A Timeline of the Events that Shaped Cap Anson's Life

Cap Anson led a storied life, filled with both triumphs and tragedy. My thanks to author Howard W. Rosenberg for compiling and contributing much of the information contained in the following timeline of Anson's life.

1826 Birth of Henry “Hank’’ Anson, Cap’s father 1829/30 Birth of Jeanette Rice, Cap’s mother 1846 Iowa becomes a state and Marshall County, Iowa., gets its name Marriage of Hank Anson and Jeanette Rice 1846/47 Birth of Melville Anson, Cap’s eldest brother (died between 1856 and 1860) 1850 Birth of Sturgis Anson, Cap’s one other sibling besides Melville 1851 For the first time, Hank Anson and later the rest of family arrives in future town named Marshall in Marshall County 1852 Birth of Adrian Constantine ”Cap” Anson 1859 Death of Jeanette Anson, 29 or 30 Birth of Virginia “Jennie’’ Fiegel, Cap’s future wife 1860 Aunt Emily comes to living with the Anson family, helping raise Cap and Sturgis 1863 Marshalltown, Iowa, Cap’s birthplace, officially gets its name 1866-68 Cap and Sturgis sent to boarding school at Notre Dame 1868-70 Cap and Sturgis attend University of Iowa 1868 Henry Anson marries Olivia Putnam, his second wife 1870 Al Spalding’s Rockford team plays at Marshalltown 1871 National Association, the first professional baseball league, is formed Cap plays his first season of professional baseball for National Association’s team from Rockford, Illinois - the Forest Citys 1872-75 Cap plays for National Association’s team from Philadelphia - the Athletics 1874 Cap goes on baseball and cricket tour of England, Ireland and Scotland 1875 National Association disbanded Al Spalding signs with Chicago White Stockings; enlists Cap to play for Chicago in upcoming season 1876 First year of the National League Cap signs with Chicago White Stockings after long attempt to have his contract voided Chicago wins the first National League pennant Cap marries Virginia “Jennie’’ Fiegel in Philadelphia 1877 Daughter Grace is born (first of seven children) Spalding retires after season as Chicago’s captain-manager 1879 Cap assumes post of Chicago’s captain-manager Enactment of reserve clause by baseball owners effectively binds players to their teams 1880 For the first time with Cap as captain-manager, Chicago wins NL pennant 1881 Chicago wins second NL pennant under Anson 1882 Death of National League’s Founder and Chicago White Stocking’s President William A. Hulbert, age 49 Al Spalding becomes Chicago president and John R. Walsh co-majority owner Son Adrian Hulbert Anson is born, dies weeks later Chicago wins third consecutive NL pennant under Anson 1882-91 Existence of American Association, longest rival to National League through 1900 1883 On field, Cap vows not to play against black player Fleet Walker of Toledo, then backs off when forfeiture of gate receipts is threatened 1884 Daughter Adele is born Cap again vows not to play against African-American Fleet Walker, Toledo plays without him With brother-in-law Remy, Cap attends Pierce’s Business College during baseball’s off season 1885 Chicago makes first Southern spring training trip as we know it Chicago wins fourth NL pennant under Anson In billiards, Cap wins the first public 14-inch balkline match 1886 Anson fined by an umpire for first time Chicago wins fifth NL pennant under Anson, his last Starting in December, Cap helps run toboggan slide on Chicago’s grounds 1887 Cap reportedly vows not to play against George Stovey; Newark supposedly backs off Son Adrian C. Jr. is born Cap manages Spalding’s racket courts in offseason 1888 Adrian C. Jr. dies Baseball writers begin calling Chicago team the Colts; nickname soon replaces White Stockings On field, Cap objects to playing against Walker of Syracuse; Syracuse backs off Cap makes stage debut, a one-nighter in a Hoyt play 1888-1889 Cap goes on Spalding’s baseball tour around the world 1889 Daughter Dorothy is born 1890 Players’ League’s one year of existence; Cap stays loyal to National League Cap starts being called a “Grand Old Man’’ with some frequency in newspapers 1891 Jim Hart becomes Chicago president; Spalding and John R. Walsh still CO-majority stockholders Cap ventures into ginger beer in offseason 1892 Birth and death of Cap‘s son John Henry Anson 1895 Cap shaves his mustache for good Cap ejected from game for first time Cap has star billing in “A Runaway Colt" 1896 Cap take up golf as a hobby 1897 Chicago friends arrange a day in his honor Cap retires from the National League 1898 With Cap no longer with Chicago; Orphans becomes the team nickname Daughter Grace marries Cap tries unsuccessfully to buy Chicago club Cap manages NL’s New York Giants for a few weeks 1899 Cap leases a building in Chicago and opens billiard hall and bowling alley Eldest grandchild Anson Clough is born Daughter Virginia Anson is born (last of seven children) 1900 Cap’s autobiography "A Ball Player's Career" is published 1901-02 Cap umpires amateur games in which black players appear 1903 Cap elected second vice president of the American Bowling Congress (serves until 1907) Cap elected sergeant-at-arms of Chicago Democratic Club 1905 Cap elected city clerk of Chicago (serves until 1907) Death of Henry Anson, age 79 Cap sells his accumulated stock in Chicago’s National League team, officially ending his involvement with the team 1906 Cap loses in Democratic primary for sheriff of Cook County 1907 Cap purchases and manages semi-pro team in Chicago, Anson’s Colts (through 1909) 1908 Cap appears in court for bankruptcy proceedings Daughter Dorothy marries Cap plays in semipro games against all-black teams (also in 1909) 1909 Cap, because of finances, is forced to sell billiard hall 1910 Cap’s bankruptcy leads to loss of longtime home to default Cap makes solo vaudeville skit debut with George M. Cohan material 1911 Death of Sturgis Anson, age 60 Cap writes series of articles on his life in Chicago Journal and Boston Globe newspapers Albert Spalding publishes his memoirs ”America’s National Game” 1913 Death at Cap’s residence of Aunt Emily Anson (married name Haviland), age 75 1915 Death of Albert Spalding, age 65 1916 Death of wife Virginia “Jennie’’ Fiegel, age 56 Cap, Adele and Dorothy appear on vaudeville tour together for first time 1918 At Oakland, Cap filmed on the field, including catching honorary first pitch and throwing ball back Daughter Virginia marries 1919 Death of Jim Hart, 64, Chicago president from 1891 to 1905 1921 Cap, Adele and Dorothy go on their last vaudeville tour 1922 Cap hired to manage new Dixmoor Golf Club on South Side Death of Cap Anson, three days short of his 70th birthday 1923 Unveiling of National League monument to Cap 1924 Death of Fleet Walker, age 67 1930 Death of Emeline Anson, 91, likely Cap’s last surviving aunt or uncle 1939 Cap elected to the Hall of Fame 1967 Death of Grace Anson Clough, 89, eldest of four daughters Death of Anson Clough, 68, eldest grandchild 1970 Death of Adele Anson Cherry, 86, second of four daughters 1972 Death of Dorothy Anson Dodge, 83, third of four daughters 1986 Death of Virginia Anson Shanvall, 86, last surviving child 2005 Death of Virginia Sherwood, 85, last surviving grandchild Cap Chronicled - The Cap Anson Website - is launched