Adrian C. 'Pop' Anson 1852-1922
ANSON, CLOUGH, DODGE, CHERRY, SOTTMAN
Posted By: Iowa Old Press
Date: 10/13/2008 at 05:43:15
Chicago, April 14 -- Adrian C. "Pop" Anson, "the Grand Old Man of Baseball," died this afternoon, in St. Luke's Hospital, two days before his seventieth birthday. Stricken Sunday with a glandular ailment while out walking, he was rushed to the hospital and operated on the next day. For a time it was believed he would recover, but a relapse set in this morning and the end came quickly. The news spread rapidly throughout the city, causing grief to thousands of followers of baseball. Baseball Commissioner Landis, when informed of Anson's death, exclaimed: "Not 'Pop' Anson! You don't mean my old friend 'Pop' is dead! Oh, I just can't say anything!"
One of the great figures of baseball history, Anson grew up with the national game, for when he first began to swing his bat against a ball the game was just emerging from the old "rounders" stage. The first team he played on was a sort of family affair, his own father, tradition has it, being one of the nine. This was in his birthplace, Marshalltown, Iowa, and the lanky youngster showed enough to be sought in 1871 by the Forest City team of Rockford, Ill., a semi-professional organization.
In 1873 Anson obtained his first full-fledged professional engagement with the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association. At this time he formed a close friendship with Boston's star pitcher, A.G. Spalding, and it was largely through the latter's influence that Anson left Philadelphia and signed in 1876 with Chicago in the newly-formed National League. Playing third base that season, he was a large factor in bringing the first National League pennant to Chicago.
The make-up of that team will recall pleasant memories to the older fans. Spalding pitched and "Deacon Jim" White caught. McVey and Barnes were on the bases with Anson. Peters was at shortstop. Glenn, Hines, Eddy and Bielaski cared for the outfield positions. Experts say that few stronger nines have ever been put together. Spalding was the leader, but he retired soon and Anson took his place. He won five pennants, those of 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885 and 1886. During this period Anson's fame and popularity were at their height. When Chicago dropped in the league standing and "Pop's" play fell off, he learned the fickleness of baseball crowds. Some of his friends thought he would have remained popular and the team successful several years longer if he had left first base for the bench. But he hated to quit the diamond and continued to play for twenty-one of the twenty-two years he was with Chicago. Then, when his contract ended in 1897, it was not renewed.
Andrew Freedman signed him to manage the Giants, but his term here was brief. At the end of a fortnight he left, being unable to work amicably under Freedman's dictation.
Anson's retirement from organized baseball followed. He tried several tihings afterward. A billiard hall in Chicago was successful, but a semi-professional team he organized to tour the country was not. In politics he failed of re-election after one term as City Clerk of Chicago. A vaudeville act did fairly well. He kept up his athletics all the time, going in vigorously for golf when no longer able to play ball. A few weeks ago he had been elected manager of a new golf club.
It is dangerous to say that Anson's record as a baseball player was unequaled or that he was the greatest player the game had produced. Admirers of Wagner, Cobb, Ruth and other stars might object. But here are the figures: From 1876 to 1897, with the exception of two seasons, anson batted over .300, making his highest average in 1887, which was .421. His grand batting average for the twenty-two years was .348. He led the league in batting six times, and was on several other occasions in second or third place. And his fielding record: six times he stood at the top among first basement, and his average ranged from .974 to .988. To put his achievement in a slightly different way: In 8,947 times at bat he made 1,663 hits, and out of 22,945 fielding chances he missed only 596.
~The New York Times
April 15, 1922--
Chicago, April 15 -- Adrian C. Anson, for more than half a century one of the notable figures of baseball died today at St. Luke's hospital after a week's illness just two days before his 70th birthday. Funeral arrangements had not been definitely completed last night but it was believed that a public funeral downtown would be held. Mr. Anson is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Walter H. Clough, Montclair, N.J.; Mrs. Arthur C. Dodge, Mrs. C.E. Cherry and Mrs. A.W. Sottman, the latter three living here.
