1888 Chicago (Chicagos, Black Stockings, Colts)
Left & left center: These renderings are based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.
Rendering accuracy: Year: documented Team: documented
Right center: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style and written documentation for color. Minor details may be undocumented or difficult to determine. An educated guess is made to complete the rendering.
Rendering accuracy: Year: documented Team: documented
Right: This rendering is based on visual documentation for uniform style only. An educated guess is made on uniform color and on minor details that may be missing or difficult to determine.
Rendering accuracy: Year: unconfirmed Team: documented
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated 1888. Old Judge baseball card of C Sprague (Chi NL 87, Chi WA 88). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date of early 1888 (or preseason 1888) likely as Sprague played only for Chicago of the Western Association this year. Full view shows a uniform consisting of a white cap, belt and stockings, and a short-sleeved shirt and pants in a middle tone. The detail view shows quilted padding on the knees. This may be the gray (or bluish gray) uniform the team wore early in 1888 and was first introduced on May 1, 1888, opening day, as described by newspaper accounts. On this day Chicago discarded their trademark white stockings for black stockings and caps, see written descriptions below. This Old Judge photo session, defined by the hilly grass setting, focused solely on new Chicago players. None of the regulars from 1887 were photographed in this new uniform for 1888. Year Sprague with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Image was part of a collage of National League team photos produced by George H. Hastings, Boston.
Photo B
Dated 1888. Old Judge baseball card of D Clarke (Chi NL 88, Oma WA 88). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date of 1888 confirmed as this was the only year Clarke played for team. Detail view shows quilted padding on the hip and a two-tone belt. Year Clarke with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo C
Date 1888. Old Judge baseball card of H Duffy (NL 88, 89, PL 90). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date of 1888 can be confirmed as background appears to match the Sprague card, see photo A. Detail view shows lettering across chest, white buttons on shirt placket, a shirt pocket and 3/4-length sleeves. Years Duffy with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Photo D
Dated 1888. Photo date confirmed by appearance of player Borchers. The team wore tight-fitting cloth uniforms in this photo. No caps were shown in photo. Player Ryan was the only member to wear a white necktie. The remaining team members wore dark-colored ties, most likely black. This tight-fitting white uniform was most likely the one first worn in New York on June 8, 1888, see written description below.
Top row, from left: F Pfeffer (NL 83-89, 91, PL 90), N Williamson (NL 79-89, PL 90), C Anson (76-97), G Borchers (88), D Farrell (NL 88, 89, PL 90) and T Burns? (80-91) . Front: unidentified, unidentified, T Daly (NL 87, 88, AL 02, 03), J Ryan (NL 85-89, 91-00, PL 90) and G Van Haltren (87-89). Player IDs based on photo F. Farrell ID from Ken Samoil. Identity of Burns is unconfirmed and he may be the player kneeling at far left. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Mark Fimoff, SABR 19th-century Pictorial Committee. Image was part of a collage of National League team photos produced in 1888 by George H. Hastings, Boston.
Dated 1888. Detail view of photo D. Detail view shows tight-fitting cloth uniforms with no button placket, lace-ties or shirt pocket.
Photo E
Undated. Portrait of F Pfeffer (NL 83-89, 91, PL 90). Full view at left, detail view at right. The uniform in this photo appears to match that shown in photo D. Note that the tight-fitting shirt had no ties or buttons, and that the dark fabric belt had dark leather straps. Years Pfeffer with team from baseball-reference.com. Note that this image of Pfeffer is often mis-identified as C Anson (76-97).
Photo F
Dated June 12, 1888. Photo year confirmed by appearance of player Borchers, who only played for Chicago this one year. Photo date of June 12 determined by players in photo. The image was made by a Brooklyn photographer and showed only nine Chicago players, not the full team, and five “rooters” in street clothes. The Chicago players wore black dress coats with boutonnieres. Multiple newspaper reports from the June 8-12 series against the Giants in New York confirmed the Chicago team wore “swallowtail coats” when entering the Polo grounds each day. The nine players included in the photo match up with the starting nine from the game played June 12, a Chicago win. Also traveling with the team was Clarence Duval, the Chicago mascot, included in the photo. The players wore a white uniform with black stockings in this photo. Note that the center belt loop on the pants in this photo was not present in photo D. Player Ryan, far left, was the only player to wear a white necktie in this photo, same as in photo D.
