1879 Buffalo (Buffalos, Bisons)
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:
Photo A
Dated circa 1882. This photo of player Fulmer most likely dates from before 1882. The image was published in the Sporting News, October 31, 1940, with the headline, “Series Pioneer of ’82.” The photo caption (not shown) stated that Fulmer was a member of Cincinnati in 1882 and “helped arrange the World’s Series with the Chicago White Stockings that year.” Fulmer wore a white uniform in this photo with a white belt, dark necktie, dark stockings and white shoes. By all accounts, the Cincinnati players in 1882 wore either a striped shirt or a solid colored shirt based on their field position, and dark shoes. A team photo from that year showed Fulmer wearing a dark colored shirt and dark shoes. The white shoes in photo A possibly point to a photo date before 1882 and to when this style of shoe was more common. According to a biography written by Charles F. Faber on SABR BioProject, Fulmer played for the following: 1869 Keystone, Philadelphia; 1870 Forest City, Cleveland; 1871 Forest City, Rockford IL (NA); 1872 Mutual, NY (NA); 1873-75 Philadelphia (NA); 1876 Louisville (NL); 1877 Allegheny, Pittsburgh and also Philadelphia (both League Alliance); 1878-80 Buffalo (NL) and also 1880 Albany NY (NA); 1881 Athletic, Philadelphia; 1882-1884 Cincinnati (AA) and 1884 St. Louis (AA). Research presented on this site allows us to eliminate many of these early uniforms, and it could be speculated that photo A was an image of Fulmer when he played for Buffalo in 1879 or Albany in 1880. The Buffalo uniform of 1878 can be eliminated as that outfit had the city name across the shirt. By all accounts, the 1879 Buffalo shirt did not have the city name on the shirt, and dark blue stockings. A report from March 1879 said that “the Buffalo team have been photographed,” and it is possible individual player portraits of were made at this time. The 1880 Albany uniform also did not have the city name on the shirt, and the stockings were red. A shirt without the city name was more common during the 1879 to 1881 period. The Cincinnati uniform of 1883-84 and the St. Louis uniform of 1884 had the city name on the shirt. Image scan and publish date from Ed Morton.
Written documentation on this uniform:
March 1879: “The Buffalo team have been photographed. That settles it for Buffalo.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, March 14, 1879. This may imply the team brought themselves some bad luck by being photographed, a common superstition amongst many baseball players during this period.
March 1879. “There will be four red-stocking clubs in the league, viz.: Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland and Buffalo. The Chicagos will wear white stockings and the Syracuse Stars brown.” From the Chicago Daily Tribune, March 23, 1879. Research by Don Stokes. Note, this report does not match the April and May descriptions for Buffalo, see below.
March 1879: “There will be five red stocking clubs in the [National] League this season: Cincinnati, Cleveland, Boston, Buffalo and Troy clubs. The Chicago club wears white stockings and the Syracuse club brown.” From the New York Daily Tribune, March 29, 1879.
March 1879: “The Cincinnati, Boston, Cleveland and Buffalo clubs will all glory in garish red hosiery this coming season. The fatted calves of the Chicagos will be cased in pure white […] and the shapely shins of the [Syracuse] Stars in puritanical brown. How the Providence will be stockinged remains a secret locked in the bosom of George Wright.” From the Syracuse Daily Courier, March 30, 1879.
April 1879: “Six of the eight [National] League clubs will wear red stockings this year; the Chicagos wearing white and the Syracuse Stars brown.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 2, 1879.
April 1879: “The Directors of the Buffalo Base Ball Association […] decided to adopt a regular [National] League uniform, which will consist of an entire white suit without any trimmings, the shirt being single-breasted with a collar attached. Dark navy blue neck-ties, belts and stockings will form the distinguishing color of the club. This is a wise change as four other clubs have red. It will also do away with the hideous shields which disfigured the suits last year.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 3, 1879. A similar report appeared in the Buffalo Sunday Morning News, April 6, 1879. The mention of a “collar attached” was a reference to the Buffalo uniform from the previous season of 1878, when the team wore tight-fitting collarless shirts.
April 1879: “The Alert Base Ball Club of this city [Buffalo] is negotiating with A. G. Spaulding [sp], of Chicago, for new uniforms which will consist of white shirt with collar, white pants red stockings and belt, and college caps; something after the style of the new uniform of the Buffalos.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 8, 1879. The mention of a “collar with collar” was a reference to the Buffalo uniform from the previous season of 1878, when the team wore tight-fitting collarless shirts.
April 1879: “The Buffalos will not this season appear in the same raiment [i.e., clothing] as last year [1878]. Hereafter they will array themselves in breeches and shirts of white flannel, while the stockings and belt will be dark navy blue. The shirts have collars, and each player will further enhance his beauty with a dark blue necktie.” From the Boston Globe, April 8, 1879.
April 1879: “The Buffalo nine will wear suits of hide to save the players in sliding bases; have Buffalo robes to wrap around them when they make a street parade, a la Haverly’s Minstrels; a hair cloth undershirt to imitate a mane; short horns on the head to show temperance proclivities; and worst of all, a ring in each player’s nose for the other nines to lead the Buffalos around by.” From the Cincinnati Enquirer, April 9, 1879, citing the Providence Dispatch. Huh, a slow news day, I guess.
