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Anson, Cap

Adrian Constantine Anson
Born: April 17, 1852, Marshalltown, Iowa
Died: April 14, 1922, Chicago, Illinois
Bats: 
Right
Throws: 
Right
Played For: 
Rockford Forest Citys (1871), Philadelphia Athletics (1872-1875), Chicago White Stockings or Colts (1876-1897)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee: 1939
Biography: 

A major figure in 19th-century baseball, the strong-willed Adrian "Cap" Anson played at the Major League level for 27 years, mainly at first base with the Chicago National League squad. He batted over .300 during 20 of those seasons and accumulated over 3,000 hits during an illustrious career. When he retired, he owned records in numerous categories, including games, hits, at-bats, doubles and runs. He also served as a player-manager for Chicago, earning over 1,200 wins and accumulating five National League pennants.

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Did You Know: 
that Cap Anson was one of the earliest managers to take his club south for preseason conditioning, a practice we now call Spring Training?
He was the greatest batter that ever walked up to hit at a baseball thrown by a pitcher. I have seen them all from his day to this. I played against him and I know. He was a fine, big, honorable man on and off the baseball field.
Charles Comiskey