The men in street clothes were, from left, actor Frank Lane, theatre manager Ariel Barney, music publisher H. French, and actor-comedians Digby Bell and De Wolf Hopper. These identities were provided by Cap Anson himself in his autobiography, A Ball Player’s Career (1900), along with the caption, “The Chicago team that won over rooters from the New York team.” Hopper and Bell, well-known performers in their day, were “staunch friends of the New York Giants,” as one newspaper noted in June 1888. However, author David L. Fleitz has written that both “were [also] friends of Cap Anson.” Chicago was leading the league at the time of the New York series and then took 3 of the 4 games played. The New York Herald broke the news: “De Wolf Hopper and Digby Bell of the McCaull opera company have signed with the Chicago club. They do not engage to play ball with this organization, but simply to use their mascot qualities for the good of the nine.” Therefore, it can be suggested the above photo represents the very moment the famous theater performers jumped allegiance from New York to Anson and Chicago. Remarkably, the New York Herald report also referenced the above photo, saying that a “picture of the Chicago club, taken on the Polo grounds, had these gentlemen [Hopper and Bell] as central figures.” So, this was not a studio image! Hall seemingly brought the studio to the ballpark, backdrop and all, instead of bringing the team to the studio. The grassy foreground can further suggest this image was made on the field.
By early August, a surging New York team had passed Chicago atop the NL standings. The Sporting Life asked on August 8, “have De Wolf Hopper and Digby Bell hoodooed the Chicago Base Ball Club?” The weekly noted that “as soon as they transferred themselves to the Chicago Club that organization began to go down hill like a greased man on a toboggan slide.” Chicago came to New York again for a three-game series, August 13-15. For the August 14 game, the New York Times reported that about 80 members of the McCaull’s Light [i.e., Comic] Opera Company “came up to the game in large horse drawn tally-ho coaches, and kept cheering the New-Yorks from start to finish” despite the fact that Chicago won the game. Hopper was on hand and, according to the Times, “was exasperated” at the New York loss. That evening, both teams attended a special stage performance at Wallack’s Theatre. Hopper was there, of course, and was “cheered to the echo” when he came on stage, according to the New York Evening World. He then “proceeded to recite a thrilling ode” as noted by the New York Times. This was one of many lifetime recitals of Ernest Thayer’s 1888 poem, Casey At The Bat.
Top row of four men, from left: (F Lane, actor), F Pfeffer (NL 83-89, 91, PL 90), C Anson (76-97) and G Van Haltren (87-89). Front row: (A Barney, theatrical manager and producer), J Ryan (NL 85-89, 91-00, PL 90), (H French, music publisher), N Williamson (NL 79-89, PL 90), D Farrell? (NL 88, 89, PL 90), (D Bell, actor), (C Duvall, mascot), (D Hopper, actor), G Borchers (88), T Burns (80-91) and T Daly (NL 87, 88, AL 02, 03). Player IDs from photo. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Mark Fimoff, SABR 19th-century Pictorial Committee. David L. Fleitz wrote in Cap Anson, The Grand Old Man of Baseball (2005) that both “Digby Bell and De Wolf Hopper […] were friends of Cap Anson.” Peter Nash in Baseball Legends at Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery (2003) wrote that Hopper first read the poem at Wallack’s Theatre in New York “as the New York and Chicago ball clubs were in attendance for a performance of [Prince] Methusalem.” New York Times research on the August 14, 1888 game from Pete Mancuso, SABR Baseball Games Project. Some research on Bell, Hopper, Lane, Barney and French from Bill Grindler. Original photo by Joseph Hall, Brooklyn.
