The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-06
HighIanders Make Great Find
in Hal Chase.
Griffith Says He Is Accurate
and Fast as a Bullet.
Is A DANDY AT FIRST.
Has a Great Left Hand Throw
and Good at Bat.
Now Learning How to Use the
Stick Left Handed.

New York, April 6.-Hal Chase is it
in the baseball world just at present,
with no rivals in sight. The youngster,
who dropped into jackson. Miss, a few
days ago. thus far has made good with
a vengeance. and when he appears at
the first game at Highlander Park here,
viii get an ovation never before accord
ed a young player just butting into big
league company. According to Capt.
Griffith, Chase is the find OF years. Lis
ten to this from the headiest, highest
priced manager in either the American
or National organizations, Clark Crit
fifth:
7 am more pleased than can ex-
press in words. I had heard that he
was good performer, but was not
prepared for the sort of work he snow
ed me in the game, for not only was ne
as fast as a bullet, but he was accurate,
and kept his head about him all the
time. He has d remarkable reach Tor
thrown balls and is a sharp fielder OF
grounders. At bat he handles himself
we'll and as soon as he works into the
system of the other players on the team
he will prove very valuable. am de-
lighted with him as first base was the
only spot on the team that was not
strong. now feel perfectly secure 1
want to 20 on record with the declara-
LlOn LIaL III ali my EA JGt4GAACC i AAc- 2
never seen so promising a youngster as
this twenty-one-yea r-old. He is as fast
as a cat and has a great 1ett-handed
throw, and is in all respects as good a
fielding first baseman as anyone can
desire OF course, there are things that
he must learn, and one of them is to
bat left-handed. That I am teaching
him to do, and I shall put in half an
hour with him every day after the reg
ular practice is concluded He IS a
willing boy, anxious to learn and he
will surely develop into one Of the great
est first basemen the game has ever
known"
Arthur James, the baseball expert of
the Mail wires from Atlanta today the
following: "Chase's showing thus far
is justifying the Chicago magnate's
opinion that the young Californian is
the find of the year. He throws with
speed and sureness. He covers a deal
of ground, is sure on hard-hit low balls,
runs we'll and apparently has that rarl-
ty, a real baseball head. Without light
ming judgment and a. sure arm an in
fielder in big company can never hope
to be star. Chase has both of these
and brings with them the buoyancy,
snap and enthusiasm of youth He is
only q years old, which is no great age
for big league work. His only apparent
lack is experience, and that is what
Griffith is attending ito as RAPIDLY as
possible.
IF present indications count. Grif-
fifth has secured a phenomena1ly able
and active player. His hitting, so far
as his work with the Highlanders has
demonstrated, is not extraordinary, but
he has had no real chance for much
batting work.
1.-THE Highlanders have taken kindly
to the lad, because he is devoid of that
most annoying thing in new chaps-en-
Iargement of the head. He is willing to
learn. talks little and fairly loves base
ball.