Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-06
.STAHL' s DEATH
CAUSES GLOOM
DEAD PLAYER WAS ADMIRED
BY COMPANIONS
Jimmy Collins, Whom "Chick" Super
seded as Manager of the Boston
"Chicks," Pays Tribute to
Great Player

When "Chick" Stahl. manager of the
Boston American Chicks until few
days before his death, committed sui
eide at West Baden last week, the
baseball world sustained a shock from
which 1t will be slow to recover.
There Nls an element af sadness
in poor Stahl's passing which might not
have been so striking had many an
other ball player taken the same route
Because of a beautiful disposition the
dead diamond prince was beloved by
those who knew him.
The more fitting, perhaps, coming as
it does from former Manager Jimmy
Collins, into whose shoes Stahl stepped,
is the following tribute which Jimmy
wired the sporting editor of the Boston
Journal:
HE was as white a fellow as ever
lived and had not one enemy in the
world so far as 1 knew. His was a ten
der disposition and he could not refuse
a favor night or day. 1t is hard for
me to realize that he has been called
out by the Great Umpire. He will be
missed both on and off the field by
his many friends"
If any man knew Chick Stahl Jimmy
Collins is the one. Rated as the great
est of third basemen when the Boston
Americans were flying high, Collins
was rendered the team management A
phenomenal performer on the field, Col
lins failed to make good" and watched
Stahl pass over his head.
Without a murmur Collins took his
position on the field again and wished
Chick all the good luck that fortune
might choose to toss in his way.
Stahl also had his ups and downs and
melancholia arising from failure to
obtain the best results is believed to
have been responsible for the rash act.
1t is said that Collins, with whom he
roomed for years while travelling, is
well nigh inconsolable.
Players Sorrow Stricken
A young bride has been Frustrated
by Chicks madness and her grief is
said to be pitiful. Frank Chance is
another who experienced keen regrets
when he learned of the tragedy Husk
and Stahl were close friends and the
similarity of their conduct on and off
the field has often been remarked.
Chicago Cubs were scheduled to meet
the Columbus Ohio, team the day fol-
lowing StahPs death. Reports are that
for once Franck Chance refused to en-
ter into the sport. He did not speak a
word during the solemn game and a
sigh of relief emanated when the list
less play came to an end.
Suicide is rare among ball tossers.
Considering the number of men who
are now engaged in the national game.
the proportion of such deaths is much
less than in any other calling whose
yotaries are subjected to an intense
daily strain.
Actors and brokers furnish far more
additions to the suicide list.
Suicide Rare Among Athletes
1t might be expected that athletes
who compete day after day under the
most trying conditions with hot sun
beating on their heads, with hostile
crowds batting them, with success pos
sible only by the most intense exertion
would find it hard to maintain that
balance which enables a man to sun
port his misfortunes and not be led into
extremes by his successes.
Actors frankly break down under the
great white light that ever beats on
them and stock operators walk daily
IN peril OF sanitariums. The suicide
route is ever open to them, and is all
too frequently traversed.
But when Chick Stahl passed out by
his own hand he made himself only the
fourth prominent baseball suicide in re-
cent years.
h.
dered his wife, child and himself. Win
Mercer, famous pitcher of the Wash.
ington and Detroit teams, did the bust.
ness for himself in San Francisco -four
years ago when two teams We're tour.
ing the west. 1t Is also as good as
certain that poor Ed Delehanty was re.
spOnsible for the act that made his
body a buffet for the Niagara river.
This Is a small total in a profession
which certainly numbers not fewer thar
$4,000 members. 1t should prove that
despite the rackihg strain of the great
national sport there are compensation,
In it that help to keep a man in tn,
normal path.
Admitting that the wear and tea
on player is terrific. the rarity Of sui
cides shows that for all the menta
overburdening there is ever a physica
relief and upbuilding that preserve thu