Dated June 12, 1888. Detail view of photo F. Note that Anson, left, was the only player wearing a cap with white trim, possibly signifying his position as team captain.
Photo G
Dated circa 1888. E & J Burke Advertisement featuring Anson of Chicago and Ewing of New York. Full view at left, detail view at right. The illustration may be showing a gray uniform worn by Chicago in 1888. Note that Anson’s cap in this illustration had special trim, similar to the trim on his dark-colored cap shown photo F.
Photo H
Dated 1887. Allen & Ginter baseball card of C Anson (76-97). Full view at left, detail view at right. Photo date may be 1888 as several cards in this specific set appear to have been issued in 1888, not 1887. Illustration was based on an earlier illustration of Anson, made circa 1886, in which player wore a dark blue uniform. Photo H depicted a cream or light gray uniform and cap with gray lettering across the shirt and a blue belt. It is unknown if this illustration was based on an actual Chicago uniform. Years Anson with team from baseball-reference.com.
Photo I
Dated circa 1888. Baseball playing card of S Flint (79-89). Full view at left, detail view at right. Playing card may be showing a gray uniform worn in 1888. The black cap and stockings depicted here match newspaper reports from this year. Years Flint with team from baseball-reference.com.
Photo I
Dated 1888. Promotional poster for Old Judge baseball cards. Full view at left, detail view of player T Daly (NL 87, 88, AL 02, 03) at right. Illustration of Daly was based on Old Judge baseball card dated 1887 and colorized to show a blue uniform, a white cap with blue bands, and white stockings. It is unknown if this uniform and cap were won by Chicago in 1888. Other uniform depictions on this poster seem to match uniforms from 1888. Year Daly with team from baseball-reference.com. Image from Jay Miller, Joe Gonsowski and Richard Masson, The Photographic Baseball Cards of Goodwin & Company, 1886-1890 (2008).
Photo J
Dated 1888, likely based on uniforms from 1887. Cut-out paper figures representing the Chicago NL team for Base Ball Game, a board game by McLoughlin Bros. Figures were depicted wearing a white cap with a star on top, blue shirt and pants, black belt, and white stockings. This matched the uniform worn by the team in 1887. Figures were produced by McLoughlin Bros., New York, copyright 1888, and with the title, “Amusement for Boys to Cut Out.”
Photo K
Dated December 15-18, 1888. The Chicago and All-America teams at Sydney, Australia, on the Spalding World Tour of 1888-89. The Chicago players wore their 1888 uniform on the trip which ran from October 1888 to April 1889.
Top row, from left: T Burns (Chi 80-91), T Daly (Chi 87, 88), B Pettit (Chi 87, 88), M Sullivan (Chi 87, 88), M Baldwin (Chi 87, 88), J Tener (Chi 88, 89), J Healy (Indianapolis), F Carroll (Pittsburgh), G Wood (Philadelphia), T Brown (Boston) and J Manning (Kansas City). Front: C Duval (mascot), N Williamson (Chi 79-89), F Pfeffer (Chi 83-91, 96, 97), (G Wright, on ground), C Anson (Chi 76-97), (A Spalding), N Hanlon (Detroit, on ground), J Ward (New York), B Earle (Kansas City, on ground), J Fogarty (Philadelphia) and (H Simpson). Player E Crane (New York) was not included in the photo and a newspaper reported that he was “sick when the picture was taken.” The person in street clothes sitting far right was Harry Simpson. The Chicago Inter Ocean on March 3, 1889, said that Simpson was “formerly a player” in Newark, NJ, and that “he will be Spalding’s representative in Melbourne, and will endeavor to teach the natives how to play the American National Game.” Player IDs and Crane illness from the New York Evening World, April 5, 1889, page 1. Years players with Chicago team from baseball-reference.com. Inter Ocean research from Ken Samoil. Original photo by W. N. Tuttle, Melbourne/Sydney.
Photo L
Dated December 15-18, 1888. Another view of the Chicago and All-America teams at Sydney, Australia. This image was taken seconds before or after the team image shown above. Original photo by W. N. Tuttle, Melbourne/Sydney.
