What the heck was this (Cap Anson the ballplayer item)
 

That's an oddity on several levels. If he had a bowling alley (and maybe he did) why was he advertising it on a padlock? And I've never heard of a business that locked its doors with personalized picture padlocks. I don't believe I've ever seen a lock with a company name on it other than the lock's manufacturer.

Form Wikipedia "After retiring as a player and leaving the Colts, Anson briefly managed the New York Giants. He ran several enterprises in Chicago, including opening a billiards and bowling hall and running a semi-professional baseball team he dubbed "Anson's Colts". Anson also toured extensively on the vaudeville circuit, performing monologues and songs. Many of his business ventures failed, resulting in Anson losing his ownership stake in the Colts (by then called the Cubs) and filing for bankruptcy."

double post

Maybe this advertising padlock is an example of his poor business marketing skills. Though it is more interesting than a trade card. If it's genuine that winner got a great deal, as it's the only example I've seen.

passes muster
 

that's a darn cool lock....I have one that says Rugby on it with a relief of a football/rugby ball....but never heard of that Anson lock.

Assuming it's period, maybe someone gave it to him as a gift. It's kind of cool.

Quite possibly it was created for & used on rental lockers in his bowling & billiard parlor.

That's what I was thinking Fred. It's a very cool item and someone IMO got a heck of a deal...I would bet in an REA type auction it would bring many multiples of that final ebay price.

Anson bowling
 

Cap Anson was a pretty good bowler and actually won the ABC (American Bowling Congress) Team title in 1904 at the age of 43. I wish I would have seen this item, as a collector bowling memorabilia, I would have like to have added it to my collection.

I bought this inkwell several years back partly for it's resemblence to Anson. I didn't know about him bowling until this thread. I wonder if it is him?