The Washington times., 1912-02-19
Hal ChaSe'S Career on the Diamond
By SENATOR"

Oh YES, there are Ty Cobb, Eddie
Collins. Larry Lajoie and Frank BAKER
to occupy the c5es of the thousands "t
American League fans this season. bu!
along with these worthless there ~
"Childe Harold" Chase, the crack
first sacker of the New York High
landers. The fans will watch him close
" to see IL he can make good as
player under manager of the sam"
team that lie managed last season
I'm willing to play first base Tor
YOU" Chase told Frank Farrell Tor
the same money l got last year
I'm willing to pay you that same
money" was Farrells reply. III you
play the kind of ball you did before you
became manager"
And so the bargain was struck, even
while the sport writer's were telling
how Chase was considering his retire
ment from the game TO enter business.
Hal Chase has been known as quite,
If not the best. first baseman in the
game. He was a wonder when ne
broke into the American League, back
in 1906. His startling bits of fielding
have seldom been equaled and never
surpassed. His spectacular perform
ances and his quick. nervous way of
playing have endeared him to the New
York populace. They are with HIM
solid, they were with him last year,
even when the team was going down
rapidly. They are with him today,
even when Harry WOlverton is giving
the orders Chase has a marvellous
hold on the hearts OF New York fans.
Predict Trouble.
However, there are many who say
that, having led the Yankees, though
to defeat, Chase will never again to
content with laboring in the ranks.
They say that he will find things go
ing not to his satisfaction and will
repeat his startling jump of 1903,
when he leaped out of the ranks OF
organized baseball into the California
outlaw league. Here's where Frank
Farrell's big gamble shows itself.
If Hal Chase remains with the
HighlandeTs. putting his whole soul
into the game, caring not at all about
the responsibilities, he should finish
| the season SO FAR ahead of all other
first bascmen as to make the race
| lnughahlC. Though handicapped by
illness and responsibility, Chase hit
for .3lJ last year and. despite the
! fact that he has never been ClaSSed
as a heavy hitter he should better
that mark this season when his mind
! is clear.
If, on he other hand, Hal allows his
mind to dwell too much on the gQlda
| afternoons of his sunny California
and stops TO contrast the work of the
| team Inder WOlVertOn with its per-
| furmanCes last season, the entire
| baseball world may he amazed some
| fine morning to read that he has
| jumped from the American League
and gone back to the coast.
Is Nervous Player.
Chase is one of the most nervous
players in the game. He just can't
| sit still more than a few minutes. He
must be up and doing. If only walk
| ing back and Forth. He is always
marked in the lobDies of the hotels
| whore his team stays during the
| season by this nervousness. He is
| highly strung, perhaps the most
highly strung ball player in the game
Il just can't help it," Chase told the
writer, one day last year. I've always
been that way. I must be moving
| What's the use OF being like a log, any
way?" And he was up like flash tc
rush to the window Of the Arlington
| Hotels lobby, and then return as sud
denly and continue the conversation.
On the field this nervousness makes
| him one of the most dangerous men II
| the business. His speed Is such that ht
plays farther back on the grass thar
any other first corner guardian. Thus
he can cover far more ground than any
other man. At the bat he is tense as 6
taut wire, and once he has hit the bal
he is off like the wind Itself.
They talk about the marvellous quiCf
wit of Johnny EVers. The clever little
Cub infielder has nothing on Hal Chase
Some of Chase's fielding plays require
more speed in other players than the!
have, and fail on that account Blu
Chase's brain works with lghtnin;
dash, and he is always ready for an!
exhibition of so-called inside baseball
that his mates may endeavor to maxi
succeed.
}, May Be Half Team.
Working as he can, If he will, Chas
should prove half the Yankee infiel
this season. If he is disgruntled at tn