1880 Cincinnati (Cincinnatis, Stars)

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

This rendering is included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.

Visual documentation on this uniform:
None

Written documentation on this uniform:
January 1880: “The Cincinnati team of 1879 went into the disbandment business in October last, and resigned from the [National] League, the season’s campaign having proved disastrous in a financial point of view. […] Since then the place of the old club has been taken by the Cincinnati Stars, which club is to be the League representative of that city in 1880.” From the Hartford Courant, January 3, 1880, page 1.

January 1880: “The Cincinnatis’ uniform will not be changed from that of previous clubs. The men will, however, be furnished with an extra gray uniform to be used while practicing.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, January 4, 1880. Research from Richard Hershberger, as posted to protoball.org.

January 1880: “Proposals — Office Cincinnati Star Base-Ball Association — will be received until 12 o’clock noon, Monday January 19, 1880, for lease of bar on grounds at Bank street and McLean avenue [and] for fence-advertising privilege for year beginning April 1, 1880.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, January 14, 1880, page 5.

April 1880: “The Cincinnati Stars – The Cincinnati ball tossers are all here [in Cincinnati], and they look like stars of the profession. […] Smith, Purcell and Carpenter promise well, and Riley, of last year’s Stars, may pan out better than expected. The Stars are on the field every day practicing.” From the Cincinnati Daily Star, April 3, 1880.

April 1880: “The Cincinnatis have abandoned the idea of a red letter on the breast of the shirt. Their uniforms will not differ from that of last year [1879].” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 4, 1880.

April 1880: “The Cincinnati team will make their first appearance in public Saturday afternoon at the Cincinnati Ball Park, playing a strong picked nine. […] The practice uniforms of the Cincinnati team arrived from Chicago yesterday. They are a grayish material.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 8, 1880.

April 1888: “The Cincinnati Stars play their first game at the Star Ball Park tomorrow afternoon [April 10] with a strong picked nine, and next week they will cross bats with the Nationals, of Washington.” From the Cincinnati Daily Star, April 9, 1880, page 2.

April 1888: “The Cincinnati Stars will open the season this afternoon [April 10] with a strong picked nine and play three games next week with the Nationals [of Washington].” From the Cincinnati Daily Star, April 10, 1880, page 6.

April 1880: “Chicago furnishes uniforms to all the [National] League clubs; also the League ball and President.” From the Chicago Tribune, April 11, 1880.

April 1880: “The Cincinnatis have white shirts, pants and caps, red neckties, belts and stockings; Chicago, white shirts, pants, blue belts and neckties, white stockings, and caps variegated; Albany, duplicates of the Chicagos, excepting neckties and belts, which are red; Cleveland, white caps, shirts and pants, light blue stockings, belts, and neckties.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 12, 1880.

April 1880: “The Cincinnati and Washington Teams will meet for their second game today at the Cincinnati Ball Park, foot of Bank Street. […] The [Cincinnati] team will wear their new uniform in today’s game, which has just arrived from Chicago. […] The only teams wearing the old Cincinnati uniform of white shirts and pants and red stockings are the Cincinnatis, Bostons, Albanys and Washingtons.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 17, 1880.

May 1880: “The large posters adopted by the [National] League are beauties.” From the Cincinnati Daily Star, May 1, 1880.

May 7, 1880, Cincinnati v. Chicago, at Chicago, home opener: “The red hosed young men [Cincinnati] were the first to appear. […] The crowd cheered, and the visitors lifted their white caps.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 8, 1880.

September 9, 1880, Cincinnati v. Buffalo, at Buffalo: “The visitors [Cincinnati] arrived from Cleveland, having left their trunk and bat-bag behind, and had to go on the field half in partial uniforms, borrowed from local men, and the remainder in citizen’s clothes.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, September 10, 1880.

September 1880: “The Cincinnatis have new uniforms.” From the Buffalo Sunday Morning News, September 12, 1880. There does not seem to be other references to Cincinnati having new uniforms during this period in mid-September. It may be that this entry was referring to the Cincinnati uniforms arriving in Buffalo after being left behind on September 9.

Team genealogy: Cincinnati 1875-1880
Cincinnati was formed as an independent club in July 1875 and joined the inaugural season of the National League (NL) in 1876. The team’s Red Stocking identity had been used previously by the Cincinnati team of 1866-1870. Cincinnati played in the NL between 1876 and 1880. The team dissolved and reformed during the 1877 season, and also before the 1880 season. They were removed from the league after the 1880 season. The Red Stocking name was later used by the Cincinnati American Association team (1882-1889) and a second Cincinnati National League team (1890-present). Information from the Cincinnati Enquirer and from wikipedia.com.

1880 Cincinnati summary

Uniform: white, red stockings
First worn: April 17, Cincinnati
Photographed:
Described: January, April, May
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro.
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: wore borrowed uniforms for September 9 game
Other items: gray practice uniform
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Chicago