Knoxville Uniforms

Overview

I've always been intrigued with what the uniforms of teams looked like. With the older photos being black and white, one has to guess. Fortunately sometimes the newspapers gives us a peek by description. I've combed through them and transcribed the relevant info.

Picture

mid 1880s Knoxville Reds
image N-0401 "Unidentified baseball team. 'R' on uniforms."
from The Thompson Photograph Collection
part of the Calvin M. McClung Digital Collection

.

Knoxville Uniforms through the years

• 1868 - The Tennessean - September 13, 1868

The Holston boys had their field flag with them, which they planted by the tent. It is a red flag, with the letter "H" in a blue field. Their uniform was blue cap with white star, blue pants with white cord, white shirt and red belt. Their gentlemanly bearing and fine appearance made them favorites at once.

• 1886 - Daily Chronicle - April 18, 1886

The Leiber nine presented a very nobby appearance in their natty suits of dark gray, trimmed in red, with red stockings and red caps.

• 1894 - The Semi-Weekly Knoxville Sentinel - June 13, 1894

The young men of South Knoxville have organized a new baseball team. It is composed of experienced players and promises to be one of the best teams about Knoxville. They have ordered their uniforms which will be dark blue trimmed with red and white. The team has not decided on any definite name yet.

• 1895 - The Journal and Tribune - May 5, 1895

The new uniforms are beauties, but with them the term "Knoxville Reds" must die. The suits are solid grey with KNOXVILLE in black letters across the breast. The caps and stockings are also jet black.

• 1903 - The Journal and Tribune - May 11, 1903

Transportation has been sent to all the players and new uniforms have been ordered for use this season. The uniforms are of Yale grey; Boston caps of maroon, and maroon stockings will complete the outfit.

• 1909 - The Knoxville Sentinel - July 26, 1909

A symphony in white will be the Pioneers when they appear before the fans Wednesday afternoon. The new uniforms arrived today and if the performers don't slide too often, they will be the classiest in the league. The cap, shirts, pants and stockings are pure white, and of the finaest material. On the cap is a small "k,: and on the shirt on the left side, is a large "K." The uniforms are a credit to the team, and the Pioneers will have a chance to discard those unlucky Charleston togs.

• 1911 - The Journal and Tribune - May 11, 1911

Uniforms for the members of the Knoxville baseball team were ordered Wednesday morning by Manager Frank Moffett, and there is little doubt but that the local ball tossers in addition to being the best players in the league, or at least that is the way the Knoxville fans have it doped out, will be the best "dressers," for their baseball togs will be something real nifty.

In fact, the uniforms will be just about the best that money can buy, being of a higher grade even that those worn by the members of the National and American league teams. The suits will be white, very much like those of last year. Maroon stockings will be worn, while the caps will have a maroon stripe and "Knoxville" will be emblazoned on the jerseys in maroon letters.

• 1911 - The Journal and Tribune - May 11, 1911

The Knoxvillians were diked out in their new uniforms yesterday, and they are very classy, to say the least. They are of solid white, and the texture is excellent. Maroon stockings and white caps complete the fighting costume of the Knoxville players, who are expected to go out after the pennant and bring it home, just as they did last year in the Southeastern.

• 1912 - The Knoxville Sentinel - May 1, 1912

The new uniforms are here. They are white, trimmed in maroon.

• 1922 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel - April 16, 1922

Uniforms have been ordered. These will be white with a broad brown stripe and the K on the shirt. The new uniforms will be used for home suits and the Pioneers garbs of last year will be carried on the trips.

• 1925 - The Knoxville Journal - March 17, 1925

The new uniforms for the club have been received by the Athletic House. The home suits are white, with a black stripe and a red K; the stockings are red and white. The same colors are used in the stocking for the road toggery, but the suits are gray, with Knoxville in red letters across the breast. On the left sleeve is 114% in red.

• 1927 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel - March 15, 1927

Knoxville Smokie's new uniforms for 1927 have arrived.

They are now on display in the show windows at W.W. Woodruff Hardware Co., 424 S. Gay st, thru which they were purchased.

The home uniforms for Manager Coleman's boys are white with black stripes, and are trimmed in navy blue.

To say the least they are snappy looking.

But the road uniforms are even better looking.

They are reddish gray in color and are trimmed in bright red.

The road socks are red, white and blue, while the home socks are white with navy stripes.

The road caps are made of the same reddish-gray material as the uniforms, and are trimmed in bright red.

The home caps are white with the navy stripe, and are trimmed in blue.

References / Resources

• various newspapers at Newspapers.com

Credit

This page was assembled and presented by Mark D. Aubrey.

Please see Copyright info.