1898 Baltimore (Baltimores, Orioles)

This rendering is 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 rendering.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on this uniform:

Photo A
Dated 1898, most likely September 13, 1898. Year of photo confirmed by the appearance of player Hughes, who only played for Baltimore in 1898. Date of September 13, 1898, suggested by the location of the photo and by examining the players in the photo. The location of the photo was the Polo Grounds, New York. This can be confirmed by the appearance of the team bench areas and the trusses supporting the upper deck, both of which match photos of the park from this period. Second, a study of the Baltimore players in the photo showed that outfielder D Holmes (Bal 98, 99, StL 98) was not included. Holmes was traded to Baltimore on June 10, 1898 and afterwards became a regular in the lineup. Holmes played in every game for Baltimore in New York except in the second game of a doubleheader on September 13, 1898. The Sporting Life noted that on this day “Holmes was taken ill after the first game and [pitcher] Hughes was placed in center field with Kelley in left.” All of the remaining players in the photo appeared in either one or both of the games of the doubleheader. Because there are spectators in the stands in the background, it can be suggested this photo was made between the first and second games and after Holmes had to leave due to illness. Players wore a light gray road uniform in this photo with dark stockings. The cap was white or light gray in color and had subtle horizontal bands sewn into the cap. One player in the front row wore a cap with dark horizontal bands. The uniform shirt had buttons and featured the letter “B” on the breast pocket, similar to the Baltimore uniform from previous years. Players wore shirts with varying sleeve lengths: four wore short sleeves, one wore 3/4 length sleeves and five wore long sleeves. One player wore the team sweater over his shirt. At least six players of the eleven players wore their collars styled up.

Top row, from left: J McGraw (AA 91, NL 92-99, AL 01, 02), W Keeler (94-98), J Nops (NL 96-99, AL 01), G DeMontreville (98, 99) and J Hughes (98). Front: W Robinson (AA 90, 91. NL 92-99, AL 01, 02), J Kelley (NL 92-98, AL 02), F Kitson (98, 99), D McGann (NL 98, AL 02), H Jennings (93-99) and B Clarke (93-98). Player IDs and image from the Spalding Base Ball Guide 1899, which was published as a recap of the 1898 season. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Holmes trade date from retrosheet.org. This photo was credited to the American Sports Publishing Co., New York, which also published the Spalding Base Ball Guide and was owned by Albert Spalding.

Dated 1898, most likely September 13, 1898. Detail view of photo A. Detail view showed the letter “B” on the breast pocket.

Dated 1898, most likely September 13, 1898. Another detail view of photo A. This detail view showed that the shirts had white buttons and also may suggest that there were color bands on the cap. Also note that the team sweater, shown at right, was worn with a large collar splayed open and featured a large letter “B” centered on the chest.

Photo B

Dated 1898. Portrait of J Hughes (98), full view at left, detail view at right. Year of photo can be confirmed as this was the player’s only year with the team. Player wore a white or light gray uniform with the letter “B” on the breast pocket, similar to the uniform shown in photo A. The button placket and pocket had been accentuated in this version of the photo by a retoucher. Year Hughes with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ken Samoil.

Photos C & D

Two portraits of J Hughes (98). Left, illustration of Hughes published in The Sporting Life on September 10, 1898 and based on photo A. Right, copy of image A published in The Sporting News on August 12, 1899. The image at left confirms that photo A above was made during the 1898 season when Hughes played for Baltimore. The image at right was published after Hughes had been transferred to Brooklyn. Image scan at right from Huggins and Scott Auctions.

Photos E & F

Two portraits of W Keeler (94-98). The image at left can be dated between 1894 to 1898. The image at right was published in The Sporting News on July 29, 1899, and after Keeler had been transferred to Brooklyn. Player wore a light gray uniform in both photos and a cap with subtle horizontal bands, similar to photo B. The red arrows indicate matching areas in each photo and based on this it can be suggested that both photos of Keeler were made at the same time. Similarity in the studio background to photo B may suggest these portraits were made in 1898.

Written documentation on this uniform:
February 1898: “Manager Hanlon returned from New York last night. While there he ordered the Orioles’ uniforms for the season. The uniforms will be very similar to those of last season, except that the jockey caps will be changed to the old style, with the crowns a little higher and flat-topped. The stockings have not quite yet been decided upon.” From the Baltimore Sun, February 24, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.

March 1898: “New Suits for the Orioles. — The E. D. Loane, Jr., Co. have just completed the second series of suits for the Baltimore Baseball Club, and will exhibit them during the coming week.” From the Baltimore American, March 20, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.

April 1898: “The new uniforms of the [Austin] Senators came in yesterday. The colors are yellow and black, and are an exact pattern of the Baltimore uniform.” From the Austin American-Statesman, April 13, 1898. Research from Don Stokes.

Team genealogy: Baltimore 1882-1899
Baltimore joined the American Association (AA) in 1882. The AA was a major league operating 1882-1891. Baltimore played in the AA from 1882 to 1889 and then joined the Atlantic Association, a minor league, for the 1890 season. The team rejoined the American Association in late 1890 when the Brooklyn AA team failed. Baltimore played in the American Association for the 1891 season and when the AA folded, Baltimore was added to the National League (NL) for the 1892 season. The NL began operation in 1876. Baltimore played in the NL from 1892 to 1899. After the 1899 season, Baltimore was dropped by the league and the team disbanded. Information from wikipedia.