1900 Philadelphia (Philadelphias, Phillies)

This 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 renderings.

Rendering accuracy:Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:

Photo A

Dated late March 1900. Photo of team taken in Charlotte, NC, during spring training. This photo was published in a newspaper on March 31. Year of photo confirmed by the appearance of player Ziegler, who only played for Philadelphia in 1900. Date of “late March” determined by the appearance of player Maul, who arrived at spring training on March 22 and by the fact that this photo was published on March 31. Players wore a mix of Philadelphia home and road uniforms in this photo from previous seasons. At least four uniforms showed a shirt with a square-serif letter “P” on the left breast. Several team sweaters can also be seen, as well as, a dark cap in the right corner of the foreground.

Top row, from left: P Chiles (99, 00), J Dolan (99-01), W Piatt (98-00), A Maul (87, 00), K Douglass (98-04), B Bernhard (99, 00), L Mahaffey (dnp 00), N Lajoie (96-00), A Orth (95-01) and M Cross (98-01). Middle: C Ziegler (Phi 00, Syr El 00, Alb NYSL 00, Phi AtL 00), E McFarland (97-01), (B Shettsline mgr 98-02), R Donohue (98-01), E Flick (98-01), E Delahanty (88, 89, 91-01) and C Fraser (99-00). Front: M Murphy (98, 00), R Thomas (99-08), J Slagle (00, 01) and F Jacklitsch (00-02, 07-10). Image and player IDs (not shown) from the Philadelphia Record, March 31, 1900. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Info on Maul arrival from The Sporting Life, March 24, 1900. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Photos B, C, D & E

Dated late March 1900. These photos were published in a newspaper during this period and when the team was at spring training. The images most likely featured uniforms from previous seasons. From left: C Ziegler (Phi 00, Syr El 00, Alb NYSL 00, Phi AtL 00), F Jacklitsch (00-02, 07-10), L Mahaffey (dnp 00) and J Slagle (00, 01). All four players were new to the Philadelphia team in 1900. The Ziegler and Jacklitsch photos may have been made at the same time as photo A. Ziegler was wearing the same sweater in both photos. The Mahaffey and Slagle drawings may have been made from photographs taken in a previous year. Images and IDs of Ziegler and Jacklitsch from the Philadelphia Record, March 22, 1900. Drawing of Mahaffey from the Philadelphia Record, March 23, 1900. Drawing of Slagle from the Philadelphia Record, March 27, 1900. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scans from Ed Morton.

Photos F, G & H

Dated September 1900. These photos were printed in a newspaper during this month. From left: N Lajoie (96-00), E Delahanty (88, 89, 91-01) and P Chiles (99, 00). Theses images were not taken in 1900, but were detail views from the 1899 Philadelphia photo. The Delahanty portrait has been flopped from the original, and the Chiles image has had a dark background added. The use of these images by the newspaper may indicate that there was no new photography of the team or players from 1900. Images and player IDs of Lajoie and Delahanty from the Philadelphia Inquirer, September 11, 1900. Image and player ID of Chiles from the Philadelphia Inquirer, September 27, 1900. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scans from Ed Morton.

Photos I & J

Dated early April 1901. Two detail views of the 1901 Philadelphia Athletics team of the American League (full view not shown) featuring players wearing Philadelphia uniforms. Left, B Bernhard (Phi NL 99, 00, Phi AL 01, 02), and right, N Lajoie (Phi NL 96-00, Phi AL 01, 02). Both men played for the 1900 Philadelphia NL team, and as all of the players in this 1901 team photo wore uniforms from previous years, it is possibly Bernhard and Lajoie wore their 1900 Philadelphia (NL) road uniforms. The uniform both wore in this photo was light gray in color with white buttons and the word “Phila” arched across the chest. On Bernhard’s uniform, one button was positioned on top of the letter “I.” On Lajoie’s uniform the letters have been removed, however a faint outline can be seen where the letters once were. Both players wore a similar pill-box style cap in a mid-tone color with four rows of subtle horizontal stitching and a white button on top. The color of the caps matched the lettering on Bernhard’s uniform. Player IDs and image scan from Ken Samoil. Years Bernhard and Lajoie with teams from baseball-reference.com.