Photo M
Dated April 5, 1889. This drawing, made from a team photo taken in Sydney, Australia, on December 15-18, 1888, was published in a newspaper on this date. Image from the New York Evening World, April 5, 1889, page 1. Image scan from Ken Samoil. Illustration based on an original photo by W. N. Tuttle, Melbourne/Sydney.
Photo N
Dated March 12, 1889. The Chicago and All-America teams in London, at the Kensington Oval clubhouse.
Nine men standing from left: M Sullivan (87, 88), J Tener (88, 89), F Pfeffer (83-91, 96, 97), J Ward in far back (New York), C Anson (76-97), F Carroll (Pittsburgh), M Baldwin (87, 88), T Brown behind Baldwin (Boston) and G Wood (Philadelphia). Six sitting in middle and right: (A Spalding), (G Wright), J Fogarty? (Philadelphia), N Hanlon (Detroit), J Manning (Kansas City) and J Healy (Indianapolis). Four sitting in front: T Daly (87, 88), T Burns (80-91), E Crane (New York) and B Earle (Cincinnati). Not pictured for Chicago: N Williamson (79-89) and B Pettit (87, 88). Williamson was injured in a game played in Paris on March 8, 1889. According to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “Williamson, in gliding [i.e., sliding] to second base, cut a gash in his knee and had to retire.” According to Sam Gazdiziak, RIP Baseball, “Williamson tore up his kneecap, requiring stitches – and the initial dressing got infected while crossing the channel to England. Williamson likely also tore ligaments in his knee and for weeks couldn’t put any weight on his leg. As such, he was forced to stay behind in London until he could travel.”
Photo O
Dated April 8, 1889. The Chicago team at Brooklyn, Washington Park, on the last leg of the Spalding World Tour, 1888-89. A Brooklyn newspaper noted that “before the game began, the two teams [Chicago and All-America] were separately photographed by Mr. Hall, while seated near the grandstand.” Only eight Chicago players were photographed by Hall, as “for several innings Daly, of the Chicago team, who was booked to catch or cover center field, did not put in an appearance, owing to the fact that he had not returned from a visit to Philadelphia; as a result that team was forced to play with but eight men.” The spectators above the wall had been retouched out in this print.
From left: B Pettit (87, 88), M Sullivan (87, 88), M Baldwin (87, 88), T Burns (80-91), C Anson (76-97), F Pfeffer (83-91, 96, 97), J Tener behind Pfeffer (88, 89), J Ryan (85-89, 91-00) and C Duval (mascot). Player IDs based on other tour images above. Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Report of team being photographed from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 9, 1889, page 1. Report on Daly arriving late from the Brooklyn Citizen, April 9, 1889, page 3. Image from the Chicago Historical Society. Image scan from Carson Lorey. Original photo by Joseph Hall, Brooklyn.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1888: “The Chicago Whites will wear the regulation blue flannel uniform with white caps, belts and stockings.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, February 26 1888.
March 1888: “Members of the Chicago club to leave for Hot Springs today. [Yesterday, March 1] at noon Sam Morton had supplied each of the players with an outfit, consisting of a uniform, shoes, and stockings.” From the Chicago Tribune, March 2, 1888.
April 14, 1888, Chicago (NL) v Chicago (WA), exhibition game: “In the [Chicago NL] fourth inning, on a single to center by Burns, Williamson ran home and had to slide for the plate. He scored at the expense of his new blue trousers, which were seriously torn. He donned an ulster [overcoat], fled to the dressing room, and appeared in a few minutes in white trousers. This mishap amused the crowd more than all the rest of the game.” From the Chicago Tribune, April 15, 1888.
April 20, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis, at Indianapolis, home opener: “The visitors [Chicago] wore their bright blue practice suits, and were hardly out of their carriages before Anton had them at practice.” From the Indianapolis News, April 20, 1888, page 1.
