1898 Pittsburgh (Pittsburghs, Pirates)
These renderings are based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the renderings.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on this uniform:
Photo A
Dated March 27, 1898. This drawing of T Donahue (Chi 95-00) was made from a photograph and published in a newspaper on this date. Donahue, who never played for Pittsburgh, played for Chicago in March 1897 while the team held spring training at Waycross, GA. Why he was photographed wearing a Pittsburgh uniform is unknown. As this was a spring training photo, it was likely a depiction of the 1897 Pittsburgh uniform, and not one of the 1898 Pittsburgh uniform. Player ID and image scan from the Chicago Inter Ocean, March 27, 1898.
Written documentation on this uniform:
January 1898: “The Pirates’ traveling uniform next season will consist of dark blue pants, white shirt, with red and blue stockings, red belt and blue cap. The traveling jacket or coat will be dark blue, with red collar. Once players don these togs away from home, there may be some danger of the crowd being run in as an escaped band of anarchists.” From the Pittsburgh Press, January 15, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.
January 1898: “Says the Baltimore Sun: ‘The story comes from Pittsburg[h] that the uniforms of the Smoky City players this year will be bright red and dark blue. They will no longer be the ‘Pirates.’ ‘Comanches on the War Path’ would be more suitable.” From the Detroit Free Press, January 28, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.
January 1898: “The [Pittsburgh] home uniform will be white shirt and trousers with a blue cap. The stockings will be red and blue ring stripes. Each stripe of red will be two inches and the blue will be one inch. The sweaters will be red and blue also. The traveling suit will be the same as the home one, except that the trousers will be blue instead of white. The belt will also be blue. On the front of the cap and the front of the shirt will be the letter ‘P’ in red. The blue will be dark or navy blue.” From the New York Clipper, January 29, 1898. Research from Brian McKenna.
March 1898: “President Watkins of the Pittsburg[h] club has announced that the uniforms to be worn by the players of his team this year will be as follows: ‘The home uniform will be white shirt and trousers with a blue cap. The stockings will be red and blue ring stripes. Each stripe in red will be two inches and the blue will be one inch. The sweaters will be red and blue also. The traveling suit will be the same as the home one except that the trousers will be blue instead of white. The belt will also be blue. On the front of the cap and the front of the shirt will be the letter ‘P’ in red. The blue will be dark or navy blue.’” From the Bryan (TX) Daily Eagle, March 30, 1898. Research from Ken Samoil.
April 1898: “Indianapolis, April 9 — The Pittsburg[h] club must be rechristened. The title of ‘pirates’ was never appropriate to so tame a team, and since President Watkins has put new life into his men and rigged them up in red, white and blue uniforms, which were worn in this city for the first time, the name of ‘patriots’ is far more fitting than the old handle. There is another reason for bestowing the new title. Outside of the manager, Donovan, Ely and Rhines, who are with the administration, the players are jingoes [i.e., supporters of war in the name of patriotism] of the most pronounced type. Padden and Brodie being for war at any cost, and he and the others opposed to any delay in getting at Spain. Players wearing the national colors should not be called pirates.” From the Pittsburgh Press, April 10, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.
April 1898, Brooklyn v. Lancaster, PA, exhibition game: “[Brooklyn’s Candy] Lachance hit to [Lancaster’s George] Leidy, who much to everyone’s surprise, muffed the ball and [Brooklyn] Capt. [Mike] Griffin, who was conspicuous with red, white and blue stockings, came in with the winning run.” From the Lancaster (PA) New Era, April 13, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.
April 15, 1898, Pittsburgh v. Louisville, at Louisville, opening day: “The visiting uniforms of the Pittsburg[h]s are navy blue trousers and caps, white shirts and red and black stockings. It is a sort of [an] American flag uniform.” From the Louisville Courier-Journal. April 16, 1898.
April 1898: “The visiting uniforms of the Pittsburg[h]s are navy blue trousers and caps, white shirts and red and black stockings. It is a sort of American flag uniform. The Pirates are all fat young men. They are as round as well-fed pigs.” From the Louisville Courier Journal and printed in the Pittsburgh Daily Post, April 18, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.
April 1898: “The uniforms the Pittsburg[h] team wears this year are the same as those worn by the Detroits in 1887, when they won the championship.” From the Kansas City Journal, April 27, 1898, and also from the St. Paul Globe, April 30, 1898. Research from Ken Samoil.
April 1898: “The Pirates demand a new nickname and think their new red, white and blue uniforms entitle them to a new rating in fandom as Patriots.” From the Detroit Free Press, April 28, 1898. Research from Ed Morton. A similar blurb was included in The Sporting Life, May 7, 1898.
April 29, 1898, Pittsburgh v. Cincinnati, at Pittsburgh, home opener: “Secretary Balliett […] selected the route for the parade, and departed from the old custom by so arranging it that the Alleghenians were given more of a treat of music, dazzling uniforms and handsome athletes.” From the The Sporting Life, May 7, 1898.
April 29, 1898, Pittsburgh v. Cincinnati, at Pittsburgh, home opener: “There is nothing gaudy about the stockings of the Pittsburg[h]s. They are red, with modest stripes of dark blue.” From the Pittsburgh Daily Post, April 30, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.
June 1898: “The Pittsburg[h] team has given up the wearing of its red, white and blue stockings, and now is using white hose.” From the Brooklyn Times, June 3, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.
Team genealogy: Pittsburgh 1870s-
Pittsburgh began as Allegheny, an independent pro team in Pittsburgh formed in the late 1870s. Allegheny joined the American Association (AA) at its formation in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Allegheny played in the AA through the 1886 season and then moved to the National League (NL) as Pittsburgh in 1887. The NL began operation in 1876 and Pittsburgh has played in the league every year from 1887 to present time. Information from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: October 24, 2020
Diggers on this uniform: Brian McKenna, Ed Morton, Ken Samoil, Peter Reitan,