the Buffalo Sunday News, June 2, 1889. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo C
Dated April-May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of A Ferson (89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date range determined by similarity in studio background to photos A & B. Detail view shows another view of the letter “W” on the shirt in a block-serif font. Player wore a dark undershirt. Year Ferson with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo D
Dated April-May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of G Keefe (NL 86-89, AA 91). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date range determined by similarity in studio background to photos A & B. Detail view shows view of belt and closure. Years Keefe with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo E
Dated April-May 1889. Old Judge baseball card of P Sweeney (Was 88, 89, StL AA 89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date range determined by similarity in studio background to photos A & B. Detail view shows undershirt with bands of double stripes. Year Sweeney with team and surname spelling from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo F
Dated September 1889. Photo year can be confirmed by appearance of players Daly, Ebright, A Irwin, Carney, Clark and Ferson. These men played for Washington in 1889 only. Photo date of September 1889 from photo caption may further be confirmed by player A Irwin, who was purchased by Washington from Philadelphia on June 8, 1889. Players wore a tight-fitting dark cloth uniform in this photo, with dark stockings and cap. The cap can be seen in the foreground of the photo. Also note the bat bag in the foreground. The belt of the uniform was white or light-colored, as was the sans-serif letter “W” centered on the shirt.
Top row, from left: J Irwin (87-89), unidentified, C Mack (86-89), G Haddock (88, 89) and T Daly (89). Middle: H Ebright (Stockton CL 89, Was 89), W Witmot (88, 89), D Hoy (88, 89, 92, 93), A Irwin (Phi 89, Was 89), unidentified and J Carney (89). Front, on ground: S Clark (89) and A Ferson (89). Player IDs from Ken Samoil. Additional info on player IDs from Nigel Ayres, who speculates unidentified players may be Sullivan and Healy. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Athletic Sports in America, England and Australia (1889).
Dated September 1889. Detail view of photo E. Detail view shows lace ties ending above the letter.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1889: “The Washington Club’s uniforms are being made here [in Philadelphia].” From The Sporting Life, March 27, 1889.
April 1889: “The [National] League’s colors are varied, of course. […] The Senators have been so long busy trying to land [John] Ward that no thought has been given to uniforms there.” From the Cleveland Leader, April 8, 1889, referencing a story by Ben Mulford of the Cincinnati Times-Star. Research from Gary Kodner.
April 1889: “In all probability the two [Washington] uniforms will be two shades of gray, with blue stockings for both. The darker uniform will be best adapted for traveling purposes and the lighter one for use at home, where laundries are more convenient.” From the Washington Star, April 13, 1889. Report from Peter Morris, A Game of Inches (2006, 2010), referencing research from David Ball. Note that this report when compared to additional reports below give conflicting color information for the Washington uniforms. Uniform color in these reports has been described as gray, brown and blue.
April 1889: “John Morrill is now a Senator. He arrived here [in Washington] late last night. […] On his way down from Boston, at the request of Mr. Hewitt, he procured from Spalding and Brother and also from Al Reach samples of the uniforms for the Senators.” From the Boston Globe, April 13, 1889, page 5, citing a report from Washington.
April 1889: “The Washingtons have received their new uniforms, and will wear them in today’s game [home opener on April 24]. They are very neat, being composed of gray with blue stockings. From the Washington Post, April 23, 1889, page 6.
April 1889: “The Washingtons have ordered new uniforms from Wright & Ditson of this city [Boston]. They are to be of a brownish color and trimmed with royal blue, with stockings and belts to match. On the breast in blue will be the letter W.” From the Boston Globe, April 24, 1889, page 3.
April 24, 1889, Washington v. Philadelphia, at Washington, Capitol Park, home opener: “The Washingtons filed out of the club house and marched across the field. As the new gray uniforms came into view there was a murmur of applause that rapidly ripened into an earnest and hearty series of cheers.” From the Washington Post, April 25, 1889, page 2.
April 24, 1889, Washington v. Philadelphia, at Washington, Capitol Park, home opener: “There was a little disappointment expressed as the turnstile kept up its clicking and the incomers, getting their score cards, saw that the battery of the day for Washington was Keefe and Ebright.” From the Washington Evening Star, April 25, 1889, page 8. Does this imply score cards were given away free on this day?
