1897 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons)

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 this uniform:

Photo A

Dated 1897. Cabinet card of player portraits. Year of issue based on the appearance of players Wadsworth, Gregory, Barry, Sullivan and Bailey, all of whom only played with the team in 1897. Year of issue also confirmed by a Cameo Pepsin Gum pin that utilized many of these same portraits and displayed the year of 1897, see photo B. The portraits of players Gregory and Bailey from this cabinet card were not included on the pin, suggesting these players were with the team for only part of the season. Based on the similarity in studio background, it is likely all of these portraits on this cabinet card were made at the same time. Players wore a light gray shirt with the city name in large letters arched across the chest.

Top row, from left: B Urguhart (92-98), J Wadsworth (97), S Wise (PL 90, EL 95-98), R Gregory (Buf 97, Peo WA 97) and S Barry (Buf 97, Scr El 97). Middle: S Sullivan (Buf 97, Scr El 97), J Field (91, 95-98), (J Franklin pres), (J Rowe mgr PL 90, EL 96-98), C Gray (97, 98, 00, 02) and E Gremminger (96-99). Bottom: H Smith (96, 97), H Bailey (97), B Clymer (94-97, 01, mgr 13, 14, 26-30), J Brown (97, 98), R Grey (97, 01) and L Gilboy (97, 98). Player IDs from item. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Carson Lorey. Original portraits by Frederick A. Remington, Buffalo.

Dated 1897. Detail view of photo A. Detail view showed the city name arched across the chest in large letters.

Photo B

Dated 1897. Cameo Pepsin Gum pin. Year of issue confirmed by the appearance of players Wadsworth, Barry and Sullivan, all of whom only played with the team in 1897. Fourteen of the fifteen player portraits shown on the pin were also used in a cabinet card of the team, see photo A. The remaining player, unidentified, was only shown on this pin, suggesting he was with the team for only part of the season.

Outer circle of 11 portraits, from center top: R Grey (97, 01), B Clymer (94-97, 01, mgr 13, 14, 26-30), L Gilboy (97, 98), J Wadsworth (97), C Gray (97, 98, 00, 02), (J Franklin pres), (J Rowe mgr PL 90, EL 96-98), unidentified, E Gremminger (96-99), S Barry (Buf 97, Scr El 97) and S Sullivan (Buf 97, Scr El 97). Inner circle of 5 portraits, from center top: B Urguhart (92-98), S Wise (PL 90, EL 95-98), J Field (91, 95-98), J Brown (97, 98) and H Smith (96, 97). Player IDs from photo A. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Original portraits by Frederick A. Remington, Buffalo.

Written documentation on this uniform:
May 1897: “If President Franklin decides to accept the uniform which he now has under consideration, the Bisons will undoubtedly be the most nattily-attired team. […] The outfit, which was designed by Rose Brothers, is certainly a stunner. It is to be made of a handsome and durable blue-gray, while the stockings and cap will be of the hue of the raven’s wing. On the front of the cap, which will be of the style known as the half-hook down, there will be a letter ‘B,’ work in English gold bullion. On the shirt front there will be a large letter, the style of which has not yet been decided upon. The belt will be of tan, while maroon coats with large, white pearl buttons, will add to the picturesqueness of the general effect. the new uniform will not be worn until the club returns home on May 17.” From the Buffalo Courier, May 1, 1897. Based on the photo examples shown above, the uniform shirt for this team displayed the city name, not the letter “B.” Rose Brothers was a men’s furnishing establishment located on Main Street, Buffalo.

May 1897: “[Buffalo] President Franklin will uniform his players this year in suits which will surely make them lady-killers. It is said that the material will be blue-gray. The cap of black will have a white letter B, pinning it down. On the breast of the shirt a big green B will also be seen, while the belt will be of maroon and the stockings black. Instead of sweaters the Bisons this year will wear short coats of maroon, with large pearl buttons.” From the Detroit Free Press, May 4, 1897.

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.