Take a read on this 19th Century Baseball website concerning evolution of the equipment.
http://www.19cbaseball.com/equipment.html
Another thing to take into account is the players kept, and handed down older uniforms (and equipt.), since they were very expensive. Some of these in the tintype could have been 10 year old hand me downs, and some look like something just put together of any type clothes. Another great thing about the negro catcher, is he is wearing fingerless gloves (isn't he?) The catchers mask pretty much dates the tintype from the 1880s, as it looks like the newest piece of uniform/ equipment in the image.