The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-13
Onc Of the Most Unique Figures 10
the History Ut baseball.

The passing Of Adrian Constantine An
son from the Chicago Baseball club means
the removal from public life OF one OF the
best known characters In America.
| Chicagoans do moi realize aud never have
realized the prominence this great ball
player has achieved throughout the Nation.
He cxemplifies completely the truth Of the
aphorism that prophet is not without
honor save in his own country for while
he has been accepted with Indifference and
as a matter Of course In Chicago his appear
anco before a baseball crowd In any other
city in the land has always been signal
! for enthusiastic applause. Few men in the
country have achieved wider fame. In
lplaces without number is the name OF Arson
| greeted with cheers where Chauncy De-
| pew, for instance, was never heard OF.
There is not schoolboy IN the country big
enough to hold baseball who hasn't ut
least heard of rthc old man" and wished
| many Il time to get a look at him. And why
should they not, for pretty fine sort OF
man is the "cap'n." a gentleman through
and through, and as honorable a sportsman
as ever set foot on n diamond.
Long as he has been with the Chicago
team his best chance to show the real stu1
that is in him was neserved TIL tile connec-
ton was at an end When the announce
n ent was made OF the termination of his
| contract his admirers got together at once
with a proposition TO raise for him by popu-
lar subscription testimonial that should
mount in value to tens OF thousands OF dol
lars. The faOvement was progressing finely
until the meeting of the Chicago Athletic
club, when Arson came forward and de-
clined to be considered as an object OF puo-
lie charity.
~ recognize your motive. gentlemen. In
trying to raise for me this purse" he said,
but can not accept 1t. | am not too old
nor too weak to earn my own living"
There Is something pathetic about the
passing of Arson For years he has seemed
like survivor 81 some long past genera
ton. He has been the last link between
the baseball of the present and that OF de-
cades ago, and seeing him has recalled to
the minds of the old timers the days OH
the diamond of \. G.. Spaldng, Ross
Barnes, Cal McVey and jim White, the
original big four in baseball, Paul Hines,
johnnie Peters and the rest of that famous
company who made up the Chicago team
back in &c in the first year of the orgaui-
zation of the National league. Thinning
OF Arson, too recalls the somewhat later,
but Still very early, baseball days OF "Sil-
Yer" Flint and Larry Corcoran, Mike"
Kelly and Jim Mccormick Dalrymple and
George Gore. Ed Williamson. Pfeffer and
rom lbUTllS, WHO WIN lnD GU nun USpu
to make up the famous stone wall infield"
days of the old White Stocking park
down on the lake front when Chicago had
better baseball team than 1t has ever
had since and championships used to come
year after year as a matter Of course.
"Od Anse" was the last OF thal famous
lot. Indeed of the 100 and more players
engaged by the eight clubs in the first
year of the National league ne was the only
one left on the diamond, Spaldng, who
came here with the captain, or rather at the
same time, quit nineteen years ago because
he was too old to continue. Corcoran.
Williamson, king Kelly, "Old Silver
and others lave long passed not only from
the diamond but over the dark river, and
stll Arson kept playing the string
out as he so often administers his shift
less loss enthusiastic crlts to do. and maxi
INK record that never has been probably
never will be. equaled.
Since 1871 "l.nse" has been profess
sional ball player Twenty-Five of those
years he has been In the Chicago club,
nineteen as its captain and manager. In
that time the Chicago club has won the
championship six times-once less than las
Boston The balance would have been on
the other side had it not been for the dis
graceful conspiracy OF 1891 when the New
York club threw" lot of games to the
bean eaters and thus deprived the Chicago
players of the championship flag which
their work during the season had Won.
Back in the sos the championship came
three years in succession, and in one of
those years the team won string CT
twenty-one games without single defeat.
No other league team ever did it; proba-
bly, no other ever will. for the simple rea-
son that no other team ever had or ever
will have so brilliant combination of stars
as composed the Chicago nine at that time.
lust when Captain Arson began to play
is something that will never be known. 1t
was farther back that his memory extends.
1T was in Marshalltown, Iowa" says
the old man. 81 know 1t was there, for all
things began With me there. was born
there. you know
But before the professional career is a
story OF early baseball DAYS in Marshall
town, often told by A. q. Spalding with a
greet deal OF rciish II is the story of An
sons first introduction to professional
baseball almost thirty wears ago.
cit was back in 1870" said Mr. spalding.
hen was playing with the Rockford
toam. one dav we received letter from
Marshalltown writer by a man who signed
himself Arson. He wanted TO get the For
est Ctys out 10 Marshalitown, he said, and