After hitting just .285 in 1897, and not managing the Colts to a finish better than fourth place in eight seasons, Cap Anson’s career in Chicago was coming to an end at age 45. His contract had expired and Albert Spalding had made no effort to sign him.
But Ned Hanlon of the Orioles said he was not convinced Anson’s career was over and offered him a contract. The Baltimore Sun said:
“Adrian C. Anson will play first base for Baltimore the coming season if he will consent to do so, Manager Hanlon will offer him every inducement that he can afford to have the ‘Grand Old Man’ come to Baltimore.”
Hanlon told the paper:
“I believe he would be a good man for Baltimore, and I shall write him at once for his terms…Anson is good for some years yet on the diamond. I consider his ability much underrated. With the things he had to contend with in Chicago it is a wonder to me he played as well as he did. With the Orioles he would bat .350 and be like a colt again.”
Spalding, who was in the process of organizing a “testimonial” for Anson, intended to raise $50,000 for his retirement, told The Chicago Tribune Anson signing with Hanlon would be a mistake:
“(I)t will be a case of a big flash in the pan. Two or three months of praise and then, ‘Get out, you big dud.’ It is always the way, for a man of 47 [sic] cannot expect to play good ball for ever. Besides an error from Anson would not be excused. He would have to play perfect ball or be a failure.”
Orioles captain Wilbert Robinson agreed, saying that while Anson might help the Orioles with his bat:
“I think he is too slow and too poor a fielder and thrower and baserunner to fit such a team as the Baltimores.”
In The Sun, Orioles third baseman John McGraw disagreed with Spalding and Robinson:
“I should be greatly pleased to see Anson come to our team, and if he should I believe it would be a case of Dan Brouthers and ’94 over again. When Brouthers came to Baltimore everybody said he was too old to play ball and no good, and you know how he played that year.”
Brouthers hit .347 and drove in 128 runs for the pennant winning Orioles in 1894 but was just 36 years old.
McGraw was skeptical about Dan McGann, who Hanlon had traded for to play first for the Orioles, and noted that Hanlon’s experiment the previous season had failed:
“McGann may be all right, and again he may not. In the minor leagues there are few who can hit the ball harder and oftener than George Carey, but in a club like ours he was nervous. Every time he went to bat his hand shook from nervousness. McGann may not be that way at all; I do not mean to say he would be, but he might.”
Carey hit .261 in his one season with Baltimore in 1895.
The Baltimore American reported that Hanlon said his proposal was “a joke,” but Hanlon immediately denied that and told The Sun:
“I had no interview in which I denied my intention of trying to get Anson, or did I in any way make light of that intention.”
The Chicago Journal was concerned that local “enthusiasts never would get over it,” if Anson made good in Baltimore.
The Chicago Post said:
“(T)hose who think they know how (Anson) feels say he will not entertain any such proposition.”
The Chicago Daily News said:
“Many of the veteran’s friends believe he will be glad of the chance to go with another club, especially such a team as Baltimore’s.”
The Tribune talked to Anson’s father in Iowa. Henry Anson said he wanted his son to retire so he could:
“(C)ome back to Marshalltown, the land of his birth, and assist me in the upbuilding of the city.”
While Anson remained silent about whether he would continue playing and refused to comment on whether he would go to Baltimore, he had a letter read at Spalding’s meeting at the Chicago Athletic Club to plan the “testimonial;” the letter was printed in The Daily News::
“I refuse to accept anything in the shape of a gift. The public owes me nothing. I am not old and am no pauper. I can earn my own living. Besides that, I am by no means out of baseball.”
After nearly two weeks, Anson sent a letter to Hanlon, The Sun said:
“Anson neither accepts nor declines the offer but says he has not yet decided upon his future plans., and until he does, he does not care to talk business with anyone.”
Anson told Hanlon:
“In the event I should care to do business with any club outside of Chicago, I should be pleased to negotiate with you. However, I do not care to do business with anyone just at this time.”
Anson stayed out of baseball until June when he signed to manage the New York Giants. The Tribune said:
“Anson has been one of the few admirers of (Giants owner Andrew) Freedman. He admired him because of his stubbornness. Freedman has been an admirer of Anson. When their wishes clash something will break.”
Anson managed the Giants for just 22 games; guiding New York to a 9-13 record before he quit. He told The Tribune:
“My experience as manager? I simply and shortly discovered that (Freedman) did not want me to manage the team. I wanted to manage it, as that was what I understood they wanted me to do. They didn’t really want me to, and so I resigned.”
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