1881 Worcester MA (Worcesters)

This rendering is based on 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 this uniform:
None

Written documentation on this uniform:
March 1881: “The Worcester Club have selected […] Dorgan as captain. The players Bushong, Richmond, Sullivan, Creamer, Carpenter, Irwin, Dickerson, Stovey, Dogran, Corey and Hotaling are to report for duty on April 1 and are to be ready to play their opening game on April 7, New England Fast-day. The uniform will be gray, with brown trimmings and brown stockings.” From the New York Clipper, March 5, 1881. Research from Ed Morton.

March 1881: “The Worcesters will wear entire suits of blue this season. The Chicagos will appear in a similar uniform excepting the stockings, which will be white.” From the Buffalo Morning Express, March 28, 1881. Research from Ed Morton.

April 1881: “The Worcesters [uniform], white with brown stockings.” From the Detroit Free Press, April 21, 1881. Research from Don Stokes.

April 1881: “[National] League Uniforms. The uniforms of the Detroits will be light gray cloth, trimmed with cardinal red, gray box-topped caps, red belts and red stockings; Buffalos, gray, with navy blue stockings; the Worcesters, white, with brown stockings; the Clevelands, white, with blue stockings and trimmings; Providence, gray with pale blue stockings. The Chicago’s uniform is in doubt. It may be light gray with white stockings, it may be all white, or it may be navy blue with white stockings. Indeed, there is some talk about having the three, and changing off occasionally; but in any event they will not change their stockings. Boston will wear the same colors as last season.” From the Boston Globe, April 24, 1881. Research from Chuck McGill.

September 13-15, 1881, Worcester v. Buffalo, at Worcester: “Worcester played with bands of crepe on their arms in memory of first baseman John F. ‘Chubb’ Sullivan […] who died September 12th.” From Preston Orem, Baseball 1845-1881 From Newspaper Accounts (1961). Buffalo played at Worcester on September 13-15, 1881. Game dates from retrosheet.org.

1880-1881, referenced in 2005: “Although history books often refer to them [Worcester] as the ‘Brown Stockings’ or ‘Ruby Legs,’ the name of the team was simply the ‘Worcesters.’ Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram researched all contemporary accounts of the team and has found no other reference. The term ‘Brown Stockings’ apparently comes from the write-up of the team on opening day [in 1880], describing the white flannel uniforms.” From Alan Foulds, Boston’s Ballparks & Arenas (2005).

Team genealogy: Coming soon

1881 Worcester summary

Uniform: white, brown stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: March, April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: wore memorial band mid-September
Other items:
Home opener report: no, April 30 v. Troy