Adrian 'Cap' Anson

ANSON, RICE, FIEGEL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/9/2006 at 06:06:34

Anson, Adrian Constantine (Apr. 17, 1852 - Apr. 14, 1922), baseball player, son of Henry and Jeannette (Rice) Anson, was born at Marshalltown, Ia. Attracting attention in 1871 as a member of the Forest City team of Rockford, Ill., Anson filled his first important professional engagement in the next year with the Philadelphia Athletics. He was married in 1876 to Virginia Fiegel of Philadelphia. In the same year he was induced by his friend, A. G. Spalding, to sign a contract with the Chicago Club of the newly formed National League, with which he remained until 1897, when he retired from league baseball. As first-baseman, captain, and manager he guided the Chicago team to league championships in 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885, and 1886. During this period the blue uniforms and white hose of Anson's men became established as symbols of victory. Anson was one of the greatest batsmen of his day. Always standing high in the batting averages, he four times led his league. For his twenty-two seasons with Chicago he had the remarkable grand average of .331. A blond giant standing well over six feet and weighing 195 pounds, he was a terror to pitchers. Smiting every kind of ball with equal success, he was never more dangerous than at critical stages of the game. Though apparently rather awkward in the field, he was also a remarkably steady and successful first-baseman. His greatest strength, however, lay in his burly power of leadership. Never puffed up over his own importance, he strove constantly for his team. Aggressive in disposition, "he had a voice in his impassioned moments like a hundred Bulls of Bashan" (New York Times, Apr. 17, 1922, p. 16). It was this fighting spirit which attracted and amused lovers of baseball, friends and foes alike. He took part in two trips abroad as an American baseball player, one of these being the famous tour of the world in 1888 by a National League party. After retiring from baseball, he interested himself in other sports, especially billiards and golf. He served in public office as city clerk of Chicago 1905-07, but he was not fitted for political life. Because of his genial character, his unexpected humor, and his remarkable generosity, Anson was greatly loved. Always called "Captain" or "Cap" and later "Pop," he was the hero of numerous anecdotes. His rather sudden death brought deep grief to all sportsmen. It is said that he wished as his epitaph, "Here lies a man that batted .300."

-source: Dictionary of American Biography Base Set. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928-1936.