Marshalltown Ansons

The team was named for Henry Anson and his son, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Cap Anson (b. 1852). Henry Anson helped lay out the city of Marshalltown in its inception and is recognized as the patriarch of the city. Cap Anson was a legendary baseball figure who was born and raised in Marshalltown. The Ansons were key in the growth of baseball in the city, as Cap, his father Henry and his brother Sturgis Anson all played for the local team, the Marshalltown Stars. At the age of 15, Cap played second base, with Henry Anson at third base, Adrian's brother Sturgis in center field, as the Marshalltown Stars won the Iowa state championship in 1868.[2][3]

In 1871, the Rockford Forest City club with pitcher, Al Spalding (Spalding Sporting Goods), came to Marshalltown to play the Marshalltown Stars. After the series, all three of the Ansons were offered professional contracts by Rockford and while Henry and Sturgis turned Rockford down, Cap accepted and began his storied professional baseball career.[3]

The Marshalltown Ansons played in the Central Association (1914-1917) after being preceded by the Marshalltown Grays, Brownies and Snappers of the Iowa State League (1904–1907). The Ansons won Central Association Championships in 1916 and 1917 before the league folded after the 1917 season.[4]

The Marshalltown Ansons were founding members of the Mississippi Valley League in 1922, joining the Cedar Rapids Bunnies, Dubuque Climbers, Ottumwa Cardinals, Rock Island Islanders and Waterloo Hawks in the new six-team league. The league added the Moline Plowboys and Burlington Bees in 1924. After finishing 2nd in 1922, with a 73-55 record, the Ansons finished 4th, 6th twice, 7th twice and 8th in their remaining seasons. The Marshalltown Ansons folded after the 1928 season and were replaced by the Davenport Blue Sox in the 1929 Mississippi Valley League.[4]

The Marshalltown Ansons played their home games at the Marshall County Fairgrounds with the ballpark located off of East Main Street in Marshalltown. Today, the fairgrounds are called the Central Iowa Fairgrounds, located at 1308 East Olive Street, Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158.[5][6]

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