1894 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons)

This rendering is based on partial 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 this uniform:

Photos A & B

Dated May 9, 1894. These renderings of B Clymer (94-97, 01, mgr 13, 14, 26-30), left, and B Hoffer (93, 94), right, were published in a newspaper on this date and depicted scenes from the Buffalo home opener on May 8. Players were depicted wearing a white or light gray uniform with dark belts and dark stockings. The caps each had two thin horizontal bands. The pants may have had quilted padding. A newspaper described the 1894 uniform on opening day as being light gray in color “with a fine blue stripe” and “black trimmings.” Images and player IDs from the Buffalo Courier, May 9, 1894. Years Clymer and Hoffer with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo C

Dated April 29, 1894. This photo was published on this date and showed the 1894 team wearing the 1893 Buffalo uniform, not the 1894 uniform. The appearance of players Slagle and Johnson in the photo confirm this was an image of the 1894 team as both men only played for Buffalo during this season. The 1894 team received their new uniforms on May 8, 1894 for the home opener. The 1893 uniform was described in newspapers as being “dark green” in color, with “white trimming, white belt and white stockings.” The cap was described as having “two white bands.”

Top row, from left: J Slagle (Buf 94 Jac WA 94), W Barkley (dnp), S Daly (92-94), F Boyd (92-94), B Hoffer (93, 94) and M Bradley (dnp, Ban NEL 94, Por NEL 94). Middle: (J Frankin, pres), (J Chapman mgr, NL 85, IL 86-88, 93, 94), J Smith (Buf 94, 00 Jac WA 94, GR WL 94), S Griffin (Buf 87, 92-94, 98, Syr EL 94), B Urquhart (92-98) and unidentified. Front: J Collins (93, 94), A Johnson (94), (J Franklin, mascot), B Clymer (94-97, 01, mgr 13, 14, 26-30) and P Maulhall (dnp). Image and player IDs from the Buffalo Express, April 29, 1894. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Carson Lorey. Original photo by Hezekiah McMichael, Buffalo.

Written documentation on this uniform:
April 1894: “Manager Chapman says […] ‘we have no contract with the Canadian boys [but] they may be seen in the Hibernians’ uniform this coming season.’” From the Buffalo Sunday Morning News, April 8, 1894. Before the regular season began, the Buffalo team wore the uniform from the previous season. This uniform from 1893 was green in color, and was sometimes referenced as a “Hibernian” uniform, a reference to Ireland.

April 1894: “The Bison team will report here next Monday [in Buffalo on April 16] and new uniforms will then be ordered. From the Buffalo Commercial, April 12, 1894.

April 1894: “Manager Chapman has selected a new uniform which is of Yale gray with a stripe of blue. It will not be worn until May 8.” From the Buffalo News, April 21, 1894.

April 1894: “When the players return [to Buffalo on May 8] they will don new uniforms, which will be gray with a blue stipe.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 23, 1894.

May 1894: “Buffalo can be looked to as winners [in the season opener to be played on May 8, 1894]. They will have new uniforms.” From the Buffalo News, May 7, 1894.

May 8, 1894, Buffalo v. Wilkes-Barre, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “The Bisons looked well in their neat and natty new uniforms made by the Rose Bros. The material is a light gray with a fine blue stripe, and the trimmings are black forming a tasty combination.” From the Buffalo Courier, May 9, 1894. The newspaper also described the team entering the field, saying that “when the Bisons lined up near the dressing shed and marched down the old cinder track to their bench they were warmly received.” Rose Brothers was a men’s furnishing establishment located on Main Street, Buffalo.

May 8, 1894, Buffalo v. Wilkes-Barre, at Buffalo, Olympic Park: “The Buffaos had on their new uniforms, which are a decided improvement on the old green ones.” From the Buffalo Morning Express, May 9, 1894.

Team genealogy: Buffalo 1891-1900
Buffalo joined the Eastern Association/League (EL) in 1891. The EL operated between 1891 and 1911, and became the International League in 1912. Buffalo played in the EL between 1891 and 1898 and transferred to the Western League (WL) in 1899. The reorganized WL operated between 1894 and 1899 and reformed again as the American League (AL) in 1900. Buffalo played in the WL in 1899 and in the AL in 1900. The team was then dropped when the AL declared major-league status in 1901 and awarded the franchise to Boston. EL information from Bill O’Neal, The International League (1992). WL information from wikipedia.com.