1884 Browns

In 1884, following media criticism, the St. Louis Club went back to Brown. While newspaper accounts and photographs depict these uniforms, they do not tell us the reason for the sudden changes year to year. We have no photographs of the polka-dot uniform, but we have based the model on the 1884 newspaper account that says small polka dots along with a pattern similar to that of the 1882 New York Metropolitans. See Craig Brown’s research for details on polka-dot shirt patterns. https://www.threadsofourgame.com/1882-metropolitan-new-york/

Our models also depict neckties being worn. We know that ties were often worn in studio photography, but we have no evidence that these were worn in game. Two players in the 1884 studio team photo are seen wearing white sport jackets with brown trim.

Newspaper Accounts

St. Louis Post Dispatch: January 30, 1884
The St. Louis Base-Ball Club.
Base-ball matters are getting lively and interesting and the directors of the different clubs are finding plenty of employment. last night a meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Base-Ball Club was held at St. Louis and Grand avenues. Messrs. Von der The, Williams and Reid being present. The ground superintendent, Mr. August Solari, was consulted as to the expediency of laying a cinder track around the grounds for pedestrian purposes, and he said in case a track was made back of the catchers position for some twenty-five feet, that it would in no wise interfere with the field and that a good quarter-mile track could be laid; and that the expense would not be too great to prevent its being laid.
In regard to the uniform nothing has been determined beyond the fact that a return will be made to the original “brown sox,” by which the club was formerly distinguished and under which appellation the team will always be known. In a few weeks the board will make a trip for the purpose of making observations and deciding upon a tasty uniform.

St. Louis Globe Democrat: February 3, 1884
The St. Louis Club will this season play in a handsome suit of white, with brown belts and stockings. The uniform will be the most tasteful ever shown in St. Louis, and the return of the old colors will doubtless be enthusiastically greeted by the admirers of the team.
– research from Jeff Kittel at http://thisgameofgames.blogspot.com / http://www.thisgameofgames.com

St. Louis Post Dispatch: February 16, 1884
The St. Louis uniforms will be the handsomest ever put on the field here locally, and will consist of a very pretty shirt, small collar, plain front with the words St. Louis in brown letters across the front; a brown scarf will be used with the shirt; the pants will be plain white, the stockings solid brown of a very handsome shade; the caps will be white with brown stripes after the League pattern, and the belt will be brown with a large nickel buckle. There will be natty little coat of white with brown trimmings worn with the uniform and the entire outfit will be of best procurable material… The reserve team uniform will be very handsome, and will consist of a new shade of light gray with trimmings of a rich shade of blue; the stockings and belt will be blue, and the caps of the same shade as the shirt and pants with blue circles. 

St. Louis Post Dispatch: April 2, 1884
Several of the St. Louis Browns uniforms have arrived from Chicago and they will cut a splendid figure on Sunday next. Tomorrow the men will go to Strauss, the photographer, to have their faces and figures taken for the large photographs which are to be gotten up.

St. Louis Globe Democrat: April 5, 1884
Quite a scene was enacted at the Directors’ headquarters at Sportsman’s Park yesterday, as President Von der Ahe displayed magnificent new uniforms of the St. Louis and Reserve players […] Those of the St. Louis players are beauties. They are of the purest white flannel, the shirts being of a soft, smooth texture, with the ‘St. Louis Browns’ in brown cashmere handsomely woven across the center. Pretty silk cord lacings are used, giving the shirt a very attractive and handsome appearance. The breeches are of a blouse pattern. The stockings are a beautiful brown, while the belt is of a fine brocaded silk woven material. Each player receives two suits, with each one of which goes a pair of garters and a pretty necktie. The caps have two brown stripes around them.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: April 7, 1884
The Browns… appeared in their rich new costumes of white shirts and white breeches, with dark brown stockings and belts and caps of the National League style in browns and white. The uniform was not complete, as there are… jackets of white flannel with brown to be added.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: July 21, 1884
The Browns yesterday appeared in very handsome new white shirts with small polka dots. They are very becoming.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: March 21, 1885
A correspondent writes to me expressing his views on the St. Louis’ use of the brown in their uniform. It is undoubtedly as ugly a combination as could be got together, but with the polka dot shirts used last year was redeemed very materially. At the same time the uniform is not near so unsightly and uncouth looking as is that of the Chicagos, and its virtue rests in the same circumstance that it is the club color. The Chicago people will always insist upon “the Whites” being known by their original title and the St. Louis people could not be induced to speak otherwise but of the Browns. 

Team Colors

Brown – PMS 732
Off-White Fabric – CMYK: 1/2/3/0