From 1871, before he was known as Cap
On Twitter the other day, a debate arose in regard to Marc Carig’s fine appreciation at The Athletic about baseball’s “red asses” [https://bit.ly/2UTfJl1]. Who, folks wondered, had supplied the first specimen of the species? I offered that the game’s first “red ass” may have been Adrian Anson, who was named “Baby” long before was called Cap or Pop. It was said in polite circles that he won the nickname because he had been the first settler child born in Marshalltown, Iowa, but the trade card below gives the real story: he whined and scrapped about everything, and was particularly notorious for his treatment of the poor umpire, alone on the field in those years.
This exchange recalled for me Anson’s rookie contract with the Forest City club of Rockford, Illinois in the National Association’s debut season of 1871, which I had uncovered long ago in the archives of the Illinois State Historical Library. A biographical profile of Anson that accompanied the 1953 publication of the contract noted:
Although Adrian C. Anson played baseball around the world, he never forgot his first contract. “It was a fairly good salary for a ball player,” he said, “and especially one who was only eighteen years old and a green country lad at that.” [Van Bolt, Roger H. “”Cap” Anson’s First Contract.” The Annals of Iowa 31 (1953), 617–625. Available at: http://ir.uiowa.edu/annals-of-iowa/vol31/iss8/8.]
I offer that contract below, in facsimile and in transcript. Notably, unlike other contracts that survive from baseball’s early professional era— which I will review tomorrow — the term of Anson’s contract was limited to the playing season rather than the calendar year.
CAP ANSON’S 1871 CONTRACT [spelling, styling, and punctuation rendered precisely]
Memorandum of Agreement: made and entered into this 31st day of March A.D. 1871, by and between John P. Manny, John C. Barbour, Henry W. Price, Hosmer P. Holland and Jerome C. Roberts of the City of Rockford, Illinois, prty of the first part; and Adrian C. Anson of Marshalltown Iowa, party of the second part:
Whereas divers residents of said city of Rockford have associated themselves and contributed a common fund for the organization and maintenance of a first class base ball club, to be known and called “The Forest City Base Ball Club of Rockford Illinois”;
And whereas the said party of the second part, being desirous of playing in said club; has represented to the party of the first part that he is a first class base ball player and possessed of the skill, and physically competent, to play said game as a member of a first class club;
Now therefore, this Agreement Witnesseth: That the said party of the second part, in consideration of the premises and of the promises and agreements of the party of the first part, hereinafter expressed, has, and does, covenant and agree, to and with said party of the first part, to play the game of base ball with said Forest City Base Ball Club, and in any position, he may be therein assigned by the Directors of said Club, for and during the season of A.D. 1871, to wit: from April 15th A.D. 1871 , to and including October 15th A.D. 1871.
And in further consideration of the premises said party of the second part promises and agrees to keep and observe the following rules of conduct and discipline, viz:
To use his best efforts to advance the interests of said Club, by cheerfull, prompt and respectfull obedience of the Directions and requirements of the Directors thereof, or of any person by said Directors placed in authority over him, as well as the by laws of said Club;
To abstain from the use of Alcoholic Liquors: unless medically prescribed, and to conduct himself, both off and on the Ball Ground, in all things like a gentleman;
To report promptly for duty at the grounds of the Club for all games, and for practice at the hours designated there for by the officers of the Club, and upon the grounds, to abstain from profane language, scuffling and light conduct, and to discourage the same in others.
To practise at least two and a half hours per day. On each and every practice day of the Club, and at all times both in games and at practice, to use his best endeavours to perfect himself in play. Always bearing in mind that the Object in view in every game is to win.
And in further consideration of the premises said party of the second part promises and agrees that he will not make, or procure to be made for him, or in any [way] be concerned or interested in, any bet or wager upon the result of any game, or upon the playing of any member of the club, or upon anything connected with any game, in which said Forest City Club, may engage during the time of his engagement hereunder.
And in consideration of the premises, said party of the first part promise and agree to pay said party of the second part the sum of Sixty six and two third ($66 2/3) Dollars per month for each and every month of the time he may play with said Forest City Club, payable as follows; to wit: Sixty Six and two third ($66 2/3) Dollars on the 1st day of June A.D. 1871, and sixty six and two third ($66 2/3) Dollars on the first day of each and every month thereafter of the term of his employment, as aforesaid, the balance due to be fully paid on the 1st day of November A.D. 1871.
A.C. Anson [signed]
J.C. Barbour [signed]
Hosmer P. Holland [signed]
Along with this Anson contract the Historical Library acquired the 1871 contract of Winfield Scott Hastings. He had starred with the team in 1869 and 1870, as the catcher for sensational pitcher Al Spalding, so the Forest Citys agreed to pay him $100 per month for 1871 as player-manager. When the Rockford team disbanded after the 1871 season Hastings moved to the Cleveland Forest Citys for the 1872 campaign, and Anson went to play for the Athletic club in Philadelphia. By 1876 Hastings, who had moved around a lot in the intervening years, was on the way out of league ball while Anson came back to his western roots and began his long tenure with the Chicago White Stockings, today’s Cubs.
Anson’s First Baseball Contract was originally published in Our Game on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.