1880 Cleveland (Clevelands, Blue Legs)

This rendering is 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

This rendering is included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.

Visual documentation on this uniform:
None

Written documentation on this uniform:
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 15, 1880, Cleveland v. picked nine, at Cleveland, exhibition game: “The Clevelands […] wore their neat practice uniform of navy blue.” From the Cleveland Leader, April 16, 1880, page 8.

April 26, 1880, Cleveland v. National, Washington DC, at Cleveland, exhibition game: “The Clevelands came upon the feld wearing their new rig for the first time.” From the Cleveland Leader, April 27, 1880.

June 22, 1880, Cleveland v. Providence, at Cleveland: “The Grays seemed to be very fortunate in bunching their hits, while the Blue Legs were just the opposite.” From the Cleveland Leader, June 23, 1880, page 3. Use of Blue Legs nickname.

July 6, 1880, Cleveland v. Troy, at Cleveland: “Welch’s delivery was very puzzling to the blue legs; only two safe heads being made by them.” From the Cleveland Leader, July 7, 1880, page 5. Use of the Blue Legs nickname.

July 6, 1880, Cleveland v. Troy, at Cleveland; “The visitors played brilliantly. [Troy pitcher] Welch’s delivery was puzzling to the blue legs.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, July 7, 1880.

August 10, 1880, Cleveland v. Worcester, at Cleveland: “Upon the appearance of the Clevelands on the field they received an ovation which will not be forgotten very soon. The boys donned their new uniforms for the first time in the city, and well did they appear in them. The suits are of a similar style of the old ones with the exception of their caps, which are made of blue cloth instead of white.” From the Cleveland Leader, August 11, 1880, page 5.

August 12, 1880, Cleveland v. Worcester, at Cleveland: “This neat play brought down the house, for the people now began to realize that the blue legs were playing ball.” From the Cleveland Leader, August 13, 1880, page 5. Use of the Blue Legs nickname.

August 31, 1880, Cleveland v. Boston, at Cleveland: “In the field the blue-legs did good and active work.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, September 1, 1880.

September 6, 1880, Cleveland v. Cincinnati, at Cleveland: “‘Spectacle’ William [White], who has always been a stunner for us to hit, faced the blue legs and did excellently.” From the Cleveland Leader, September 7, 1880, page 2. Use of the Blue Legs nickname.

September 7 1880, Cleveland v. Cincinnati, at Cleveland: “The Blue Legs felt very blue over their defeat this morning.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, September 8, 1880. Use of the Blue Legs nickname.

September 21, 1880, Cleveland v. Buffalo, at Cleveland: “The blue legs went in from the start with a determination to win, and when they did, most handsomely.” From the Cleveland Leader, September 22, 1880, page 5. Use of the Blue Legs nickname.

1880 referenced in May 1881: “Shortly before 3 o’clock [Cleveland] Captain McGeary and his men stepped into the ring. […] Their uniforms, which are neatly made, are nearly like those of last season [1880], the only noticeable difference being the letter ‘C’ which is inscribed on the shirt front.” From the Cleveland Leader, May 7, 1881, page 8.

Team genealogy: Cleveland 1879-1884
Cleveland joined the National League (NL) in 1879. The NL began operation in 1876 and Cleveland played in the NL through the 1884 season. The team disbanded prior to the 1885 NL season. Information from wikipedia.com.

1880 Cleveland summary

Uniform: white, blue stockings
First worn:
Photographed:
Described: April, July-September
Material:
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro.
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: wore blue caps early August
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Buffalo