In 1888 the uniforms were more simple or more “traditional”; white uniforms, brown lettering, brown trimmed hats, brown socks. Tobacco card photographs from this season show simple lettering across the chest and white caps that have brown stripes. A January newspaper article from The Philadelphia Times says the team would wear navy blue road uniforms that were the same as the 1887 navy blue uniform.
A discovery by Craig Brown at ThreadsofOurGame.com revealed that the team photo of the Browns featuring two dogs could be the team wearing World Series uniforms. A newspaper article describes this uniforms as have red trim.
Newspaper Accounts
The Philadelphia Times: Jan 15, 1888
The Browns will wear uniforms this year of the same color and texture as the suits in which they won the championship last year. There will be two uniforms, navy blue and white flannel. The caps and jackets will be same as worn last year. The Western League Club will be known as the “Whites,” and beyond white stockings and caps the uniform has not been decided upon.
St. Paul Globe: March 25, 1888
SOME CHANGES MADE BY NEARLY ALL OF THE CLUBS…
…The St. Louis Browns have not changed their uniform.
Thanks to Matt Albertson from Philly chapter of SABR who pointed out that this newspaper article is from March, which would have been in Spring Training, and is likely the Browns were still wearing their 1887 uniforms before the start of the 1888 season.
The Plain Dealer: April 1, 1888
CHANGES IN UNIFORMS…
The St. Louis Browns will be dressed as they were last season, in suits in which the stockings and belts are brown and the shirts and caps of brown and white stripes. With the suit will go the old scarlet jackets.
St Louis Post Dispatch: September 11, 1888
Grand Stand Chat.
The Browns look very natty in the handsome new suits presented them in Philadelphia by President Von der Ahe.
Chicago Tribune: September 13, 1888
The St. Louis Browns have been measured for new uniforms. They will wear them in the world’s championship series.
St. Louis Globe Democrat: October 17, 1888
The Browns appeared in new suits of white flannel, with red trimmings and brown stockings. The Giants wore their tight-fitting black knit suits, with white trimmings.
Team Colors
Brown – PMS 732
Off-White Fabric – CMYK: 1/2/3/0
