The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-06
PEERLESS hal
is MAKING GOOD
Youthful Leader of Yankees,
Despite Bad Luck, Proves
His Ability.
PITCHERS HANDICAP HIM
Slabmen Work Poorly, Spelling
Pennant Chances-Prospects
Brighter Next Season.
PITCHERS HANDICAP Hin

New York. August 5.--Hal Chase,
greatest first haseman that ever wore
the small glove, has made good as
manager of the New York Yankees.
Despite the fact that the Tigers and
Athletics appear TO have the pennant
race between themselves, It is no fault
OF Chases that his team isn't right
UP with the two leaders. Knockers
claim that poor management is keep
Ing the Yanks d7wn, but forget 1t! a
bad break in luck plus innumerable
injuries is the cause.
In tho short time Chase has had
charge of the Yankees he has displayed
rare Judgment when the team has
been IN tight quarters, and he has
handled his pitchers in mastery fash
ion. And, let it be added right here,
the poor showing of his hurlers has
kept Chase to a great extent from
turning out a pennaut winner. But
he has done the most and best he
could with his heaving department.
Boy Manager Made Good.
When Chase succeeded George Stall
ings as manager last fall reports from
the Yankees at that time were that
the team was in more or less OF Il
disorganized state, and no doubt the
reports We're true. There could not
be united play when the managership
was Il chaotic question.
1t will he remembered that, when
Kid Elberfeld took up tho reins of
manaEership Immediately after Clark
Griffith was deposed. the bottom fell
out of the whole structure and the
team went all to pieces. There was
grave danger that such would be the
case last fall when Chase was uncN-
pectedly put in charge.
But Hal tooh hold of the situation
with firm hand and not only kept
the team intact, but held his players
we'll in hand. and not only prevented a
disruption, but got better playing out
OF his team than before the sudden
change in leadership. And he came
right back this year and is getting out
all there is in his talent.
T..kcs Himself Seriously.
Although Chase is still y young fell
low--he is not Yet twenty eight years
old-thcre is moro in him than some
people want to believe. He takes his
office seriously and fully appreciates
:he imp rtance of the position. He
knows that he is having the opportun-
ity of his life. and he is leaving no
stone unturned to show himself worthy
of the great confidence placed in him.
Chase is the youngest manager in
the big leagues. but he is resourceful.
knows baseball thoroughly, is a good
Judge OF players and human nature
and is O strategist. And to many he
looks like a born leader. His players
have all the confidence in the world
III his ability as leader as we'll play
err and jump at the word TO fulhil his
orders. And he Is beloved by every
one who knows him. a more popular
player or manager never lived.
While Chase hasn't any chance of
winning the pennant for the local
American League fans this season, his
prospects for winner next season
are most Bright.
Unlike most great baseball play
ers. Chase did not get his start as
pitcher. Although ieft-handed
thrower. he broke into tho game as
q third baseman, occasionally shifting
to short. That was with "a schoolboy
team in little town on the Pacific
Coast called Alviso. When but four
teen his folks moved to Los Gados
where Chase soon earned the regular
berth at third base on a cr-nk semi
professional team that was cleaning
up consistently all the big clubs in
California.
Quit school for Baseball.
He thought a heap more of base
bail than he did Of his studies and one
day Informed his teacher that he was
going to'.irandle a baseball for liv-
Ing and'th.st he saw no use OF handling
histories, arithmetic. geography, etc.
and the tutor very promptly told him
that he needn't come to school any
more
But Chase was soon back in school
again, for one day the athletic train
er Of Santa Clara College saw him per-
form on tho diamond and within few
weeks Chase was attending tho Cali
fornia University. And. while he play
Cd on the ball team and took part In
other branches Of sport. Chase didn't
take the Shower bath course" alone.
He was 4 student as we'll as an
athlete.
For two years he was the star in
fielder OF the college team and then
his folks moved TO Victoria British
Columbia to seek their fortune. and