players most famous by decade

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Posted By: Howard W. Rosenberg

As far as the 1880s:

Kelly's fame didn't really take off until 1887 (so he was not the superstar for the decade, although purists do count a year ending in a 0, in that case 1890, as part of the 1880s). If it were a boxing match, I'd score the rounds as follows:

Anson: 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886
Kelly: 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890

with Anson's rounds by a much bigger margin than Kelly's over Anson's.

I guess if everything hinged on the fame of the 1889 song "Slide, Kelly, Slide," one could award the 1890s to Kelly on musical points.

But disregarding the song:

Anson: 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900
Kelly: 1891
Too close to call: 1892, 1893, 1894

Anson's great edge was continuously being his team's captain-manager. Kelly didn't really shine, relative to Anson, until 1887 when he was out of Anson's shadow. Chicago in the 1880s also had Ed Williamson, who was one of the most liked of players of the decade along with Kelly.