1872 Forest City, Cleveland (Forest Citys)

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:
May 1872: “On Monday next, the Forest Citys, of Cleveland, start on their first eastern tour. They will have with them their new uniforms and will present a gala appearance.” From the Buffalo Evening Courier and Republic, May 9, 1872, page 2. Research from Ed Morton.

May 21, 1872, Forest City, Cleveland, v. Mutual, New York, at Brooklyn, Union grounds: “Pratt fell off slightly, and the Mutes punished him for five runs. […] This did not suit the blue stockings, and they began the fifth inning with two fine first base hits.” From the New York Sun, May 22, 1872, page 3. Research from Ed Morton.

May 29, 1872, Forest City Cleveland v. Baltimore, at Chicago, Twenty-third Street grounds, exhibition game: “It was 3 o’clock when the Baltimore nine, clad in yellow pants, white shirts, white hats, and ugly looking black and yellow stockings, and their Cleveland competitors, dressed as last year [1871], in white, with blue stockings, came upon the field.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 30, 1872, page 6. Research from Ed Morton.

August 8, 1872, Forest City, Cleveland, v. Seneca, Oil City PA, at Driving Park: “The Forest Citys are a professional nine, having traveled nearly the whole season playing the best nines in the country, but through some misunderstanding between them and their backers the club threw up their contract and are now playing on their own hook, relying on gate money for their expenses. […] Their dress was white caps, white shirts, white pants, blue stockings and the regular regulation shoes, all looking the worse of the wear from the protracted campaign.” From the Titusville (PA) Morning Herald, August 9, 1872, page 3. Research from Ed Morton.

August 1872: “The management of the Forest City club had wound up the concern. The nine is to be paid off today, and the contracts of the players cancelled. The nine will henceforth play on its own hook as a co-operative club. […] We are not aware that any efforts have been made to secure a team for this city next season. Probably the national game has seen its best days in Cleveland.” From the Boston Globe, August 12, 1872, page 8, citing a Cleveland paper. Research from Ed Morton.

Team genealogy: Forest City, Cleveland 1865-1872
Forest City was formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865. The team name comes from an early city moniker. Forest City joined the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league operating 1871-1875. The club folded during the 1872 NA season. Their last game was August 19, 1872. –Information from Peter Morris and others, Base Ball Pioneers, 1850-1870 (2012) and from retrosheet.org.