Cap Anson (1939)


Date of Birth: 4/17/1852
Date of Death: 4/14/1922
Birthplace: Marshalltown, Iowa
College: University of Notre Dame, University of Iowa

Cap Anson started playing amateur baseball at the age of fifteen, playing for his town's team. He joined his first professional team in 1871. He played at third base for the Rockford Forest City team of the National Association for a year.

In 1872, Anson joined the Philadelphia Athletics, also of the National Association, and he played with them through 1875. In 1872, he led the National Association in on-base percentage with .455. He had 90 hits, 48 RBIs, and a .415 batting average in 46 games. His batting average and on-base percentage dropped each year. He had a .325 batting average and .333 on-base percentage in his final year with the Athletics. In 1875, he also managed the team for eight games, and he led them to 4 wins and 2 losses.

Chicago White Stockings/Colts/Cubs

Anson signed with the Chicago White Stockings prior to the 1876 season. In his first year with them, he batted .356 in 66 games. The next year, he led the National League in doubles with 19. He finished the 1877 season with 86 hits and a .337 batting average in 59 games.

Anson batted .341 in 60 games in 1878, and .317 in 51 games in 1879. He led the NL in RBIs in 1880 with 74. That year, he batted .337 with 120 hits and 24 doubles in 86 games.

Anson had a career high batting average of .399 in 1881. He led the NL in hits with 137, RBIs with 82, batting average, on-base percentage (.442), and OPS (.952). A good defensive first baseman, he led all major league players in putouts with 894.

In 1882, Anson again led the NL in RBIs with 83. He finished the season with 126 hits, 29 doubles, and a .362 batting average in 82 games. The next year, he had a career high 36 doubles, 127 hits, and a .308 batting average in 98 games.

Anson continued to lead the NL in RBIs in 1884 with 102. That season, he hit a career high 21 home runs. He finished the year with 159 hits, 30 doubles, and a .335 batting average in 112 games. He also led all NL fielders in putouts with 1,216. In 1885, he led the NL in doubles and RBIs. He had 144 hits, 35 doubles, 108 RBIs, and a .310 batting average in 112 games. He once again led the NL in putouts with 1,255.

Anson had a career high 187 hits in 1886. He also had a career high in stolen bases with 29. He finished the season with 35 doubles, 11 triples, 10 home runs, and a .371 batting average in 125 games. He led the NL in RBIs with 147. The following season, he had a career high 13 triples. He finished the 1887 season with 164 hits, 33 doubles, 27 stolen bases, and a .347 batting average in 122 games. He walked 60 times and struck out just 18 times.

In 1888, Anson led the NL in RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS. He had 177 hits, 20 doubles, 12 triples, 12 home runs, 28 stolen bases, 84 RBIs, and a .344 batting average in 134 games. His on-base percentage was .400 and his OPS was .899.

Anson led the NL again in putouts with 1,409 in 1889. That year, he batted .311 with 161 hits in 134 games. The next year, he led the NL in on-base percentage with .443. He also led in walks with a career high of 113 (to just 23 strikeouts). In 1890, he had a career high 29 stolen bases in 139 games.

Anson led the NL in RBIs for one final time in 1891. He finished the season with 157 hits, 24 doubles, 120 RBIs, and a .291 batting average in 136 games. The next year, he played in a career high 146 games, and he had a .272 batting average.

Anson's playing time diminished starting in 1893, when he played in just 103 games. The following season, he batted .388 in just 83 games. He batted .335 in 122 games in 1895, and .331 in 108 games in 1896. He played in 114 games in 1897, his final year as a major league player. He had 121 hits, 17 doubles, and a .285 batting average that season.

From 1879 through 1897, Anson was the White Stockings/Colts/Cubs player-manager. He led the team to 1,282 wins and 932 losses during that time.

MLB Records

  • Led the NL in doubles (2 times)
  • Led the NL in batting average (2 times)
  • Led the NL in on-base percentage (3 times)
  • Led the NL in OPS (2 times)
  • Led the NL in putouts (4 times)

Career Statistics

Career batting statistics for Anson include:

  • 2,276 games played
  • 2,995 hits
  • 528 doubles
  • 124 triples
  • 97 home runs
  • 247 stolen bases
  • 294 strikeouts to 952 walks
  • .329 batting average
  • .395 on-base percentage
  • .841 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Anson at first base include:

  • 2,152 games played
  • 983 assists
  • 1,232 double plays
  • 21,699 putouts
  • 658 errors
  • .972 fielding percentage

Post Playing Years

After retiring as a player, Anson was hired to manage the New York Giants in 1898. He managed the team for 22 games and he led them to 9 wins and 13 losses.

Anson started his own semi-professional baseball team, Anson's Colts, in 1906. He sold the team three years later.

Anson left baseball in 1909, and he became a vaudeville entertainer. In 1900, he wrote his autobiography, "A Ball Player's Career," under his full name (Adrian C. Anson).

Anson died three days before his birthday in 1922.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Cap Anson
ESPN - Cap Anson
Baseball Reference - Cap Anson

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