April 1879: “The Buffalos will have a new uniform this season, the shirts and breeches being of white flannel, while the stockings and belt will be dark navy blue.” The New York Clipper, April 12, 1879.
April 1879: “A. G. Spalding & Bros. are making base ball suits for the Nationals of Washington, the Buffalo and the Cleveland nines. […] The Buffalos are to have a new style […], the shirts and breeches being white flannel, while the stockings and belt will be dark navy blue.” From the Chicago Daily Telegraph, April 13, 1879.
April 1879: “The following will be the uniforms of the [National] League clubs this season: Chicagos, white suits with different colored caps, belts, neckties and stockings. Bostons, white suits, white caps, red stockings, belts and neckties. Buffalos, white suits, white caps, blue stockings, belts and neckties. Cincinnatis, white suits, white caps, red stockings, belts and neckties. Troys, light gray suits and caps, cardinal red belts and stockings, ‘T. C.’ on shirt front. Clevelands, black and white checkered suits, blue trimmings, white caps, blue belts and stockings, ‘Clevelands’ on shirt front. Syracuse, white suits, white caps with brown trimmings, brown stockings. Providence, light gray suits with blue trimmings, blue belts, stockings and caps.” From the Buffalo Courier, April 13, 1879.
April 1879: “The new [Buffalo] uniforms have not arrived yet. Some of the caps and shoes have been received.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 19, 1879.
April 1879: “The Buffalo players will wear their [National] League uniforms for the first time [vs. Essex club on Saturday, April 26 in Buffalo]. Take our advice, ladies, and go see the best club Buffalo ever had. With handsome bran[d] new suits the players ought to present a very attractive appearance.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 24, 1879.
April 26, 1879, Buffalo v. Essex, Buffalo, in Buffalo, exhibition game: “The new uniforms [of Buffalo] did not look very attractive Sunday [April 26]. In the whole lot there was not a shirt or a pair of pants that would not stand seven and a half nautical reefs. The men looked as though they had on uninflated life-preserving suits. […] All joking aside, the uniforms are not too large, and after being washed a few times will fit more snug. The belts and neckties are expected this week.” From the Buffalo Commercial, April 28, 1879.
May 1, 1879, Buffalo v. Boston, at Buffalo, home opener: “The weather was uncomfortably cool, and some of the players wore their Cardigans all the time.” From the Buffalo Commercial. May 2, 1879.
May 1, 1879, Buffalo v. Boston, at Buffalo, home opener: “The enthusiast who was out an hour early yesterday and captured what he fancies the best seat in the grand stand; is perhaps now busying himself with a few arithmetical calculations: […] car-fare (paid jubilantly), 8 cents; admission (paid confidently), 50 cents; grand stand (paid expectantly), 10 cents; score card (paid enthusiastically after a clean base hit by the first Buffalo to bat), 5 cents; return care-fare (paid under protest and with anathemas upon the avaricious street-railroad corporation), 8 cents.” From the Buffalo Express, May 2, 1879. No mention of a uniform but the newspaper did supply this interesting tally of the costs of a game. Buffalo lost to Boston, 5 to 0.
May 1879: “The uniforms of the eight [National] League teams are as follows: Boston, white trousers, shirts and caps, with red stockings, neckties and belts; Cleveland, black and white checked suits, white caps, blue stockings and trimmings; Providence, light gray trousers, jackets and caps, with blue stockings, belts and neckties; Chicago, white suits with different colored caps, belts and neckties, and white stockings; Buffalo, white suits, and white caps with blue trimmings, neckties and blue stockings; Cincinnati, white suits and caps, with red trimmings, belts, neckties, and red stockings; Troy, light gray suits and caps, cardinal red belts and stockings, and ‘T.C.’ on shirt front; Syracuse, white suits, white caps with brown trimmings, and brown stockings.” From the New York Tribune, May 14, 1879. Research from Richard Hershberger.
May 28, 1879, Buffalo v. Providence, at Providence, home opener: “The fielding was very fine, especially that of the Bisons.” From the Buffalo Express, May 29, 1879. Use of the Bisons nickname.
1879, referenced in March 1880: “At a meeting of the Buffalo Directors yesterday afternoon […] it was decided to substitute blue caps [in 1880] for the white ones of last season [1879].“ From the Buffalo Commercial, March 23, 1880.
1879, referenced in April 1880: “The Buffalos of 1880 […] appeared in their new uniforms with blue stockings and caps. […] The new caps are a slight improvement on the ill-shaped head pieces of last year [1879].” From the Buffalo Express, April 21, 1880.
Team genealogy:
Buffalo 1879-1885
Buffalo joined the National League (NL) in 1879. The NL formed in 1876 and Buffalo played in the league from 1879 through the end of the 1885 season. Information from wikipedia.com.
1879 Buffalo summary
Uniform: white, dark blue stockings
First worn: April 26, Buffalo
Photographed:
Described: March-May
Material: flannel
Manufacturer: Spalding & Bro.
Supposition: cap style
Variations:
Other items: Cardigan sweaters
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Boston
Rendering posted: May 9, 2015
Diggers on this uniform: Don Stokes, Ed Morton, Richard Hershberger,