Cap Anson....how underrated is he?

[ChasRR15]

I mean to think about it, he got 3,000 hits and 2,000 RBIs in a time period where a league leader for a season was 150, and the ball could take one hop, and you could still be out for the first half of his carrer.
I don't think many people, if any, know hwo he is, I personally only know of him becuase his autographed baseball is worth more than anyone elses, and it got me curious to see who he was, and I come across this!!

[538280]

Cap Anson, for me, is a very overrated player. Not as good as the other great 19th century 1B, Connor and Brouthers.

[KCGHOST]

Brouthers and Connor were probably more productive, but it is hard to understate Anson's significance to the game. Unfortunately, much of that significance is his historical resolve not to play against teams with players of color.

BTW, FWIW, most records now show Anson only had 2,995 hits.

[Brian McKenna]

anson has a great deal of historical significance as he did for the baseball community during the 19th century - he also put up some huge numbers because of his longevity which was significant in and of itself during the 1800s and beyond - those that have a feel for the game and have done extensive research into a multitude of issues understand this and how it relates to the baseball culture of the times - those that let a spreadsheet do all their thinking and research are limited in scope and will always be short on insight

btw - there is a 19th century forum

[Ubiquitous]

Sigh, another chance to spread the stroke broadly against the canvas and call it art. It seems half the time all you guys do is look for ways to bash statheads.

[538280]

anson has a great deal of historical significance as he did for the baseball community during the 19th century - he also put up some huge numbers because of his longevity which was significant in and of itself during the 1800s and beyond - those that have a feel for the game and have done extensive research into a multitude of issues understand this and how it relates to the baseball culture of the times - those that let a spreadsheet do all their thinking and research are limited in scope and will always be short on insight

btw - there is a 19th century forum

Anson certainly was a very influental figure in the game, I am completely aware of that. But that's really not what I'm interested in. I'm interested in how good a player he was, and he wasn't as good as Brouthers or Connor. Look at Connor-he did everything better than Anson, a better fielder, a better hitter, better runner, better peak, better intangibles even (Anson was a severe racist and not always like by his teammates). All Anson has is longevity, and his influence on the game. Who was more influental? Anson. Who was the better player? Connor.

[Bill Burgess]

I think it is significant that he accumulated over 3,000 hits in an era when their seasons, for a long time, were less than 154 games.

1883 ------- 100 games
1884, 1885 - 115 games
1886, 1887 - 125 games
1887-1891 - 135 games
1892 ------ 154 games
1893-1897 - 135 games

Cap Anson - White Sox (1879-97). As a manager, he came in top 2 11 out of 13 yrs. Slugging 1Bman helped his own cause. From 1892-98, could hardly reach 4th.

Adrian "Cap" Anson - 1871-97 - all time bat, only ave. glove. Great leadership qualities. Led league in Runs once, doubles twice, RBIs 8 times, Walks once, BA 4 times, on-base 4 times.

Only racism mars his record with a big, black mark.

Bill Burgess