May 1, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis, at Chicago, home opener: “They are no longer white stockings. The new uniform is a steel-gray suit, with black belts and stockings. […] Mrs. Anson selected it.” From the Chicago Tribune, May 2, 1888, page 3.
May 1, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis, at Chicago, home opener: “The new uniforms of the Chicagos were made by Mrs. Anson and they are very pretty. They are light blue-gray flannel shirts and trousers, black undershirts, black caps, black stockings, and black belts.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 2, 1888, page 2.
May 1, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis at Chicago, home opener: “The Chicagos appeared in a new uniform, gray shirt and pants, black cap, belt and stockings.” The New York Press, May 2, 1888, and from the Boston Globe, May 2, 1888, page 3.
May 1, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis at Chicago, opening day: “Anson and his colts marched upon the field last Tuesday [May 1st] in light gray flannel suits with black belts, black stockings, black caps and the word ‘Chicago’ stitched in black letters across the chest.” From The Sporting Life, May 8, 1888. Research from Chuck McGill.
May 1, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis at Chicago, opening day: “When the Chicago Club marched through White Stocking Park at the opening game, they were not recognized because they wore black stockings, black caps and black belts. These, with gray suits, materially altered the appearance of Anson and every man in uniform […] The designer of Chicago’s black and gray is Mrs. Adrian C. Anson, and she says she obtained the idea from the colors […] of the auditorium in which the National Republican Convention will be held here next month.” From the New York Clipper, May 12, 1888.
May 1888: “The Chicagos are no longer the White Stockings. Anson’s men now wear a uniform selected by Mrs. Anson, of gray with black trimmings and stockings.” From the Buffalo Commercial, May 5, 1888.
May 1888: “There are two mascots now for the Chicago club. Willie Hahn and Freddie Bell. They wore the club gray uniform, and are about the same size.” From Chicago Inter Ocean, May 9, 1888, page 2.
May 1888: “The Chicago team now wears black stockings, black caps and light blue suits.” From the Kansas City Journal, May 9, 1888. Research from Paul Winter.
May 1888: “Chicago has dropped her historic white stockings. She now plays in black stockings, black caps and shirts of pigeon blue.” From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 11, 1888.
May 1888: “The white stockings and blue uniforms of the Chicago club have been discarded for a neat suit of bluish gray, with black hose and caps.” From the Havana (NY) Journal, May 12, 1888.
May 1888: “The designer of Chicago’s black and gray uniform is Mrs. Adrian C. Anson, and she says she obtained the idea from the colors which are blended in a picture of the auditorium in which the National Republican Convention will be held next month. This coincidence leads Pfeffer, who is superstitious, to observe that the success of the Republican nominees will hinge largely upon the success of the club that wears auditorium colors. […] — Chicago Journal.” From the St. Louis Dispatch, May 14, 1888. Research from Gary Kodner.
May 1888: “The Boston club will be here [in Chicago] on Tuesday next. […] Clarkson and Kelly will be received with due honors and Spalding will present his club in black broadcloth uniforms. Full dress suits! Clawhammer coats! Sometimes called ‘swallow tails!’ The idea was Mrs. Anson’s. Spalding promptly sanctioned it. […] Anson says the men will don the broadcloth only on state occasions. The suits cost $45 each. They will be worn once in each [National] league city and then be reserved for the opening game in Australia next winter.” From the Detroit Free Press, May 15, 1888, page 8, citing the Chicago Exuberance.
May 1888: “The reception which Chicago will give [former players] Clarkson and Kelly on May 15 will be the most brilliant public demonstration in the history of the game. A reception at the hotel will be followed by a parade, with two brass bands. At the grounds there will be speeches, an original poem, quartet music and presentations. The Chicago club will honor the occasion by appearing in a new uniform, the handsomest and costliest ever worn on the field.” From the Lowell (MA) Courier, May 1888, exact date not available on newspaper scan.
May 15, 1888, Chicago v Boston at Chicago: “The Chicagos met the visitors in white jerseys and claw hammer coats.” From the Brooklyn Daily Standard-Union, May 16, 1888.
