1873 Boston (Bostons, Red Stockings)

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 1873, report on the pennant flag: “The National Base Ball Convention assembled [in Baltimore] at the St. Clair Hotel at 8 o’clock last evening. […] The championship flag for the past season [1872] was ordered to be forwarded to the Boston club.” From the Baltimore Sun, March 4, 1873.

March 1873, more on the pennant flag(s): “Mr. Hayhurst, chairman of the judiciary committee, then stated […] on the part of Mr. A V. Davidson, chairman of the championship committee, who was not present, […] that the entrance fees contributed by the different clubs embraced in the association last season [1872] were all expended in purchasing new flags for the Boston Club, winners of the pennant for 1873, the old flags being in a dilapidated and weather-stained condition, and not fit to present.” From the New York Clipper, March 15, 1873.

June 1873: “The entries for the great race for the championship of the United States and the colors were as follows: Athletics of Philadelphia, the ‘Blue Stockings;’ Atlantic of Brooklyn, the ‘Magenta;’ Baltimore of Baltimore, the ‘Yellow Stockings;’ Boston of Boston, the ‘Red Stockings;’ Mutual of New York, the ‘Green Stockings;’ Philadelphia of Philadelphia, the ‘White Stockings;’ Resolutes of Elizabeth, the ‘Jersey Nine;’ Washington of Washington, ‘Garney’s Nine;’ Maryland of Baltimore, ‘Smith’s Nine.’” From the New York Evening Telegram, June 30, 1873, and the Chicago Inter Ocean, July 2, 1873. “Smith” was Maryland player-manager Bill Smith.

August 11, 1873, Boston v. Enterprise, Allegheny, PA, at Pittsburgh, Union Park, exhibition game: “The Enterprise was rigged out in its new suits and red stockings. The Red Stockings were similarly dressed, with the name ‘Boston’ in red letters worked up on the shirt front. Altogether they are much better looking fellows, physically, than our boys, but that would naturally be expected as they have been selected from a large number of professionals.” From the Pittsburgh Evening Leader, August 12, 1873. Research from Andy Terrick. The Boston team played only three official National Association games in the month of August 1873. Instead, the team toured the US playing exhibition games along the eastern seaboard, as well as, in Missouri, Michigan, and Eastern Canada. Information from retrosheet.org.

August 21, 1873, Boston v. Empire, Detroit, at Detroit, Peninsular cricket grounds, exhibition game: “Several hundred ladies and gentlemen assembled […] to witness the anxiously-looked-for match at base ball between the celebrated Red Stockings, of Boston, and the Empire Club of Detroit.” From the Detroit Free Press, August 22, 1873.

September 30, 1873, Boston v. Mutual, New York, at Brooklyn, Union Ground, exhibition game: “On account of the uniforms of the Boston club not having arrived when the contest was begun, the players presented a novel and un queue [i.e., a ‘waiting-line’] appearance as they took the field to open the conflict. Some had a red and a green stocking on; others wore a blue shirt and white pantaloons, while a number were attired and citizens’ dress. […] The uniform soon after arrived, and when the Bostons appeared in their well-known costumes they were hailed with applause.” From the Brooklyn Daily Times, October 1, 1873, page 3. Research from Ed Morton.

September 30, 1873, Boston v. Mutual, New York, at Brooklyn, Union Ground, exhibition game: “The Bostons had to play without their uniforms, their club-box having been delayed in its arrival, and they presented quite a unique appearance, George Wright having on one green stocking, one chocolate-colored, white breeches and blue shirt, while Spalding and Harry Wright were in black suits, and the others in city attire. After the first inning the trunk arrived, and then the ‘Reds’ appeared in their well-known colors.” From the Brooklyn Union, October 1, 1873, page 4. Research from Ed Morton.

September 30, 1873, Boston v. Mutual, New York, at Brooklyn, Union Ground, exhibition game: “The Bostons took the field, some few in the professional stockings, pantaloons, and shirts they could borrow, but the majority in their every-day dress. […] George Wright had on one green and one dark-red stocking, a blue striped shirt, and a cap. Addy wore a pair of green stockings and a ‘Mutual’ shirt. Harry Wright also wore a ‘Mutual’ shirt, but it was too small for him.” From the New York Sun, October 1, 1873, page 3. Research from Ed Morton.

1873, referenced in 1894: “George Wright, the ex-captain of the Boston club, has in his possession the first mask ever used by a professional catcher. Charley Snyder, a member of the Boston team in 1873, was the first to use a mask in a league game.” From the Minneapolis Times, March 12, 1894. According to baseball-reference.com, Snyder played for Boston between 1878 to 1881, and was a member of the Washington team in 1873. SABR researcher Larry DeFillipo has written that Snyder first wore a mask in 1877, stating that when Snyder “wore a mask in the Grays’ 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on July 3, [1877] he became the first major leaguer documented to have worn a catcher’s mask in a league game.” De Fillipo research from the SABR Games Project, retrieved June 12, 2024.

Team genealogy: Boston 1871-1952
Boston was formed to enter the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Boston played in the NA in every year of the league’s existence and moved to the National League (NL) upon its start in 1876. Boston played in the NL from 1876 to 1952 and moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 NL season. Information from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com and from wikipedia.com.