Photo K

Dated April 3, 1901 to April 17, 1901. This photo of the 1901 Philadelphia NL team was most likely made before the start of the season, and when the team was possibly wearing uniforms from the previous year of 1900. The team was photographed at their home ballpark and the image was published in a newspaper on April 19, 1901. The photo year of 1901 can be confirmed by the appearance of player Townsend, who only played for the Philadelphia NL team in 1901. A date range of April 3 to April 17 can be determined by two factors: the appearance of player McFarland in the photo combined with the team’s first game of the season. McFarland joined the team in Philadelphia on April 3 and, as one newspaper noted, he was “the last man to report.” Soon after arriving, McFarland considered quitting baseball and left the team on April 6 before rejoining again on April 12. Philadelphia opened the 1901 season at home on April 18, looking “neat in their new uniforms.” Two weeks earlier a newspaper reported on April 3 that the “Phillies’ uniforms will arrive today or tomorrow” however the paper added that it was “doubtful whether the team will be in its new togs before the opening game [on April 18].” Based on this, it is possible the team photo above was taken between April 12 and April 17. The majority of players wore dark-colored sweaters in this photo, however several uniforms were visible in this photo. Three players wore a light-gray uniform with the word “Phila” across the chest, and where the middle letter “I” had a white button positioned on top of the letter. One player in this photo wore a light-gray uniform with no lettering and one player wore a white uniform underneath an unbuttoned jacket. Four types of caps can be seen in the photo. Eight of the twenty-one players in the photo wore a white pillbox-style cap with two dark horizontal bands. Six of the players wore a dark-colored pillbox cap with a white button on top. One player wore a dark-colored cap with a rounded crown, one wore a white cap with a white bill, and one wore a white cap with a colored brim. The variety of caps may also suggest the team was wearing uniforms from the previous season of 1900.

Top row, from left: A Orth (95-01), B Thomas (dnp), D White (01, 02), B Conn (98, 00, 01), J Dolan (99-01), J Dunn (00, 01), R Donahue (98-01), J Eby (dnp), M Cross (98-01), H Townsend (01) and Wiley (dnp). Middle: K Douglass (98-04), E McFarland (97-01), E Flick (98-01), (B Shettsline mgr 98-02), F Jacklitsch (00-02, 07-10), E Delahanty (88, 89, 91-01) and B Duggleby (98, 01-07). Front: Kennedy (dnp), J Slagle (00, 01), R Thomas (99-08, 10, 11) and H Wolverton (00-04). Player IDs from the Philadelphia Record, April 19, 1901, which printed this picture on this day. Assistance with IDs from Mark Fimoff and Ken Samoil. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Report on McFarland first joining the team, from the Philadelphia Times, April 4, 1901. Reports on McFarland leaving and then rejoining from the Philadelphia Record, April 7 and April 13, 1901. Report on new uniforms arriving from the Philadelphia Record, April 3, 1901. Report on new uniforms in Boston from the Philadelphia Inquirer, April 19, 1901. All Philadelphia newspaper research from Ed Morton. Image scan from Ken Samoil. Original image by W. J. Connor, Philadelphia, who was credited as the photographer when the image was published in the Philadelphia Record.

Researcher Ed Morton adds more on Connor, the person credited as the photographer of the above image. Billy Connor was a Philadelphia resident in 1900, living at Silver Street and owning a tavern on the corner of Sydenham and Huntington Streets called “Billy’s.” The bar was located less than two blocks from the National League ballpark and was also known as the “Hot Air Club,” a name possibly coming from a burlesque act playing in Philadelphia during this same period. Though the above team photo was credited to Connor, images of other National League clubs also taken in Philadelphia this same year were credited to C. M. Gilbert, of Philadelphia. When published, these team photos included an extra credit line that read: “Taken for the ‘Hot Air’ Club.” The Philadelphia Record on April 20, 1900 wrote that “The ‘Hot Air’ Club at Sydenham and Huntington streets has secured one of the finest selections of baseball photographs in the country for the opening of the season. Every [National] League team, all of the minor league champions and many college teams are among the collection.” Newspapers also suggested that Connor’s tavern was frequented by players. When Philadelphia player Duff Cooley was sold to Pittsburgh in late April 1900, the Philadelphia Record on May 1, 1900 mentioned that “the ‘Hot Air’ Club loses one of its prominent members in Cooley” and that the player “was given a great send-off at the club yesterday.” Morton adds that Connor “sold the tavern at the end of the [1900] season. No mention of whether the photos went with the tavern.”

Dated April 3, 1901 to April 17, 1901. Detail view of photo K. Detail view showed three players wearing a light-gray uniform with the word “Phila” across the chest, and where the middle letter “I” had a white button positioned on top of the letter. Two of these players wore a white cap with horizontal bands, the third wore a dark-colored cap.

Photos L, M & N

Published April 19, 1901. Three detail views from a pictorial montage of Philadelphia players that was printed on this day. Left, E Delahanty (88, 89, 91-01); center, E Flick (98-01) and right, B Duggleby (98, 01-07). Each player was photographed by the Philadelphia grandstand and was wearing the same sweater and cap that they also wore in the team photo, see photo K. The similarities suggest these individual images were made on the same day as the team photo, and where players may have been wearing uniforms from the previous season of 1900. Note that the players wore two different styles of caps, and that a retouch artist has enhanced the sewn horizontal bands on the dark caps. Image and player IDs from the Philadelphia Times, April 19, 1901. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Photo O

Published April 19, 1901, photo dated 1897 to April 1901. Photo of E McFarland (97-01), full view at left and detail view at right, included in a pictorial montage of Philadelphia players printed on this day. Player wore a white or light-gray short-sleeved uniform in this photo with the word “Phila” across the chest of the shirt. One white shirt button overlapped the letter “I” which was centered on the button placket. The cap had sewn horizontal bands that had been enhanced by a retouch artist. Image and player IDs from the Philadelphia Times, April 19, 1901. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ed Morton.

