Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-12
UNDER A HANDICAP
Chase's Broken Ankle Respon-
sibIe for His Poor Showing.
HAL RESENTS CRITICISM
Declares He Is Doing His Very
Best to Help Chance
Win.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May Io-The
greatest enemy a base ball player can
have is the man in the stand who boots
and shouts forth unjust criticisms Hal
Chase, once known as one of the most
popular players in base ball. is now shar-
ing the same fate that has befallen many
former stars of the diamond.
Those persons who hooted Chase in the
recent Polo Grounds games, an occur
renee which established "a sort of prece-
dence in ChaSe's case, for Hal has al
ways been a prime favorite with the New
York fans, will be surprised to learn that
Chase has been playing ever since the
season started with spintered ankle a
sequel to the accident which befell him
at Bermuda, when the team was in train
ing there this spring.
Chase himself has kept this fact Sc
cret and last night when asked about it
refused to comment on it.
IF / talked about it, Hal said, the
fans would think l was trying to spring
an alibi. So the least said about it the
better"
Only few persons knew about
Chase's splintered ankle. After the col
lision with Harbinson at Bermuda, Hal
was out Of the game for a long time.
When the Yankees returned to New
York the member still troubled him On
advice of others, Chase. to satisfy him
self, went to DR.. Hunt. where an exami-
nation followed. The X-ray was put on
the ankle and photographs taken
The latter showed that a piece of the
ankle bone had been Clipped But this
isn't serious. however. At the time DR.:
Hunt assured Chase that the Clipped
bone wouldn't ultimately cripple him and
make him useless as ball player. 10
an extent it is a trivial affair, but Chase
was told to give the ankle as much rest
as possible. and in time growing carti-
lage would take care of the chip And
this probably makes clear the real rea-
son why Chase has eased up this spring.
Chance and the entire Yankee team is
highly indignant at the criticisms di-
rected at Chase The players all agree
that the fannings the first sacker has
received have been unjust. Chase HIM
viewed last night. Chase said in his de-
Tense: THE fans are after me-the same
as they have been after other fellows
who have failed to please them They
hooted and shouted insulting remarks al
me in New York just before we left
there. They said / was a gutter. But
they have got me wrong. I'll admit
am not playing my best game; but it
isn't because l don't want to. I'm in
there to give Chance my best efforts.
and l have been trying hard. When
they say | am quitting on Chance so as
TO be traded, they've got me wrong.
Chance is a fine fellow. who more than
deserves to have winning ball club. and
am doing my best to help him achieve
that purpose.
THE real reason why j have slowed
up Is because ! am not feeling in tho
best of health. Every spring have trou-
BILE. haven't got my full strength now
because of the medicine l must take
every morning and night. And until
can get rid Of this spring illness l will not
have my full strength. But am going tc
stick in the game as long as l can and
do all I can for Chance. They can say
l am not playing ball-that went hurt me