New-York tribune., 1922-04-15

Just forty seven years ago this
.,ring Anson began his National
Issgue career with the Chicago club,
.hen managed by the late A. G.. Spald-
NC VINO helped to form the first of
me major leagues. He was then q tall,
nowerful youngster, who, within few
SEASONS. was able to take his place as
he most magnetic star OF his time, a
great first basemsn, mighty slugger
snd one of the finest leaders that ever
took team to the feld.
From 1876 Arson held his high place
l in the game for twenty-five years, 81
ark that no regular except Cy Young
as ever reached. And for twenty
OF these twenty-five years. according
10 many official averages. he batted
400 or better. another mark that even
Cobb, the greatest of all batsmen, may
never equal.
Anson's career with Chicago, where
most of the time he led the famous
Colts into action, lasted for twenty one
years before New York sent for him
in 1897. Here be closed out his active
career on the diamond, but it is worthy
Of note that at the age OF forty five
in his twenty y-second campaign, he still
batted 1903, one of the most remark
able achievements in the history OF
sport Wagner and Lajoie, his two
main rivals later on, were forced to
turn in their harness two years sooner
than Arson surrendered his glove, TO
fall back finally before the fire of time.
The simple fact that Anson batted
over 800 in his forty-ffth year
through his twenty second campaign
is IN itself typical of the most endur-
ing Of all the stalwarts who have
earned their living with ball, bat and
glove The light in his batting eye
was still carrying a bright glow when
his ancient arms and legs had at last
given away and ended his career upon
the field.
Starts With Spalding
When Anson started his major
league career in 1876 his team mates
were A. G. Spaulding, Ross Barnes,
James White, Cal McVey, J. P. Peters,
Nv. Glenn, P. A Hines. R. Addy, j.
F. Cone. Oscar Bielaski and F. II. An
drus. Most Of these have long since
passed from the memory of fandom.
are now covered with dust. But An
son, forty-seven years after his start,
was still looked upon as part of the
game, an institution that was becom
ing almost rs immortal as time
The secret of Anson's greatness was
not only due to his great skill and
ragged integrity but also to the fact
that he loved he game with an intensity
that the long caravan of years could
Esver weaken. When the Yankees met
the. Giants in the last world series
Old Cap was one Of the first fans
in the stand each day, more keenly
wrapped up in the final result than
any player on the field. The most
loyal Of all National League rooters,
hs felt the shock Of the first Giant
defeats, only to rebound to the heights
again when the tide had turned. This
was his last world series, fought forty
SIX years after he had made his first
base hit in Chicago uniform when
the game was still struggling for ex-
lstence against great odds.
Anson reached his greatest fame as
leader Of the old Chicago Colts. Here,
as batsman and handler of men who
we're none too easy to control, he di-
rected the destinies of great teams for
two decades where HIS big bat could
always be depended upon when a hit
vas needed for the decisive run. Be
yond his ball playing, there was some
thing impressive in his bearing that
seemed to lift him even above the men
Of his time, where his rare honesty
and his answering loyalty to his
game, his league and his city helped
to give baseball the start that carried
it on into the country's national game.
Fans in those earlier days might
hear cf scandal as they do now, but
they also knew that any game that
held a Cap Anson must be right in
spirit.
Ends Career in New York
: After twenty-one years in Chicago,
Anson was called to New York 70 help
build up a winning team. But aftesr
one season he found that Time had won
al last and that his day in spiked shoes