1892 Philadelphia (Philadelphias, Phillies)

Left: 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

Right: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Important details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:

Photo A

Dated mid-October 1892. Photo year determined by appearance of player Connor, his only year with the team. Photo date of mid-October 1892 determined by a newspaper report from October 23, 1892, that stated “the Phillies were photographed in a group in a Chestnut street studio the past week.” The photo frame above confirmed the Chestnut Street studio. Players wore a light-toned or light gray uniform in this photo with dark lace ties, a dark belt and dark stockings. The shirt displayed an old-English letter “P” on the left breast. The player at far right wore a shirt with only a portion of the letter attached, further suggesting the late 1892 date. Though difficult to determine, the player standing fifth from left may have worn a shirt with a city name across the front.

Top row standing, from left: C Reilly (92-95), S Thompson (89-98), (H Wright, mgr 84-93), R Connor (92), and B Hallman (NL 88, 89, 92-97, 01-03, PL 90, AA 91). Middle row, sitting: B Allen (90-94), E Delahanty (88, 89, 91-01), G Weyhing (AA 87-89, 91, NL 92-95), J Clements (UA 84, NL 84-97), T Keefe (91-93), L Cross (PL 90, AA 91, NL 92-97) and B Hamilton (90-95). Front on ground: K Carsey (92-97). Player IDs and image scan from the New York Public Library, A. G. Spalding Collection. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Original photo by Gilbert & Bacon, Philadelphia; Conrad M. Gilbert and W. Frank Bacon.

Dated mid-October 1892. Detail view of photo A. Detail view shows thin lace ties on the center of the shirt and an old-English style letter “P” on the left breast.

Photo B

Dated April 13, 1892. This drawing was published in a newspaper on this date and was based on a photograph taken of the Philadelphia team on April 12, 1892, at the Philadelphia home opener. Players were depicted wearing a shirt with lace ties and the letter “P” on the left breast. At least nine players wore the team sweater under the shirt and with the neck rolled down over the uniform collar. The mascot in the photo wore a shirt with the word “Phila” across the front. As the caption states, the original photograph was taken by the Philadelphia Press. A rival newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer described the moment on the field, saying that “a photographer brought out a big camera, and took a group picture of the home team. The crowd said he was a ‘Jonah,’ and after the game Captain Clements said his men were hoo-dooed by having their pictures taken.” Philadelphia lost the opener, 5 to 4. Player IDs were not supplied with the drawing and may be hard to determine, but clearly Clements was standing at far right. Image from the Philadelphia Press, April 13, 1892. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Dated April 13, 1892. Detail view of photo B. Detail view showed the lace ties on the shirt, the letter “P” on the left breast and a pillbox-style cap.

Photos C & D

Dated April 13, 1892. These drawings of player R Connor (92), left, and T Keefe (91-93), right, were published in a New York newspaper on this day in a report of the Philadelphia home opener played on April 12. Each drawing was based on a portrait made in 1888 while Connor and Keefe were with New York, see cabinet cards for comparison. The newspaper artist added the “Phila” lettering when the drawings were made. It is unknown if this lettering was depicting the Philadelphia shirt from 1892. Drawings and player IDs from the New York Press, April 13, 1892, page 1. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. New York Press image scans from Ed Morton.

Written documentation on these uniforms:
April 1892: “The Phillies are wearing in practice at Gainesville [Florida] new gray uniforms with red stockings.” From the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 1892. Research from Ed Morton.

April 12, 1892, Philadelphia v. New York, at Philadelphia, home opener: “Right behind [the marching band] came the Philadelphia players in their new white and red suits, sixteen strong, company front, and keeping step like veterans. Then followed a dozen of the Giants in their gray suits. The band played, the people yelled, and the nearer the players came to the stand the greater the enthusiasm grew. Right up to home plate marched the thirty players, then they marched around it in a circle, and then the Phillies deployed to the left, and the Giants to the right, and marched to the players’ benches. Then a photographer brought out a big camera, and took a group picture of the home team. The crowd said he was a ‘Jonah,’ and after the game Captain Clements said his men were hoo-dooed by having their pictures taken.” From the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 13, 1892. Research from Ed Morton. Philadelphia lost to New York, 5 to 4. Game info from retrosheet.org.

April 12, 1892, Philadelphia v. New York, at Philadelphia, home opener: “Harry Wright and Manager Powers flanked by ‘Pud’ Clements and ‘Buck’ Ewing marched up the field, the Phillistines [sic] on one side in their gray bathing suits and black stockings, and the Phillies on the other in their ‘Jenness-Miller,’ bifurcated white skirts and red hose.” From the Philadelphia Press, March 13, 1892, page 7. Research from Ed Morton. “Philistines” meant one who has little regard for culture. Annie Jenness Miller (1859-1935) was an American clothing designer who in the late 1800s advocated for comfortable clothing for women, including bloomer pants under a skirt. “Bifurcated” meant divided into two. Miller info from wikipedia.com, retrieved October 24, 2025.

April 12, 1892, Philadelphia v. New York, at Philadelphia, home opener: “The New Yorkers who witnessed the game could scarcely believe the evidence of their eyes when they saw Tim Keefe in the box and big Roger Connor on the initial bag — both in the immaculate uniforms, red stockings and natty red belts affected by Wright’s champions.” From the New York Press, April 13, 1892, page 1. Research from Ed Morton.

October 1892: “The Phillies were photographed in a group in a Chestnut street studio the past week.” From the Philadelphia Record, October 23, 1892.Research from Ed Morton.

Team genealogy: Philadelphia 1882-
Philadelphia was formed to play in the League Alliance (LA) in 1882. The team joined the National League (NL) in 1883. The NL began operation in 1876 and Philadelphia has played in the league every year since 1883. Information from wikipedia.com and Robert D. Warrington.