The Detroit Wolverines of the National League, 1882
(Differences in color are difficult to discern in this black-and-white photograph, however
the players shown above are indeed wearing different-colored and patterned uniforms)

The rules of 1882 called for the use of multi-colored uniforms denoting each player’s position. For example, scarlet-and-white-striped shirts and caps were worn by first basemen, while shortstops wore solid maroon. Only the color of the stockings was used to differentiate one club from another. Derisively called “clown costumes,” the experimental outfits were dropped in mid-season, though a few clubs briefly revived the position-oriented design in 1888.

Return to Timeline: 1849-1900

Dressed to the Nines: A History of the Baseball Uniform
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