1900 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis, Reds)
These renderings are based on partial written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the rendering.
Rendering accuracy:Year: documented Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated early March 1900 to early April 1900. This photo was of the 1900 Cincinnati team at spring training wearing uniforms from previous years. The team left Cincinnati on March 7, 1900, and spent the majority of their time training in New Orleans. The team returned to Cincinnati on April 7, 1900. Players in this photo wore a mix of uniforms from various teams, most notably Cincinnati, Indianapolis and possibly Philadelphia. All uniforms were from previous years. At least ten of the nineteen players in the photo wore a dark uniform with white buttons. This was most likely the Cincinnati dark blue road uniform from the previous year of 1899.
Top row, from left: J Beckley (97-03), H Pietz (96-04), E Scott (00), D Newton (00, 01), M Smith (98-00), C Patten (dnp, KC AL 00) and V Accorsini (dnp, Elm NYSL 00). Middle: J Barrett (99, 00), T Breitenstein (97-00), M Kahoe (95, 99-01), B Allen (00), T Corcoran (97-06), C Irwin (96-01) and H Steinfeldt (98-05). Front: B Phillips (95, 99-03), J Cronin (Cin 99, Det AL 00), B Wood (98-00), S Crawford (99-02) and A McBride (98-01). Player IDs and date team headed to New Orleans from from Carson Lorey. Additional help on identifications from Ken Samoil and Nigel Ayres. Years players with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Mark Fimoff, SABR 19th-century Pictorial Committee.
Dated early March 1900 to early April 1900. Detail view of photo B. Detail view showed many players wearing a dark uniform that had four white buttons and a shirt pocket on the left breast. This was most likely the dark blue road uniform from the previous season of 1899. The lettering on these dark shirts may have been removed, and the “ghost” of the lettering can still be seen in this photo.
Photo B
Dated early March 1900 to early April 1900. This picture of the Cincinnati team was most likely taken at spring training in New Orleans and was published in a Cincinnati newspaper on April 8, 1900. The picture was published the day after the team had returned to Cincinnati on April 7. The absence of Cincinnati pitcher N Hahn (99-05) in this photo may suggest the image was taken while the team was still in New Orleans. Hahn did not participate in spring training in 1900 due to a contract dispute. A newspaper reported that “before bringing the Reds home [from New Orleans] Manager Allen slipped up to Memphis and got pitcher Hahn’s name to a contract, much to the pleasure and relief of the local cranks. Hahn came here [to Cincinnati on April 7] with the Reds.” If the photo had been taken when the team returned to Cincinnati it would seem likely that Hahn would have been included. Players wore a mix of uniforms in this photo, many of which may have been from the previous season of 1899. Two players in the photo wore a white uniform and this may have been the Cincinnati home uniform from 1899. At least four players wore a dark uniform with white buttons, and this was most likely the 1899 Cincinnati road uniform from 1899 and which newspapers described as dark blue. Players wore both white coats and dark-colored sweaters, and two players in the back row, far right, wore a sweater in a mid-tone color with wide dark collars. A variety of caps were worn. When comparing this photo to photo A, in can be determined that the same caps were worn by the same players in both photos. For example, players Crawford and Patten wee the only two players in both photos to wear a pillbox cap with two horizontal bands. All of the players included in photo B were also in photo A with the exception of player Smith.
Top row, from left: H Steinfeldt (99-06), J Beckley (97-03), H Peitz (96-04), D Newton (00, 01), E Scott (00), S Crawford (99-02), C Patten (dnp, KC AL 00) and J Cronin (dnp, Det AL 00). Middle: J Barrett (99, 00), T Corcoran (97-06), A McBride (96, 98-01), B Allen mgr (00), T Breitenstein (97-00), V Accorsini (dnp, Osw NYSL 00, Elm AtL 00) and C Irwin (96-01). Front: B Phillips (95, 99-03), M Kahoe (95, 99-01) and B Wood (Cin 98-00, Chi AL 00). Image and player IDs from the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1900. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Date of return to Cincinnati and info on Hahn signing from The Sporting Life, April 14, 1900. Image scan from Carson Lorey and Ken Samoil.
Dated early March 1900 to early April 1900. Detail view of photo B. Detail view showed the players wearing a variety of uniforms, most of which may have been from the previous season of 1899. The player standing at left may have been wearing the Cincinnati home uniform of 1899. it is possible the faint shape of a letter “C” can be seen on the left breast.
Photo C
Drawings of the 1900 Cincinnati uniforms by baseball historian Marc Okkonen. Drawings from the Dressed To The Nines uniform database at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum website, and retrieved December 17, 2021.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1900: “Manager Allen says that the uniforms for the Reds this year will be identical with those worn by the team last season [in 1899]. Even the white coats that made the team so conspicuous last season will be worn again this year.” From the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, March 19, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
March 1900: “The Cincinnati papers are already hammering Magnate [John T.] Brush on the apparent weakness of the Reds.” From The Sporting Life, March 24, 1900. An example of the team nickname in use.
