Cap Anson - Career Highlights & Information

Birth Name: Adrian Constantine Anson
Born: April 17th, 1852
Died: April 14th, 1922
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6'0"
Wright: 207
Nicknames: Cap, Pop, Baby, Uncle, Grampa, the Grand Old Man

- Cap Anson was the first player to reach 3000 hits. While doing so, he led the NL in hitting three times, led the league in RBI's four times, and had a batting average of .300 or higher 24 times.

- While managing Chicago, Cap Anson led his team to five pennants.

- Cap Anson played for three teams, the Rockford Forest Citys (National Association, 1871), the Philadelphia Athletics (1872-75), and the Chicago White Stockings (1876-97). While mostly a first baseman, Anson started as a third baseman and played a season in the outfield.

- While managing Chicago, Cap Anson became the first manager to use a two-man pitching rotation. Anson is sometimes credited with creating the hit-and-run play, and he was also the first manager to make a spring training trip as we know it today (Nashville, 1885).

- Cap Anson did not wear a glove at first base until the late 1880's. A slow runner and fielder, he had a so-called 'dead arm' early in his career that precipitated his move from third to first base. He caught in a few games in his final season, at age 45.

- While still a player, Cap Anson became the first baseball player to have star billing in a play (A Runaway Colt, 1895). He had a vaudeville career in the 1910's, performing with two of his daughters and using material written by well known figures such as Ring Lardner.

- Though a great baseball player, Cap Anson was unfortunately racist, and used his influence to promote the banning of black players.

- Cap Anson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939.