~New Castle News, New Castle, Pennsylvania
April 15, 1922--
Chicago, April 15 -- Chicago tomorrow will pay its final tribute to Adrian C. Anson, revered hero of baseball for half a century, when public funeral services for the honored sportsman will be held at a downtown funeral chapel with the most prominent men of the city, the Chicago and Detroit American league baseball teams, and various leaders in the sport world attending.
Arrangements were completed today by Kenesaw M. Landis, baseball commissioner, and members of the family of the famous old ball player who died in St. Luke's hospital yesterday after a week's illness, for the public services. It has been planned to hold the services at 3 o'clock but they were put forward to 2 o'clock so as to give the Detroit and Chicago ball players an opportunity to attend. The game between the White Sox and Detroit was postponed to 3:30 p.m.
The services tomorrow will be to permit the public to pay its final respects to the man who holds a place in the heart of every sports lover. Burial will be private in Oakwoods cemetery Monday, which would have been Mr. Anson's 70th birthday, had he lived.
Today, thousands of telegrams, letters and telephone messages were received by members of Mr. Anson's family expressing their sympathy. Mr. Anson resided with his three married daughters here. Mr. Anson's family today asked that it be made known that he had been in the best of spirits and health previous to the illness which proved fatal. The old timers activities in promoting a golf club, said by some to have worried him so much that his health failed, were not a worry but were an actual comfort, his daughters said.
Mr. Anson's own opinion of his health was expressed when some one suggested a benefit ball game for him. "What the dickens do I want with a benefit?" he said in declining. "I'm young and healthy, get plenty to eat and have at least twenty years of life ahead of me."
Capt. Anson made two trips abroad as an American baseball player. In 1874 he was a member of the american team that toured England, playing baseball and cricket. In 1888 Anson toured the world with the National league players.
Marshalltown, Ia., April 15 -- Adrian C. "Pop" Anson, who died in Chicago yesterday, is still known affectionately by many of his boyhood friends in Marshalltown, the city of his birth as "Ada". According to records, anson was the first white child born in Marshalltown. Anson's father, the late Henry Anson, was the founder of Marshalltown, naming it after Marshall, Mich., where he had gone from Ohio to look over the country before coming to Iowa.
What "Babe" Ruth is to the American boy and the baseball fan of today, Adrian C. Anson, known to all of them as "Cap" or "Pop" Anson, was to the boys of 30 or 40 years ago -- only more so. The death of this popular old-time player, at the age of almost 70, will stir the memories of all who knew him in his prime, when his name was on every sporting page and familiar in every household -- if there were any boys there -- in the land.
Way back in 1867 Anson was playing amateur ball on the Marshalltown, Iowa, nine. His father and brother played on the same team that year. Four years later he joined the Rockford, Ill., professional team, and was launched on the career that made him a national idol. Graduating onto the Philadelphia team next year, he was connected thereafter with big-city baseball until he retired. He took an all-American team on a tour of the world, piloted the Chicago Nationals thru five pennant-winning seasons, and won enough glory on the diamond to make him world-famous.
He was the big baseball star of many seasons, having to divide his honors with none. The memory of his teams and times lasts with thousands to be stirred by the unwelcome news that "Pop" is gone.
~Davenport Democrat and Leader
April 16, 1922--
Thousands Pay Final Tribute to "Pop" Anson
Chicago, April 17 -- The body of Adrian C. Anson, hero of thousands of baseball fans and other sports enthusiasts, was buried here today in Oakwood cemetery in the presence of members of his family. Final tribute was paid by his friends who attended funeral services yesterday afternoon at which Kenesaw M. Landis, baseball commissioner, delivered the eulogy. The body of Mrs. Anson, now buried in Philadelphia, will be brought here and interred at his side.~Davenport Democrat and Leader
April 17, 1922
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