Ed Delahanty: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1945

Born: October 30, 1867

1887: Signed pro contract in the Ohio State League

Debut: May 22, 1888 (Phillies)

1890: Jumped to the Player’s League

1891: Returned to the Phillies

1892: Got stuck in a doghouse trying to retrieve a ball hit by Cap Anson. Anson’s shot is known as the “inside-the-doghouse” home run.

1893: Home run champ (19)

1894: Hit .404

1895: Hit .404 for second straight year

1896: Hit four home runs in a game (all inside-the-park)

1896: Home run champ (13)

1899: Hit four doubles in a game. Delahanty is the only man with a 4-homer game and a 4-double game.

1899: Had a hit in 10 straight games.

1899: Batting champ (.410)

1901: Jumped to Washington Senators of the American League after the season.

1902: Won batting title (.376)

1903: Died when he was swept over Niagara Falls.

1945: Elected to Hall of Fame

1992: Mike Sowell publishes July 2, 1903: The Mysterious Death of Big Ed Delahanty

Accomplishments:
.346 career hitter

2x Batting Champ

101 Home Runs

1466 RBI

2597 hits

1600 runs

741 walks-437 strikeouts

3794 total bases

.411 career OBP

.505 career slugging

.916 career OPS

Scored 100+ runs: 10x

200+ hits: 4x

Led league in hits (238) in 1899

522 career doubles

30+ doubles: 11x

40+ doubles: 5x

55 doubles (1899)

Led league in doubles: 5x

186 career triples

10+ triples: 10x

21 triples (1892)

Led league in triples (21) in 1892

10+ home runs: 4x

Led league in HR: 2x

100+ RBI: 7x

Led league in RBI: 3x

20+ Stolen bases: 12x

30+ Stolen bases: 7x

40+ Stolen bases: 2x

58 stolen bases (1898)

Led league in stolen bases in 1898 (58)

Hit .300: 12x

Hit .350+: 8x

Hit .400: 3x

.400+ OBP: 9x

.500 OBP (1895)

Led league in OBP: 2x

.500+ slugging: 8x

.600+ slugging: 2x

Led league in slugging: 5x

1.000+ OPS: 6x

Led league in OPS: 5x

300+ Total Bases: 3x

Led league in Total Bases: 2x

Cap Anson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1939

Cap Anson Timeline:

Born: April 17, 1852

1866-67: Sent to boarding school at Notre Dame

1868: Spent one semester at the University of Iowa. He was expelled for bad behavior.

1871: Began playing pro ball

Debut: May 6, 1871

1875: Managed Athletics for 8 games (4-2-2)

1879: Named Captain/Manager of the Cubs leading to his nickname “Cap”

1880s: He pioneered new managerial techniques including using a third base coach, signals, and a pitching rotation (2 starters). He was also pioneered Spring Training.

1880-82: Won NL Pennant three consecutive years (no World Series)

1883: He refused to play an exhibition game against the Toledo Blue Stockings because their catcher, Moses Fleetwood Walker, was black. He backed down when told his team would not be paid if they forfeited.

1885-86: Won back-to-back NL Pennants

1887: Baseball officially segregated. Anson is partially to blame, but does not deserve to be singled out for the action.

1888: Began an on-again-off-again acting career

1890s: He claimed to have invented the hit-and-run

July 18, 1897: Collects 3000^th hit

1897: Fired as Cubs’ manager. At the time, they were called the Colts. After his firing, they were called the “Orphans” since they lost their “pop.”

1897: Record with the Cubs: 1282-932 (.579) and 5 Pennants

1898: Managed the Giants briefly (9-13 record).

1899: Opened a pool hall in Chicago. It was successful, but he was forced to sell in 1909 because his other ventures failed.

1900: Tried to form a rival major league, but it failed.

1900: Published his memoirs

1905: Chicago City Clerk

1907: Ran for Sheriff, but lost in the primary.

1907: Purchased a semi-pro team, which lost money.

1908: Formed a semi-pro football team, they won a title, but lost money.

1909: Filed bankruptcy

1921: Retired from Vaudeville

1922: Became GM of a golf club

Died: April 14, 1922.

1939: Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his second ballot by the Veteran’s Committee

Late 20^th and early 21^st century: Debate rages as to Anson’s role in the segregation of the Major Leagues in 1887.

Accomplishments:
.334 career average

3435 career hits

First member of 3000 hit club

2075 RBI

Played record 27 seasons

.394 career OBP

2x Batting Champ

Led league in games played in 1890 (139)

Scored 100 runs in a season: 6x

Led league in hits in 1881 (137)

582 doubles

Led league in doubles: 3x

Led league in RBI: 8x

100 RBI season: 6x

Led league in walks in 1890 (113)

4x OBP Leader

OBP of .400 or higher: 8x

Slugging of .500 or higher: 7x

2x OPS leader

OPS of .900 or better: 7x

4592 total bases

1881 Total base leader (175)

As a Manager:
1295-947 record (.578)

Won 5 NL Pennants