April 1889: “The Washington team is to have a new uniform of brownish color, trimmed with royal blue, with stockings to match.” From the New York Evening Telegram, April 26, 1889.
May 1889: “It would not be a bad idea for Washington to dispose of their gray uniforms. They are too pretty to play in.” From the Washington Post, May 7, 1889, page 2.
May 1889: “The new white uniforms of the Giants were heavy and clumsy looking in comparison to the neat blue suits of the Washingtons.” From the New York Evening Telegram, May 14, 1889. No other mention of a “blue suit” has been found to date.
June 10, 1889, Washington v. Philadelphia, at Washington: “Arthur Irwin made his first appearance in a Washington uniform. It looked strange to see him in a gray and blue suit.” From the Washington Post, June 11, 1889, page 2.
June 28, 1889, Washington v. Cleveland, at Cleveland: “The Senators are dressed in dingy gray jersey with light blue stockings and do not look well on a dull day.” From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 1889, page 4.
July 1889: “It is rumored that the Senators are to be clothed in new uniforms in a short time.” From the New York Herald, July 14, 1889, page 10.
July 26, 1889, Washington v. New York, at New York, Polo Grounds: “The New Yorkers looked as spicy and clean-cut as thoroughbreds in their bright uniforms, while the Washingtons looked dirty and hungry.” From the New York Tribune, July 27, 1889, page 3.
July 29, 1889, Washington v. New York, at Washington: “By telegraph to the Herald – John Irwin and Beecher wore league uniforms.” From the New York Herald, July 30, 1889. The meaning of this newspaper entry is unclear.
August 1889, interview with Washington manager Irwin: “When we return from the Western trip, the men will have new uniforms. They will be black Nadjys, with white stockings, and will look much better than the present dirty looking gray we have.” From the Cleveland Leader, August 1, 1889, page 6, citing the Washington Post.
August 1889: “When the Senators get into their Nadjys, look out for a rapid climb of the league ladder.” From the Washington Evening Star, August 3, 1889, page 12.
August 5, 1889, Washington v. Cleveland, at Cleveland: “The players of both clubs appeared in new black Nadjy uniforms, which did not seem to interfere with the playing of the infants [i.e., Cleveland].” From the Washington Post, August 6, 1889, page 2.
August 5, 1889, Washington v. Cleveland, at Cleveland: “There was so much blackness on the grounds. Twenty or more athletic young men clothed in garments of somber hue flitted about like giant elves. […] Both the Giant Killers and the Senators were clad in spick-span new working clothes. […] The similarity between the uniforms is great. The main difference is the cut of the cloth. The suits of the Washingtons are built on a ‘hug-me-tight’ plan, while those of the Clevelands are laid out on the oriental order, with Kensington stitching. A large masculine looking ‘W’ in white ornaments the breast of the Senators’ shirts, and tissue paper stockings conceal their ‘sprinting sticks.’” From the Cleveland Leader, August 6, 1889, page 3.
September 18, 1889, Washington v. New York, at Washington: “The Statesman, [wore] their black nadjys. […] The Giants wore their white gowns.” From the Washington Evening Star, September 18, 1889, page 5.
1889 Washington uniform summary
Uniform: light gray, light blue stockings
First worn:
Photographed: player portraits from May or before
Described: April-June
Material:
Manufacturer: samples from Spalding & Bro. and Al Reach, made by Wright & Ditson, Boston
Supposition:
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: yes, April 24 v. Philadelphia
Uniform:
First worn: light brown, blue stockings
Photographed:
Described: April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations:
Uniform: black, black stockings
First worn: possibly August 5, Cleveland
Photographed: team photo from September
Described: August, September
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations: also wore with white stockings
Team genealogy:
Washington 1886-1889
Washington was formed in Washington, DC, to join the National League (NL) in 1886. The NL began operation in 1876 and Washington played in the NL between 1886 and 1889. The team disbanded after the 1889 season. Information from Wikipedia.
Rendering posted: November 18, 2020
Diggers on this uniform: Gary Kodner, Ken Samoil, Nigel Ayres,