1898 Washington DC (Washingtons, Senators)

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 these uniforms:

Photo A

Left, dated April 15, 1898, portrait of K Selbach (NL 94-98, AL 03, 04) published in a newspaper on this day, and right, dated April 1897, detail view of Selbach from the Washington team photo of previous year. The 1898 portrait of Selbach at left was based on the 1897 image at right. Note the similarities in the player’s pose and in the position and shadows of his shirt collar. The “newsboy” style cap was added by the artist and may have been a representation of the cap worn by the team. 1898 portrait from the Washington Times, April 15, 1898, which published many portraits of Washington players on this day. Washington Times research from Ken Samoil and from Ed Morton. Years Selbach with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photo B

Left, dated April 15, 1898, portrait of T Brown (95-98) published in a newspaper on this day, and right, dated April 1897, detail view of Brown from the Washington team photo of previous year. The 1898 portrait of Brown at left was based on the 1897 image at right. Note the similarities in the player’s pose and in the position and shadows of his shirt collar. The “newsboy” style cap was added by the artist and may have been a representation of the cap worn by the team. 1898 portrait from the Washington Times, April 15, 1898, which published many portraits of Washington players on this day. Washington Times research from Ken Samoil and from Ed Morton. Years Brown with team from baseball-reference.com.

Written documentation on these uniforms:
January 1898: “The uniforms of the Washington team next season will run blue. At home the players will wear white suits with blue trimmings and blue stockings and belt. On the road they will wear gray suits with blue trimmings. Tom Brown, the manager, wants the team to be called the ‘Washington Blues.’ Maybe they will be before the season ends.—Baltimore News.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, January 8, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.

January 1898: “According the Manager Brown, the Senators will hereafter consistently adhere to one color for stockings and trimmings—blue—and he expects in time to have them identified in the public mind everywhere as the Washington Blues.” From the Philadelphia Times, January 10, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.

January 1898: “Tom Brown is now devoting himself, according to the influence behind the throne, in selecting a light blue colored stocking that will not fade. Getting players on this line should be the effort of the supposed manager.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, January 11, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.

March 1898: “Sliding pads seem to be out of fashion. Not one member of the Washington team will wear them next season.” From The Sporting Life, March 5, 1898.

April 1898: “All the new suits for the Senators have been delivered, and they will make their appearance tomorrow [April 15, 1898] in the home uniform—white, with blue trimmings.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, April 14, 1898. Research from Ed Morton. The game on April 15 was most likely and exhibition game.

April 16, 1898, Washington v. Baltimore at Baltimore, home opener: “The Senators’ uniforms, worn for the first time on Saturday [April 16, 1898], came in for general praise from the Baltimore spectators. They are gray with blue trimmings. The home uniform of white with blue trimmings will be worn today [April 18].” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, April 18, 1898. Research from Ed Morton.

May 1898: “The Senators have a neat uniform this season [1898], consisting of the usual white Knickerbockers and shirts, dark blue stockings and caps of the latter hue. The effect is all but marred by a coat worn instead of the sweater used by other clubs. The coat is a hideous thing of broad blue and white stripes, like the tennis blazers used several years ago.” From the Philadelphia Inquirer, May 16, 1898. Research from Peter Reitan.

Team genealogy: Washington 1891-1899
Washington was formed to join the American Association (AA) for the 1891 season. The AA was a major league operating from 1882 to 1891. When the AA folded after the 1891 season, Washington joined the National League (NL) in 1892 as the NL expanded to twelve teams. The NL began play in 1876. Washington played in the NL from 1892 to 1899 and was dissolved when the NL contracted down to eight teams after the 1899 season. Info from wikipedia.