1884 Allegheny, Pittsburgh (Alleghenys, Pittsburghs)

These renderings are based on written documentation for uniform style and color. No visual documentation is known and an artist’s conceptualization is used to create the renderings. 

Rendering accuracy:

Year: documented    Team: documented

Visual documentation on these uniforms:
None

Written documentation on these uniforms:
February 1884: “The Alleghenys next season [1884] will be a regular star-spangled-banner sort of an organization. Each man will have two uniforms. One will be of cadet gray, while the other will be of white. The caps will be of navy blue, while the belts and stockings will be of red. A uniform of that description would make a player like Long John Reilly’s build look like an American flag.” From the Cleveland Leader, February 13, 1884, page 5.

March 1884: “Red and black caps, shirts and stockings, with white pants, will constitute one uniform, and gray with red trimmings will constitute the other uniform, of the Allegheny club this season.” From the Pittsburgh Chronicle & Telegraph, March 12, 1884. Research from Andy Terrick. Note, a report from one month later does not mention the color black when describing the red/maroon uniform.

March 1884: “One [Allegheny] uniform will be gray with red trimmings, the other will be maroon cap, shirt and stockings, with white pants. The latter uniform is a change from red and black stripes, which were at first selected.” From The Sporting Life, March 26, 1884. Research from Justin Mckinney.

April 12, 1884, Allegheny Regulars v. the Allegheny Reserves, at Allegheny, exhibition game: “The Allegheny players appeared in their new uniforms this afternoon. One side wore gray with red trimmings, the other wore maroon caps, shirts and stockings and belt and white pants.” From the Pittsburgh Chronicle & Telegraph, April 12, 1884. Research from Andy Terrick.

April 12, 1884, Allegheny Regulars v. the Allegheny Reserves, at Allegheny, exhibition game: “The Alleghenies […] had on their new suits. The Regulars wore dark red shirts and stockings, white pants and white caps encircled by two narrow dark red bands. The letter ‘A,’ worked in white, adorns the bosoms of the shirts. The Reserve garb is of cadet gray, and caught the eye of a majority of the spectators.” From the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, April 14 1884, page 8.

Team genealogy:
Allegheny/Pittsburgh 1870s-
Pittsburgh began as Allegheny, an independent pro team in the city of Allegheny, PA, located across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh. The club organized in the mid-1870s and joined the American Association (AA) at its formation in 1882. The AA was a major league operating between 1882 and 1891. Allegheny played in the AA through the 1886 season and then moved to the National League (NL) as Pittsburgh in 1887. The NL began operation in 1876 and Pittsburgh has played in the league every year from 1887 to present time. Information from wikipedia.com.

1884 Allegheny summary

Uniform: red shirt and cap, white pants, red stockings
First worn: April 12, Pittsburgh
Photographed:
Described: March, April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations:
Other items:
Home opener report: no, May 1 v. Athletic

Uniform: gray, red stockings (reserve team uniform)
First worn: April 12, Pittsburgh
Photographed:
Described: February-April
Material:
Manufacturer:
Supposition: cap style, shirt style
Variations: may have worn a blue cap
Other items: