monkey suit = baseball uniform (1914)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

The OED3 draft entry for "monkey suit" has a first cite of 1926 in the
sense of "(baseball) uniform".

--------
Lima (Ohio) Daily News, March 11, 1914 (4/1)
Florance W. Crowley, a Chicago fan who has rooted for the Cubs for 16
years, thought he would go down south with them this spring just to see
what a ball club did at the training camp. Immediately after arriving at
Tampa, Fla., he sought out Manager Hank O'Day and asked permission to
borrow a Cub uniform and go through the stunts outlined for all the
athletes. He has written a short description of his experience which he
set down as follows:
"After a week's experience on the ground in a monkey suit, taking orders
from Mr. O'Day, who won't stand for loafing or posing, I have reached the
conclusion that these spring trips are anything but joy parties."
--------

--Ben Zimmer