Rare Adrian Cap Anson Handwritten & Twice Signed Letter. Auto Graded 8

One of the Toughest Hall of Fame Signatures in the Hobby!

An exceptional four-page handwritten letter from baseball pioneer Adrian “Cap” Anson, signed twice—once with his full signature, “A.C. Anson,” and again with his initials, “A.C.A.” Written September 16, 1906, on Anson’s official City Clerk’s Office letterhead during his tenure as Chicago City Clerk, the letter consists of two sheets written front and back, creating four handwritten pages in total. The third and fourth pages, including the twice-signed final page, have been encapsulated by PSA/DNA, with the autographs receiving an impressive grade of PSA 8!

Few Hall of Fame autographs have proven as consistently elusive as Cap Anson. His career began in 1871, during the infancy of professional baseball, and ended in 1897—decades before autograph collecting became widespread. Over an extraordinary 27 seasons, Anson compiled 3,435 hits, a .334 lifetime batting average, and batted over .300 in 24 seasons. Most significantly, he became the first player in Major League history to reach 3,000 career hits, establishing a milestone that remains one of baseball’s most celebrated achievements.

That greatness was formally recognized nearly half a century later. On June 12, 1939, baseball gathered in Cooperstown for the inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where the first 25 men elected to the Hall were honored. Anson was among that extraordinary original group, his name enshrined alongside the foundational legends of the game—including Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson. For a player whose career began nearly 70 years earlier and was played almost entirely in the 19th century, Anson’s place among baseball’s original immortals speaks volumes about the stature he continued to hold within the game.

For generations of advanced collectors attempting to assemble complete Hall of Fame autograph collections, Anson has remained one of the great obstacles. Despite his immense importance to the game, authentic examples of his signature are remarkably scarce. He retired long before the hobby of autograph collecting took hold and died in 1922, seventeen years before that historic first induction ceremony. As a result, Anson is a name that even accomplished Hall of Fame collections can be missing for decades. A substantial four-page letter, entirely handwritten, signed twice, and carrying a superb PSA 8 autograph grade represents an exceptional example of one of the hobby’s most notoriously difficult Hall of Fame signatures.

Written nearly a decade after his retirement from baseball, the letter offers a glimpse into Anson’s life beyond the diamond. Writing to his son-in-law and daughter while serving as Chicago City Clerk, Anson discusses his various business ventures and finances at length—an interesting window into the post-playing life of an early professional ballplayer from an era long before baseball’s stars earned the extraordinary salaries of today. Presented on ornate City of Chicago stationery bearing his printed name and title, “Adrian C. Anson, City Clerk,” the letter is an impressive and historically fitting format for one of the hobby’s most challenging Hall of Fame signatures.

Authenticated, Graded, and Encapsulated by PSA/DNA.
(the page 1&2 of the 4 page letter remain unencapsulated)

Ships FedEx/UPS/USPS with Insurance.

Transcript

Carroll E. Cherry + Adele - Sept 16th 1906

My Dear Children

I thought I would drop you a few lines to let you know I was in the land of the living and also to let you know you were not forgotten. I also had it in mind to ask you how long you thought it would take you to close out the business there. The sooner you can do so the better I will like it. I feel if you were here now and took hold of my business we would be more successful. I have made up my mind to take out the bowling alleys and put in billiard tables. I have been trying to get on the [unclear] with a bar and to get a passage way from Madison St.

There is a cheap billiard and pool room on Randolph St. that charges 40 cents per hour and runs all night. They are up stairs and have a bar. I went in there at about half past two and I stayed until after five and there were [unclear] at that time and were selling liquor all night. It looked so good to me that I thought I could do the same thing.

If I need a [unclear] to get on the [unclear], and even if I can’t get on the [unclear] I will put in a door on the ground floor and try to do business. I have tried every thing to get on the [unclear] but they want seven thousand + five thousand and I can’t see it that way. I think I might stand $1500 or even 2000 but not any thing more.

Drop me a line and let me know how soon you think you will be able to be with me. I need you to work the situation. I have also about closed a lease on 61 St about two blocks and a half from the White City and about the same distance from Sans Souci park. Have the sixty first st line and the Illinois Central [unclear] run trains there if they wish. I know they will to haul the people to the races.

Now if I could close this lease this fall I could then start to build my grand stands + bleachers. I think I will make the effort to get the street car and elevated road in there for me. There is a building now on the ground that is used for a saloon which will go with the lease and can be sub leased. I have the scheme and must have a young man like you Carroll to help me put them through and I know we can do it.

I must have a man that can protect my interest and keep the women from stealing. Carroll I wish you would write me and tell me just what you think the best way to dispose of the property out there and get the best results. Any how go right ahead and do what you think best.

I have written my brother that I would not buy his half interest and he knows that. If you have to have his consent to sell I would write him for it. When I was there my cousin Will Lovell said he would like to figure for the coal business and so did the [unclear]. I would figure with the Boardwalk people for the hotel plant and I should think well to advertise it.

In any event I am looking for you here and the sooner the better.

Accept my love for yourself and Adele.

Your loving Father,
A.C. Anson

P.S. I think Stella wants the [unclear] to her. I should like to see her get it. [remainder unclear]