May 15, 1888, Chicago v. Boston, at Chicago: “Chicago held a grand reception for [former players] Kelly and Clarkson on their first visit to the Windy City. The usual parade, bands of music, etc., were had. The White Stockings also sported their new dress uniforms of black broadcloth, which cost $45 each, were cut in full dress style, and to be worn thereafter when coming out upon the field for the first game of a series. Buttonhole bouquets were also included in the outfits.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 361. No citation given.
May 1888: “The Chicago’s new suits are black broadcloth and cost $45 each.” From the Philadelphia Record, May 20, 1888. Research from Ed Morton. This same information was included in the report from the May 15 game v. Boston, see above, and was a reference to the swallow-tail coat the Chicago team wore when entering the playing field.
May 24, 1888, Chicago v. Detroit, at Chicago: “The Chicagos came out in their dress coats and white jersey uniforms. They looked like model athletes.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 25, 1888, page 2.
May 24, 1888, Chicago v. Detroit, at Chicago: “The Chicagos [uniform] was worn in a game for the first time to day and consists of white shirt and knee breeches with black caps, belt and stockings. [They] wore regulation dress coats over their uniforms.” From the Detroit Free Press, May 25, 1888, page 8, citing of special dispatch.
May 1888: “The Chicagos come on the field with regulation dress coats over their uniforms.”” From the Buffalo Morning Express, May 27, 1888.
May 1888: “The Chicagos have formally adopted the black stockings and trimmings as the distinctive colors of the team. The gray and white uniforms will be used entirely this season.” From the Chicago Inter Ocean, May 30, 1888, page 2.
May 30, 1888, Chicago v. Washington, at Washington, afternoon game: “Both teams were generously applauded as they marched across the field from the clubhouse, the Senators in their patriotic red, white and blue uniforms, and the visitors [Chicago] in their ‘dude’ suits, consisting of close fitting white jersey shirts and knickerbockers, black stockings and caps and black broadcloth ‘swallow-tails.’” From the Washington Post, May 31, 1888, page 1.
June 5, 1888, Chicago v. Philadelphia, at Philadelphia: “The Chicago team wore gray suits yesterday [on June 5], cut on a little more liberal pattern than the white skin-tight suits worn on Saturday [June 2 at Philadelphia].” From the Philadelphia Record, June 6, 1888. Research from Ed Morton.
June 8, 1888, Chicago v. New York at New York, Polo Grounds: “At the game of baseball on the Polo Grounds this afternoon the fancy dress suits of the Chicago Club will be seen here for the first time. The uniform consists of a swallow-tail coat of black broadcloth and tight fitting white cotton shirt and knickerbockers to match.” From the New York Evening Telegram, June 8, 1888.
June 8, 1888, Chicago v. New York, at New York, Polo Grounds: “Seven thousand persons greeted Capt. Anson of Chicago and his team of ex-champions as they made their appearance on the Polo grounds yesterday [June 8] attired in claw-hammer coats and tight-fitting white jersey shirts. As they strode across the field headed by […] the mascot of the club — they were warmly applauded.” From the New York Times, June 9, 1888, page 2.
June 8, 1888, Chicago v. New York, at New York, Polo Grounds: “The Chicago Club marched on the Polo ground diamond yesterday [June 8] in tight-fitting spike-tailed coats, and with tighter fitting white shirts, knickerbockers, black stockings, and caps. When the little [mascot] stepped in front of the players, who marched ten abreast, and led them from the back field across to their seats, the laughter drowned all attempts at applause.” From the New York Herald, June 9, 1888, page 3.
June 8, 1888, Chicago v. New York, New York, Polo Grounds: “Like a regular street parading company, [Chicago] came on the field attired in their show clothes, the feature of which was black cloth swallow tall coats tail coats, and marched abreast, appropriately led by a little uniformed […] mascot, which wielded a drum major’s baton in high style.” From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 9, 1888.
June 11, 1888, Chicago v. New York, at New York, Polo grounds: “The Chicago team went through the same monkey business in coming on the field in their claw hammers, while the New Yorks came on in their working clothes.” From the New York Herald, June 12, 1888, page 3.
June 11, 1888, Chicago v. New York, at New York: “The handsome and athletic Chicago team walked out on the field looking the picture of confidence. They were arrayed in the neat-fitting white uniforms and wore the now famous swallow-tail coats while they marched across the diamond. The little […] mascot led the procession as usual, getting plenty of applause for his cleverness with the huge baton.” From the Chicago Tribune, June 12, 1888, page 6, citing a special dispatch from New York.
1888, Chicago v. New York at New York, Polo Grounds: “On another visit to New York, the White Stockings poked fun at the Giants’ garb…all-black, tight-fitting outfits for the 1888 season. The Chicagos wore their traditional white flannel uniform, accessorized with black silk ties, silk caps, and formal swallow-tailed coats with white boutonnieres. The next day, the Giants showed they could take the ribbing by adding white linen dusters and white top hats to their uniforms for their grand entrance.” From Bryan Di Salvatore, A Clever Base-Ballist: The Life and Times of John Montgomery Ward (1999), pg. 22, and also from Mike Roer.
June 1888: “At exactly 3:30 by the gong Anson’s finest twelve jumped from out of their carriages, formed a line, and, bearing broadside on [i.e., side by side] and proceeded by their dusky mascot, dallying with his baton, marched across the field. The applause began with their appearance…and as they neared the grand stand, doffed their hats and removed those famous dress coats, one couldn’t have heard a steam calliope for the tumult. The dress suits have often been described. Black stockings, belts and caps, white jersey shirts and breeches and black broadcloth swallowtails complete the uniform.” From the New York Evening World, June 8, 1888. Research from Chuck McGill.
June 1888, Chicago v. New York, at New York: 13,314 saw the first Chicago game of the season at New York. The White Stockings marched from the clubhouse in their full dress coats, then came the Giants in their regular uniforms but also wearing linen dusters and high white hats in a burlesque of the Chicago costumes.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 362.
June 1888: “The white pants of the Chicago team should be either made looser or discarded altogether. As it is now they are skin-tight, and positively indecent. Otherwise, the new uniform in the prettiest in the [National] League.” From The Sporting Life, June 13, 1888.
June 21, 1888, Chicago v. Pittsburgh, at Chicago: “Capt. Anson decided to don the claw-hammers and when the club marched from the club-house to the bench the 6,000 people on the ground sent up round after round of applause. The players wore their white jersey suits, the cleanliness of which reflected somewhat on the Pittsburg[h]s, as their white uniforms looked soiled in comparison.” From the Chicago Tribune, June 22, 1888, page 6.
June 1888: “The fancy Chicago uniforms were much admired around the circuit. Anson made his players wear neckties on the field also and the suits were washed every night. […] But the Sporting Life dissented to one phase of the Chicago uniform. ‘The white pants should be discarded or made looser. As it is now, they are skin-tight and positively indecent. Otherwise, the new Chicago uniforms are the prettiest in the League. The White Stocking uniforms, although fancy, did not compare with the duds of the Lord Baltimores of the National Association of 1872 which cost $56 each. The trousers and stockings were of silk.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 362.
July 11, 1888, Chicago v Washington at Chicago: “The tail-enders lose—Anson’s Black Stockings get the best of them.” From the Chicago Tribune, July 12, 1888. Newspapers regularly referred to the team as the ‘Black Stockings’ or ‘Black Sox’ in the latter half of the 1888 season.
July 14, 1888, Chicago v. New York, and Chicago: “[New York] Manager Mutrie had saved Mickey [Welch] for two games against the Black Stockings.” From the Chicago Tribune, July 15, 1888, page 14. Use of the Black Stockings nickname.
July 1888: “The [National] League ought to allot every club its own color and thus prevent the confusion that is now seen at many games. Chicago abandoned white stockings because Detroit appropriated the color.” From the Warren Republican (Hackettstown, NJ), July 27, 1888.
