The evening times., 1898-08-18
THE HERO Of MANY CANES
Life and Career Of Adf.an Con-
stantine Anson.
BASEBALL'S GRAND OLD MAN
He Has Bcen Playing Ball Since.
1871 and Has Taken Part in Near
1y Three Tho uSand Gamcs-His
Word as Coed as His BOnd-Ad-.
vice to Young Players,

One Of the most prominent figures in
the world of sports is Adrian Constan-
tine AEon. Grand Old Man of the base
ball diamond, typical player OF America's
national pastime, who has taken part in
nearly 5000 games of ball.
Several hundred thousand boys in these
United States know much more about
Pop" Anson than about such great men
as President Mckinley and Admiral Dew
ey. These boys have set their hero OF
baseball on a pedestal and crowned him
with laurel. And the fathers OF these
boys encourage them in their hero wor-
ship and repeat to them exciting stories
which began when Anson knocked that
home run in the Centennial year.
For "Pop''-marke the endearing name
Pop" Anson is forty-six years old;
lacks but four years of half century of
life. He has been a professional base
ball player for twenty-seven years. For
twenty-five years he was manager, cap
tain, or player with the Chicago Club.
Enough to say that under his manage
ment the Chicagoes won the pennant
five times. When Anson dies within a
hundred years or SO. this fact should be
inscribed on his tombstone. Frank Selee,
of Boston, has the next best record, with
four championships; then Ned Hanlon,
of Baltimore, with three. .r ~
In his three thousand games "Old
Anse'' has proved himself one OF the
greatest batters tha: ever faced a pitcher.
He has ibatted an army Of players across
the plate. Scores of games have been
won by a long drive from his bat. No
game he played in was ever LOST until
the last man was out. When the nine
was in tight place and Anson next TO
bat the people in Chicago used to hug
themselves and shout: ITS all riSht;
here comes Old Anse"
Ewing remembers this game.
OF those who saw the game, who VIII
forget that day at ST. George, Staten
Island. when the Giants, under Buck
Ewing. led the White Stockings seven
runs when Anson's men went TO bat for
their ninth inning. Pop got on the
third base line and urged his men 10 win
out. Charley Farrell was put out. An
Son yelled the louder Then, by hitting
the ball. good base running. helped
along by a couple of errors, the WHITES
made seven runs and tied the score the
Giants could do nothing in the tenth IN
ming. but the Chicagos got man around
the bases and won the game.
Pop" Anson's sporting fiddle had had
more than one string.
u I'D a record years ago as first
class cricket batsman; he beats profes-
sionsls at billiards.; it's mighty lucky
nipeon that gets away from him az the
tran: he knows how 10 handle ms hs!s
and wrestle and he's an expert at hahd-
ball. h,,
He has failed only as an actor, ou,
.hat,s because an actor has to pretend
Forty-sjx years old. Ask Pop Anson
how he feels, and he'll tell you Like
,wo-year-oId,' He is feet inches TAN,
weighs more than 2C0 pounds, is straight
nc an arrow and alert IN every move
ment. ,,.
His name. Adrian Constantine. smacks
of Rome and her emperors. The fact Is
that Ansons father loved the state OF
Michigan When he went 10 Michisa"
from New York he first settled IN 'ne
town of Adrian: afterward In Cohs'an-
tine. So when a son was born 10 MN u,
Michigan, old gentleman Ansoh ea''e"
him after his places OF so1ourh.
How lucky 1t is" once remarked
chicapo writer; .how very lucky II Is
the elder Anson did not first live IN ipsii-
ant, and then in kalamazoo"
Three Young women really have the
sole hight to call Adrian Constantine
Anson pop" He married Philadei-
mia girl in 1875, and they have three
daughters-Grace, who recently marrieu
charles Clough, of Chicago. Dorothy
and Adele. who are at school, Pop
Anson is mighty fond Of his wife ana
daughters, but much as he loves ms
wife. his word of honor is dearer 10
him. He proved that in 1919 wnen Al
Spalding wanted to engage MIN 10
play third base for the Chcagos 'ne
following season.
Arse made an agreement with Spal-
ding to sign contract at a salary OF
60 nfo 1t was a mere slip of paper,
which Anson's lawyer told him was not
worth what it was written on
After agreeing TO so to Chicago Anse
met the future Mrs. Anson, who, nat-
urally. wished him to remain in Phiia-
delphia. Arson tried to get President
Hurlbut, of the Chicago club, TO release
him from his agreement. Hurlbut would
not listen to the proposition, although
Anson offered him $500 and then sl,Wo
for his release
said Hu,lbut: "I think a man who
would give sl,0oO rather than break his
word is a pretty good sort of man TO
have about. .yu
Anson knew and Hurlbut acknowl-
edged that the Chicago club had no
hold on him. but Anson reported at
Chicago in the spring of 1876 and went
to work. ------.---
For eighteen years he managed. cap
tanned and played for the Chicago
team, and there was never a scratch
of a pen to show he was in the employ
of the Chicago club. In 1888 the league
rules made 1t imperative that every
PLAYER should sign, and then, for the
first time in his long years of service
with Chicago. Anson's contract was
sent to President Young, of the Ma
tional League.
Old Anse's manner is blum on the ball
field and toward those with whom he
is familiar, but at heart he is tender.
generous He has the utmost affection
for all the old Chicago players who
helped to win the pennant for that
city. Anson demonstrated that at the
funeral of Frank Flint, "Old Silver"
who for many years was the catcher
of the old White Stockings.
While Billy Sunday, the ball-play.
ing evangelist. was devoting SER
mon over Old Silver's coffin. Anson
broke down and cried like a child.
Sunday concluded his remarks by de-
.cribing his last visit to Flint
Frank said to me: I'm lasting a
good while. but IT amounts to nothing.
These are just fouls I'm hitting. The
umpire will call the game on account
of darkness
When Anson took his last look at
the face of his old catcher, he broke
down again, and was led away.
1t would be very hard to convince an
umpire who has been on the same field
with him that Pop Anson ever shed
tears. In the old days no one ques-
toned Anson's title, "The Champion
Kicker" and his disputes with umpires
were extremely animated, to put 1t
mildly.