April 1900: “When the players reported for the afternoon practice game [on April 7] each man received a new outfit consisting of two uniforms. One is for home playing and the other a traveling suit. Manager Allen had the appearance of a clerk in a clothing store as he stood beside a huge dry goods box and checked off the items as they were handed to the players.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1900.
April 1900: “The baseball season will open in Pittsburg[h] next Thursday [April 26], when the Pirates will meet the Cincinnati Red Stockings at Exposition Park.” From the Pittsburgh Post, April 22, 1900. Example of the antiquated Red Stockings nickname in use.
May 28, 1900: “The [Cincinnati] clubhouse was destroyed [as well as] the uniforms of the players, and a lot of personal effects, including bats and balls. […] Manager Allen was the only one in the party who had a uniform. There was no insurance on the personal effects of the boys and some of them lost as many as four suits.” From The Sporting Life, June 2, 1900.
May 30, 1900: “The Cincinnati Reds will present a queer appearance when they appear on the Boston grounds today. The Reds’ uniforms, bats, shoes, etc., were burned up in the grandstand fire and they will have to wear the Boston team’s traveling uniforms, as well as use borrowed bats.” From the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, May 30, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
May 30, 1900, Cincinnati v. Boston at Boston: “Boston, Mass., May 30. — The Cincinnati team made their first appearance here [in Boston] today, dressed in a Boston [road] uniform, the hoodoo uniform worn by the local team on their disastrous Western trip.” From The Cincinnati Enquirer, May 31, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
June 3, 1900: “The new uniforms of the Cincinnatis have not been completed. […] By Tuesday [June 5], at least, the players expect to be equipped with uniforms that are fresh from the tailor.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 3, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
June 4, 1900: “The burning of the uniforms of the Cincinnati players in the conflagration at the home grounds has not only placed the Reds in an embarrassing position in their first Eastern pilgrimage of the season, [but may require] the appearance of the Cincinnati men on the ball field dressed in their ‘store clothes.’ The question at issue was who was to pay for the new uniforms that are to take the place of those destroyed in the fire. The Cincinnati players were informed that they would have to stand the expense, but they maintained that it was the duty of the management to see that the uniforms were properly cared for, and that the loss was caused by negligence on the part of President Brush. This state of affairs got to the ears of the New York players, and each Giant immediately placed his traveling uniform under his arm and awaited the coming of Manager Allen with a retaliatory look in his eyes. When Manager Allen appeared at the Giants’ dressing room and asked for the privilege of using the latter’s traveling uniforms he was told point blank that unless the Cincinnati management agreed to replace the uniforms as its own expense the New York players would refuse to allow the Cincinnati team the privilege of using their uniforms. […] Manager Allen used up about an hour in pleading with the Giants, but […] was forced to weaken, and the Giants gave up their uniforms with a feeling that they had seen justice done to their brother players. […] Manager Ewing declined to let the Cincinnati players take his traveling uniforms to Paterson [NJ] today [June 3, for an exhibition game]. Manager Allen finally secured nine suits from the Chicago players, who play in Brooklyn for the next three days [June 4-6].” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 4, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
June 5, 1900: “The new uniforms of the Reds arrived in New York this morning, and the players were resplendent in the blue and red today. No uniforms were ordered for Smith, Geier or Kahoe, and this fact makes it plain that the latter is also to be released. Shoes and gloves also arrived to replace those lost in the fire.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, June 5, 1900. Research from Ed Morton.
June 9, 1900: “The Cincinnatis presented a very peculiar appearance arrayed in the togs of the Bostons [in games from May 30 to June 1]. Allen wore a home uniform of dark blue and was the only one of his team who had a suit to put on. The players got their new uniforms upon arrival in New York on Saturday [June 2]. It was no small handicap here to appear in new shoes and gloves. […] There is friction in the Cincinnati team because the wealthy club owner refuses to pay for the new uniforms just secured for those destroyed by the Cincinnati fire. The players naturally and justly object to paying for the uniforms a second time this season, especially as they were not responsible for the fire, nor insured against loss like the club.” From The Sporting Life, June 9, 1900.
June 16, 1900: “The Cincinnati club will not allow the players to pay for the new uniforms and at no time thought of doing so. President Brush has spoken.” From The Sporting Life, June 16, 1900.
1900: “The uniforms [circa 1900] were basically a continuation of the 1890s, white at home and dark, musty blue on the road. The caps were the standard close-fitting round style with a short bill. Red piping was used on the seams leading up to the red button on top and around the base of the crown. A red ‘C’ was also added to the front of the cap around 1900.” From Marc Okkonen, Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century (1991).
Team genealogy: Cincinnati 1881-
Cincinnati was formed in 1881 to join the American Association (AA) for its inaugural season in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Cincinnati played in the AA throughout the 1880s and then joined the National League (NL) for the 1890 season. The NL began operation in 1876. Cincinnati has played every year in the NL from 1890 to present time. Information from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: December 18, 2021
Diggers on this uniform: Carson Lorey, Ed Morton, Ken Samoil, Mark Fimoff,