Rockford Forest Citys was one of the first professional baseball clubs, playing for one season during the National Association inaugural year of 1871. Rockford finished with 4 wins and 21 losses, good for last place and 15 1/2 games behind the champion Philadelphia Athletics ball club. The star of that team was Cap Anson who would go on to play 22 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (known then as the Chicago White Stockings and subsequently as the Chicago Colts) and who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939. The National Association of Professional Baseball Players, or simply the National Association, was founded in 1871 and lasted through the 1875 season, after which its stronger teams created the National League. ... The Philadelphia Athletics were a charter member of the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, baseballs first major league, from 1871 to 1875. ... Adrian Constantine Cap Anson (April 17, 1852, Marshalltown, Iowa - April 14, 1922, Chicago, Illinois) was a professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball for the Rockford Forest Citys, Philadelphia Athletics (19th century), and Chicago White Stockings. ... Chicago Cubs National League AAA Iowa Cubs AA West Tenn Diamond Jaxx A Daytona Cubs Peoria Chiefs Boise Hawks R Mesa Cubs The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago. ...

Rockford, which was the westernmost club in the National Association, had faced significant financial hardship during the 1871 season including travel cost and did not make a profit. Additionally, star Cap Anson decided to take a $1,250 a year offer from Philadelphia for the 1872 season. So the club folded after its one and only season.

From 1868 to 1870, future Hall of Famers Ross Barnes and Albert Spalding starred for Rockford while the club was still an 'amateur' team. Actually, the Forest Citys were the first ball club to pay its players. Rockford played their home games at the Agricultural Society Fair Grounds. 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Photo of Ross Barnes Ross Barnes (May 8, 1850 - February 5, 1915) was one of the stars of baseballs National Association and the early National League from 1871 to 1881, playing second base and shortstop. ... Al Spaldings sporting goods company made a lasting impact on baseball. ... Agricultural Society Fair Grounds is a former baseball ground located in Rockford, IL. The ground was home to the Rockford Forest Citys baseball club of the National Association during the 1871 season. ...

External links

• Rockford Forest Citys 1871 season at Baseball-Reference.com (http://baseball-reference.com/teams/ROK/1871.shtml)