19th Century Uniform Question

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Can anyone tell me what year(s) it was common for the players on a team to be wearing different colored jerseys?

I tried googling for the answer, but it's not easily googled, and I'm here at work so I don't have my library at hand.

Thanks!

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Posted By: Corey R. Shanus

1882 I believe was the year a number of teams, perhaps even the entire league, had each position player wear a different uniform. There are a few known cabinets of teams from that year that show players on the same team wearing different style uniforms.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Thanks Corey!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

It was 1882.

I just sold a Chicago cabinet in Mastro from 1882 that showed the whole team (Anson & Kelly) in different jerseys. I liked the striped ones.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

I won this cabinet on ebay today. Is it fair to say that this is from around 1882 or is this just some rag-tag bunch of ballplayers who couldn't afford matching uniforms?

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Posted By: Joe D.

that make me love this forum.

great pickup dan!

and great info on the uniforms..... I never knew.

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

There was a time when players wore uniforms that corresponded to their postion. I know I have an old Harpers woodcut that depicts similar uniform differences. And I think I read something once about how all first basemen wore one type of jersey, the pitcher another... someone here will either know it or know where to pull a book down and tell you. So yes, there was a time when players on one team wore different jerseys.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Yes, your card is definitely from 1882.

There were two players on every team that wore the striped jerseys... first base and some other position.

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Posted By: Joe_G.

You'll enjoy this, see 1882 write-up . . .

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/timeline.htm

Best Regards,
Joe Gonsowski

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Thanks for the information.