In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings became baseball's first professional club. The moniker was abbreviated to the Reds, but it remained unrelated to communism—or excellent baseball—for the better part of the following six decades. According to Rhodes, fans frequently referred to the squad as the "Redlegs." The term "red" in "Reds" refers to the team's color, which was originally red pants and a white uniform with red stripes on the sleeves and cap. In 1872, the club adopted black as its alternate uniform color. The nickname "Redbirds" originated with the Louisville Eclipse, who were also known as the Eclipse Reds during that time. When the two teams met in 1879, the Louisville newspaper reported that "the eclipse of the Redbirds by the Redstocks is over, and the birds are free to resume their flight toward the east." The term "communism" was used by many journalists at the time to describe both the National League and its players' union. They argued that these organizations were inconsistent with true professionalism because neither group had any ownership interest in their respective leagues. The nickname "Rapschers" was first used by the Philadelphia Inquirer in reference to the Red Stockings/Reds.