1893 Boston (Bostons, Beaneaters)
Uniform documentation:
White– visual & written
White/Blue– written only
Gray– written only
These renderings are included in the book, BASEBALL THREADS.
Visual documentation on these uniforms:
Photo A
Dated September 10, 1893. This rendering of H Gastright (Bos 93, Pit NL 93) was published in a newspaper on this day. This rendering may have been based on a photograph. Gastright only played for Boston for several months. He was signed by the team July 11, 1893 and released April 13, 1894. Player was depicted wearing a pillbox-style cap with bands of stitching encircling the body. The shirt had a short run of lace ties above the city name. In the rendering, the laces, probably red in color, were depicted as being too long for what was required and therefore the ends extended well beyond the lettering. The belt was most likely made of fabric and may have been two-tone in color. Image and player ID from the Boston Sunday Post, September 10, 1893. Year Gastright with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Carson Lorey.
Photo B
Dated 1893. Portrait montage of fourteen Boston players, eight of which were shown in uniform. Date of item determined by the appearance of H Gastright, who only played for Boston in 1893. Most of the depictions of players in uniform were made from photographs taken in other years and therefore do not represent the 1893 Boston uniform. The Ganzel and Nash portraits were published in a Boston montage in 1889, and the Lowe portrait was published in a Boston montage in 1890. The Nichols portrait was printed in an Old Judge baseball card in 1889 when the pitcher was with Omaha. The Duffy and McCarthy portraits were used for the Mayo Cut Plug baseball card series printed in 1895, two years after the montage above was printed. The Stivetts and Staley portraits are undetermined.
Players in uniform, top row from left: H Duffy (AA 91, NL 92-00), J Stivetts (92-98) and C Ganzel (89-97). Second row, in uniform: T McCarthy (92-95), B Lowe (90-01), H Staley (91-94), K Nichols (90-01) and B Nash (85-95). Years with team from baseball-reference.com. Image scan from Huggins and Scott Auctions. Image scan from Ken Samoil.
Written documentation on these uniforms:
April 1893: “At 10 o‘clock this morning [April 1] the members of the Boston base ball team for 1893 reported at the South End grounds. […] This afternoon they will done their new uniforms and go out on the field for practice.” From the Boston Globe, April 1, 1893.
April 1893: “John Morrill, the well known ex-ball player has received the order to uniform the Bostons and the Clevelands. [The] Boston suit consists [of] Bristol gray material of the finest quality with Royal blue belts and stockings. [The word] Boston, in Royal blue on [the] shirt, and cap [in the] League style with blue piping. It is a new departure for Boston, as their color has always been red.” From the Brooklyn Citizen, April 3, 1893, page 3. Research from Ed Morton.
April 10, 1893, Boston v. Yale University, at New Haven CN, exhibition game: “The league men [i.e., Boston] were wrapped up in sweaters while the students wore their summer uniforms.” From the Boston Globe, April 11, 1893.
April 1893: “It is said that the Boston Club contemplates discarding the historic time-honored red stockings. Better go slow on that. Chicago has had no luck since the day the famous white stockings were discard[ed] for black stockings.” From The Sporting Life, April 15, 1893.
April 1893: “The Bostonians are going to abandon their old red hose this year. The new traveling uniforms are of Bristol gray material, with royal blue belts and stockings, ‘Boston’ in royal blue on shirt and cap, [National] league style with blue piping.” From the Washington (DC) Evening Star, April 18, 1893.
April 28, 1893, Boston v. New York, at New York, opening day: “To the strains of lively music and vociferous yelling from the cranks the two teams came toward the scene of the struggle. […] The Bostons were arrayed in mouse-colored uniforms and blue stockings, the players from the Hub [i.e., Boston] having discarded the red stockings which they have worn since the team was organized.” From the New York Sun, April 29, 1893. Research from Don Stokes.
April 28, 1893, Boston v. New York, at New York, Polo grounds, home opener: “The Boston men wore dirty-looking uniforms and they played like ‘Indians.’” From the New York Tribune, April 30, 1893, page 8. Research from Ed Morton.
May 1893: “The Bostons seem to have abandoned the red stockings entirely, even at home. They are now wearing maroon colors.” From The Sporting Life, May 27, 1893.
July 1893: “The Bostons will probably have a new traveling uniform. It will consist of white shirts, with dark blue knickerbockers, dark blue stockings and white caps, and will certainly be a vast improvement upon the uniforms previously worn.” From The Sporting Life, July 29, 1893. Research from Chuck McGill.
August 3, 1893, Boston v. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn, Eastern Park: “[Boston] Manager Selee’s boys wore their new traveling uniforms for the first time. It is not a pretty outfit. White caps and shirts, blue-black baggy trousers, white stockings and belts hardly blend to attractiveness. The uniforms recalled the old Chicago suits. […] What if the Bostons did seem a cross between the stage soldiers of the “Soudan”[sic] and a gang of Piute Indians out upon a drunk? They played the same old snappy […] game.” From the Boston Globe, August 4, 1893.
August 3, 1893, Boston v. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn, Eastern Park, Ladies Day: “The Champions [of Boston], in their new uniforms, presented a neat appearance. The suits are loose black Knickerbockers, white stockings, belts, shirts, and caps. If any team deserves bright, new uniforms and every luxury, the Champions certainly do.” From the New York Tribune, August 4, 1893. Research from Ken Samoil.
August 3, 1893, Boston v. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn, Eastern Park, Ladies Day: “It was the first time the Bostons had worn their new traveling suits and they looked gorgeous if not familiar. It is a copy of the old Detroit uniform; white shirts, caps and stockings and dark blue pants.” From the New York Press, August 4, 1893.
August 3, 1893, Boston v. Brooklyn, at Brooklyn, Eastern Park, Ladies Day: “The Boston champions put in an appearance at Eastern park yesterday [August 3] clad in the uniform of the old White Stockings of Chicago, while the Brooklyn team were attired in the old Boston Red Stockings dress instead of the blue uniform they wore at New York the day before.” From the Brooklyn Eagle, August 4, 1893.
August 1893: “The Boston’s new uniform consists of white shirt, cap, and stockings, and blue-black, ungraceful-looking trousers. The white stockings remind one of a German marketwoman.” From the New York Sun, August 4, 1893.
August 1893: “Boston is a great base ball team. Otherwise those suits might get the players in trouble. Nothing more hideous than that combination of bathing suit blue and white shirts and hose that has [not] been seen here since the old Detroit days.” From The Sporting Life, August 19, 1893.
Team genealogy: Boston 1871-1952
Boston was formed to enter the National Association (NA) in 1871. The NA was baseball’s first league, operating 1871-1875. Boston played in the NA in every year of the league’s existence and moved to the National League (NL) upon its start in 1876. Boston played in the NL from 1876 to 1952 and moved to Milwaukee for the 1953 NL season. Information from Paul Batesel, Players And Teams of the National Association, 1871-1875, from baseball-reference.com and from wikipedia.com.
Rendering posted: February 15, 2024
Diggers on this uniform: Carson Lorey, Chuck McGill, Don Stokes, Ed Morton, Ken Samoil,