Photos P & Q

Published in April 1901. Both photos were made in 1898. Left, F Jacklitsch (00-02, 07-10) and right, B Conn (98, 00). These images are two detail views of a portrait montage (full view not shown) of the 1900 Philadelphia team. The Jacklitsch image was taken from a photo of the 1898 Montreal team of the Eastern League, the Conn image was taken from a photo of the 1898 Philadelphia team. Both images had a dark background added behind the player. The use of these images may indicate that there was no new photography of the team or players from 1900. Image and player IDs from the Spalding Baseball Guide 1901, which was published as a recap of the 1900 season. Years with team from baseball-reference.com.

Photos R & S

First published in 1902, photo dated 1898 to 1902, possibly April 1901. Photo of K Douglass (98-04), image at left was published in April 1902, image at center and right was published in April 1903 and where the the background had been modified. Player wore a light-gray short-sleeved uniform in this photo with the word “Phila” across the chest of the shirt. One white shirt button overlapped the letter “I” which was centered on the button placket. Player also wore a white pillbox-style cap with two horizontal bands, and a dark turtleneck sweater under his shirt where the collar of the sweater was rolled down on top of his uniform collar. These uniform features were very similar to the uniform Douglass worn in the Philadelphia team photo taken in April 1901 and where the team possibly wore their 1900 uniforms, see photo K. The similarities possibly suggest that the photo of Douglass, posing in front of the Philadelphia grandstand, was made on the same day as the team photo. Douglass may also have carried the same catcher’s mitt in both the team photo and the individual image shown here. Image at left and player ID from the Spalding Base Ball Guide (1902), published in April 1902 as a recap on the 1901 season. Image at center and right from Connie Mack, How to Play Baseball (1903). Years Douglass with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scans from Ken Samoil.

Photo T

Published April 1903, photo dated 1898 to July 1901. Image of W Piatt (Phi NL 98-00, Phi AL 01), full view at left, detail view at right. Piatt joined the Philadelphia NL team in 1898 and was released by the Philadelphia AL club on July 3, 1901. This was the only period that Piatt played in Philadelphia. Player wore a white or light-gray uniform in this photo with a white pillbox-style cap. The shirt had the word “Phila” across the front with a shirt button overlapping the letter “I.” Image and player ID from Connie Mack, How to Play Baseball (1903). Years Piatt with teams from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ken Samoil.

Photo U

Published April 1903, photo dated 1896 to 1902. Image of N Lajoie (Phi NL 96-00, Phi AL 01, 02), full view at left, detail view at right. Player wore a white or light-gray uniform in this photo with a white pillbox-style cap that featured sewn horizontal bands. The shirt had the word “Phila” across the front with a shirt button overlapping the letter “I.” Image and player ID from Connie Mack, How to Play Baseball (1903). Years Lajoie with teams from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Ken Samoil.

Photo V

Drawings of the 1900 Philadelphia 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 February 26, 2022.

Written documentation on these uniforms:
March 1900: “The Philadelphia Base Ball Club has just awarded the contract for their new uniform to Messrs. Marshall E. Smith & Bro., the athletic outfitters to the University Athletic Association. […] The home uniform will be white, with royal blue trimmings, while the traveling uniform is of Oxford gray, trimmed with maroon and white. A novel feature, which will add much to the appearance is a navy-blue military coat to be worn when not on the field. This coat was introduced last year by the Washington Club, and was so effective that the Phillies have decided to adopt it also.” From the Philadelphia Inquirer, March 7, 1900. Research from Ed Morton, and also from Ken Samoil.

March 1900: “The Phillies’ new uniform will be particularly stylish. The home uniform will be white with royal blue trimmings, while the traveling uniform is of Oxford gray trimmed with maroon and white. A novel feature, which will add much to the appearance, is a navy blue military coat, to be worn when not on the field.” From The Sporting Life, March 17, 1900. The same report was published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 18, 1900. Eagle research from Ed Morton.

1900: “For almost the entire decade of 1900-1910, both [Philadelphia NL] home and road uniforms displayed the squared capital P on the left breast of the jerseys.” From Marc Okkonen, Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century (1991).

Team genealogy: Philadelphia 1882-
Philadelphia was formed to play in the League Alliance (LA) in 1882. The team joined the National League (NL) in 1883. The NL began operation in 1876 and Philadelphia has played in the league every year since 1883. Information from wikipedia.com and Robert D. Warrington.