Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-15
Friends Pay Tribute.

from scores of former associates of
Adrian Constantine Arson, whose
death occurred here yesterday, re-
fiected the integrity of n of the
greatest veterans of baseball. Cap
tain Arson, Pop" Arson, many called
him, died within two days Of his
SEVENTEEN birthday.
He is probably the greatest hero Of
the game that he helped to establish
many years ago.
Charles A. Comiskey. owner of the
present Chicago Americans and years
ago Captain Anson's rival as a man
ager and leader said: )
He was the greatest batter that
ever walked up to hit at a baseball.
] a seen them all from his day to
this. I played against him and know.
He was an all around sportsman, a
great bowler. a fine b~illiardist, a COM
petent golfer and a great man at the
traps. He excelled at more branches
of sport than any man | ever new in
baseball. He was one the men who
made baseball the national pastime.'
Captain Anson's death followed a
week oil illness and an operation.
Lover of Outdoors.
Pop" was an outdoors lover up TO
the day he vas stricken. turning to
golf when he no longer could handle
a baseball. Pop" Arson saw base
ball formed. virtually, and watched it
go through all the stages which
brought it to the present position. As
q boy in his teens he played his first
contest at a time when the game
really was the old "rounders' ana
7.as just starting n the process OF
esylution which brought it to the
point where 1t Is The standby of near
ly ever younSsrer.
He played first with M~arshalltown,
Iowa. later going to Rockford. H.,
where he was a teammate of the late
A.. G. Spalding. the great pitcher. In
lhe early seventies he played with the
Philadelphia Athletics, the Chicago
Nationals and it was with the latter
club that he reached a pinnacle Of
playing ability which still stands out
in the history Of baseball.
Great Hitter.
Pops great work as a slugger,
fielder and leader brought him recog-
milton as the first basemen chosen by
( Spalding for h mythical all-time all
American team, the players being Sc
lected chiefly on their statistical
records. In the early eighties he be
came manager of the Chicago
and in winning many pennants be-
came known for his fairness ard
strictness and Il disciplinarian.
Through the various baseball fights
n the numerous occasions Of inter
national dissension which Pop
watched. he always, insisted on fair
play.
the golf links where he has been q
familiar figure in recent years. He
always observed the many rules of
golf etiquette. and insisted that those
about him do the anne There are
few types of the local public links
who have not received m of Pops
famous "bawling outs for moving,
talking or violating some rule OF
etiquette as the old timer prepared for
his shots. To the beginner, unfamili-
ar with golf. Mr.. Anson's extreme
care in preparing for Zach shot. proved
very e~xasperating.
Starts in Teens.
In the embryonic days Of the game
during the late sixties. Arson made
HIS appearance as A player while still
IN his teens at Marshalltown. Tall.
hnky. and lacking the physical devel-
opment of later years, he stood out
- = player OF unusual caliber in the
town teams Of that period, being
now as the "Marshalltown infant
His fame as batter and fielder
sopread rapidly. It was but a step to
nfofeasdonal ball which Arson took
Nth his teammates late in 1871 when
fhe National Association of Profess
u 0nal Players was founded. Two
Years later he joined the Athletics OF
& Philadelphia and In 1875 signed with
the Chicago club of the newly formed
shall clubs. With the birth Of the
EHfSx9nna1 1oo 1An2an ro1o IN ha no