The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-04

Adrian @. Arson, one Of the greatest
batsmen in the history Of baseball, is
now as conspicuous figure in Chicago
city politics as he was in the great ma
tional game ten years ago. Arson was
elected city clerk Of Chicago last
spring. The Office is a lucrative one.
Anson was manager, captain and first
baseman Of the Chicago National
league for twenty-five years, starting in
1876 and ending his connection with
the club in 1897. He retired from the
game shortly afterward and opened a
combination billiard hall and bowling
alley in Chicago.
Arson earned big money while play
ing ball, and had a small block of
stock in the Chicago ball club, but he
was always generous and free with his
money, and consequently managed to
save but little. Last fall he sold his
stock in the Chicago club for $4,000.
Ned Hanlon and Charlie Comiskey
are considered the wealthiest of the old
players of Anson' $ day. Neither Han
lon nor Comiskey earned the big money
that Arson received in his playing
days, but both "Commy" and Hanlon
proved thriftier financial managers
than the "big Swede,' as Anson was
known to his players. ~.
Comiskey saved enough to go In bust
ness for himself when his ball-playing
days were over. At first he did not
succeed very we'll, but of late years
he has had wonderful luck with the
Chicago American team, which earned
| 100000 last year. & Commy' owns
most Of this club. Hanlon is rated as
the wealthiest player or former player
in the game. He is said to be worth at
least 100000. Hanlon made lot OF
money at Baltimore and has invested 1t
luckily. He now owns the best part OF
I the Baltimore Eastern league team.
Arson was the most picturesque fig
1ure in baseball in his day. A man OF
! immense physique, he lowered above
the heads Of his players and of the
members of the opposing teams. Al
the plate Arson stood straight as
soldier and made no motions with hi
bat. He swung into batting position
as the pitcher delivered the ball ant
| was noted as the hardest hitter Of hi
day. Arson could line 'em out as hare
as Laioie, Wagner or any of the slug
gers Of modern baseball, and his bat
ting average for twenty-five year
shows that as a batsman the game ha
never had his superior. ~ ~
Arson won his last pennant for Chi
cago in 1886. He developed some o
: the clever ball players between tina
time and his retirement from comman
, of the Chicago Nationals in 1897, il
Guiding Hugh Duffy, Mark Baldwin, D.
Darling, Jack Luby, Malachi Kittredg'
Tim Donahue, Patsy Tebeau and Bill
T Hutchinson.
: Anson was a combative field genera
Of the first rank, and he carried h
methods to an extent that earned him
reputation as a disagreeable kicker.
Aside from his interesting and fore
full personality, Arson, considered fro
! all points Of baseball excellence, was
s most remarkable man. He possesse
: executive ability in high degree an
! had the faculty of knowing how to col
troll high-spirited and turbulent player
It has been frequently asserted th;
Tom Burns, who covered third base f.
! the Chicago team for several years, W;
+ responsible for most of the sharp pla,
g the Chicagos put into execution, b
g there is apparently not much basis f
a the assertion It also has been asserts
that Mike Kelly originated and su