The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14

HE IS IN FINE FORM
By ". :. M'BETH.

&se by W, - m oEslH.
NEW YORK, April ia new
challenger enters Ban Johnsons lists
this season for mortal combat with
the champion Of all diamond
knigfthood. LikA Tyrus Raymond
Cobb. the Georgian Peach" of Hugh
Jennings mighty Tiger aggregation.
he IL no novice IT the game. His
star was firmly established In flames
armament long before the wonder
Of the generation signed his first
bush" league contract.
Hal Chase. hrst ,baseman Of the
Highlanders. aspires 70 Ccbb's crown.
None can deny that Chase, In his
art, stands second only to the SEN
sationAl Cobb. In pAny respects the
former leader Of the Yankees Is
| superior to even Ty. Chase Is the
greatest first bascman Of baseball
history he il the greatest fielder and
the quickest thinker. He Is Won
derfully fast on the bases: he Is able
to break away quickly. and pos
scsses that keen intuition OF Just
when to start no ~ to set the break
on tho opposing battery. Rarely is
he caught stealing and he pliers
third more often than any rival. Be-
fore he sets fourth on a purloin trip
Chase Is absolutely sure that he
holds the winning advantage. Chase
is good hitter--a wonderful bat
ter, In fact--and one OF the best men
before the public when It comes to
protecting the runner. Hal Is almost
infallible on the batting end Of q
squeeze" play.
Fault is . Virtue.
Just one thing. hereafter, has
! stood between this wonderful player
al oh MI
| fault, you might call 1t. but It has
/ more the appearance OF virtue. Hal
| has been handicapped by his charm
! ing personality. He has shown 1t in
/ every movement on the field, and in
/ his every attitude OF base stealing.
! He has always slid head first. not
| because ne cannot progress as clever
| ly and quickly with tho spikes in
! front of him. but through fear of in
I juring an opponent.
In his big league career, Chase has
never cut down a player. In this
respect he has always been fair to a
| fault against himself. Cobb. on the
other hand exacts the last ounce OF
flesh. He will not relinquish one inch
Of his right to base lines even If the
career of an opponent Is the price OF
! q stolen base or an extra base hit.
/ Such genuine earnestness as Cobb
displays might have placed Chase on
q par with the Georgian the past sew
eral years. Hal has never been fired
with the lust for glory that prompts
Ty to climb UP and up. even at the
expense OF others. Indeed. the peer
less first baseman of the Hill Toppers
has always looked upon the national
pasttime lightly.
Il Hal seems a new Chase this spring
He still IL boyish and lighthearted in
his actions both on and off the field.
But there is a seriousness in his play
ing manner never before evidenced.
He has assured Wolverton OF his
heaFttest corporation. He declared
himself delighted to have been re-
agement. For the first time he dis
plays deep interest in his colleagues
| Of the infield and coaches them ana
schools them In his little mannerisms
SO as to effect the best possible
working harmony.
Chase seems, II possible. more agile
than ever. And 1t can DO noticed
what little sliding he has done, has
been feet first Also his spikes are
ported that he has bought q file and
that he will employ 1t.
i've arrived at tho conclusion"
said Chase the other day. that 1t IS
high time for me to do something
with myself. There Is no. reason
that can see why any one should
have anything on me as q ball player.
I've always given the other fellows
q shade the better Of It, but that got
me nothing. Now I'm going out to
see just what l can do.
I have always played my hardest
but do not think II was my best.
did not look upon the game seriously
enough. have given my word Il.
Wolverton that IL do not show New
York this year the real thing In
first sacking. then I'm ready to step
down and out. And. you know. I'm
no millionaire. need the money
just as much as the next one.