August 8, 1888, Chicago v. Philadelphia, at Philadelphia: “All the Black Stockings except three, one after another, were seized with the rattles, and the game degenerated into a farce.” From the Chicago Tribune, August 9, 1888, page 3, citing a special deep dispatch from Philadelphia. Use of the Black Stockings nickname.
August 1888: “Indianapolis has new uniforms. They are the same as the Chicago gray uniform.” From the Chicago Tribune, August 15, 1888, page 3.
September 19, 1888, Chicago v. Philadelphia, at Chicago: “Once only did the famous Black Stockings get a man as far as third base.” From the Chicago Tribune, September 20, 1888. Chicago lost, 3 to 0. During this period, the Tribune called the Chicago team the “Black Sox.”
September 1888, uniform for upcoming World Tour: “The Chicagos will wear their bluish-gray knit worsted suits and trousers, with black stockings belt, and cap.” From the Chicago Tribune, September 16, 1888. The Tribune noted that “the two teams [Chicago and All-America] will leave Chicago about October 20 in a Pullman hotel car.”
September 25, 1888, Chicago v. Indianapolis, at Chicago: “On Tuesday [September 25] Chicago and Indianapolis wore their double uniforms. Billy [Burdick] mistook [Tom] Burns, who was running the bases, for one of his own team, and threw the ball to him. Burns, of course, didn’t catch it, but made a base on the throw.” From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 3, 1888, page 5. This entry suggests both teams wore their gray uniforms.
November 1888, Chicago world tour uniform: “Light gray shirts and knee breeches, with black stockings, caps and belts; black letters across the breasts, Chicago.” From Outing, Volume XIII, November 1888. Research from Ed Morton.
1888: “Cincinnati [of the American Association] thought base running must be weaker in the [National] League as New York and Chicago still wore skin-tight uniforms, now abandoned by the Reds. A player could not slide in them without leaving big patches of cuticle around the lot.” From Preston D. Orem, Baseball 1882-1891 From The Newspaper Accounts (1966, 1967, reprinted by SABR in 2021), pg. 352.
1888, referenced in March 1889: “Two years ago [i.e., about 1887] we made the first Jersey Suits ever worn by any ball team. The Chicago team were so delighted with them as a change suit, that last year [in 1888] not only they but others adopted this style in connection with their regular flannel suits.” From a Spalding Brothers ad printed in The Sporting Life, March 27, 1889.
1887-1888, referenced in 1891: “We offer our regular line of flannel uniforms, and in addition offer a new style of heavy knit suits, such as was first worn by Chicago Club during 1887-1888. They are well adapted for warm weather.” From an A. G. Spalding & Brothers ad printed in Spalding’s Base Ball Guide and Official League Book for 1891 (1891).
1888 Chicago uniform summary
Uniform: white, black stockings
First worn: May 24, Chicago
Photographed: team photos from year, player portrait from year
Described: May, June
Material: jersey (tight-fitting version)
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations: also wore a tight-fitting version of the white uniform, Anson as captain wore a cap with extra trim, team also wore blue uniform and white stockings from 1887 in early 1888
Other items: black swallow-tail coats
Home opener report: yes, May 1 v Indianapolis, wore gray uniform
Uniform: gray, black stockings
First worn: May 1, Chicago
Photographed: player portraits from year
Described: May, June, August
Material: flannel
Manufacturer:
Supposition:
Variations: wore white cap and white stockings in preseason
Team genealogy:
Chicago 1874-
Chicago reformed after the Great Fire of October 1871 and rejoined the National Association (NA) in 1874 and 1875 after a two-year absence. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Chicago joined the National League (NL) at its formation in 1876 and the team has played in the NL every year since 1876. Information from Paul Batesel, Players and Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com, and from wikipedia.
Rendering posted: October 15, 2018
Diggers on this uniform: Bill Grindler, Carson Lorey, Chuck McGill, Ed Morton, Gary Kodner, Ken Samoil, Mike Roer, Paul Winter,