1894 by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Page 89
those of his team would change after Anson was named captain-manager of the club in 1879.
His new role led to the nickname "Cap," though newspapers typically called him by the more formal "Captain Anson" or
"Capt. Anson." With Anson pacing the way, the White Stockings won five pennants between 1880 and 1886. They were helped to the titles using new managerial tactics, including the use of a third base coach, having one fielder back up another, signaling batters, and the rotation of two star pitchers. In the first half of the 1880s, aided by speedy players like Mike Kelly, Anson had his players aggressively run the bases, forcing the opposition into making errors. After the expression first became popular in the 1890s, he retroactively claimed to use some of the first "hit and run" plays.
Anson shares credit as an innovator of modern spring training along with the president of the Chicago club, Albert Spalding.
They were among the first to send their clubs to warmer climates in the South to prepare for the season, beginning in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1886. On the field, Anson was the team's best hitter and run producer. In the 1880s, he won two batting titles in 1881 and 1888, and finished second four times in 1880, 1882, 1886 and 1887. During the same period, he led the league in runs batted in seven times. His best season was in 1881, when