El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-21

even when he was New Yorks popular
idol He was not always true TO ms
employer, to his club or to himself
His whole career has been bughJed Dy
acts OF diSloyalty. In 1908, when the
team was a hopeless tailender and
most needed him. he jumped his con-
tract and went 10 the coast 10 play
outlaw ball He was prompted 10 this
action because X. EIberfeld. a personal
enemy, was selected as manager to
succeed Clark Griffith That was the
first intimatiOn Chase gave Of man
agerial ambition. Later. at the expense
of George Stallings-who proved his
worth despite the obstacles COnnived
by Chase-Hal gained the goal Of his
ambitions He was made manager Of
the club in 1911 and within a season
disintegrated q pennant possibility into
a near ruck runner. Because he refused
to take himself or his duties seriously.
Chase passed up the opportunity Of a
life time Integrity at that time might
have spelled for Hal the success Of a
AIcGraw or Chance
Not Entirely to Blame.
Doubtless the fault does not lie en-
tirely at Chase's door. lie came into
the league a mere boy and at the same
time the most remarkable performer
ever seen on a diamond So great
was his natural prOclivities that he
was the superior of all rivals the mo-
ment he made his debut FOr him
there had been no painful struggles
through the minors He was the
greatest living genius of his craft and
as such commanded the admiration of
all managers and veterans grown
gray in harness The adulation of
New YOrk's millions. the loud aCclaims
Of every city he visited no doubt
turned the head Of the youth. Every
where he went he was made so much
OF that it was but natural for him
soon to regard himself as a being OF
superior clay. New York spoiled
Organized Ball at Fault.
None deserve greater blame than
the owners Of the club and the powers
Of organized baseball In jumping
his contract in 1908 Chase committed
the objectionable sin against organ
lied baseball Such action has spelled
the blacklist" previously for major
leagUers of the first rank. Chase was
an exceptional player because he was
the exceptional asset. He drew many
additional thousands Of dollars into
the gates wherever he went. Ban
Johnson did not want him black
listed" il would have been a serious
blow to his American league. And
when Ban was willing to resort to
subterfuge N order TO have this &C.
centric first baseman restored to good
standing why should Frank Farrell,
more directly concerned, stand in the
way2 Farrell himself would never
have sought out Chase. He declared
himself emphaucally on that point at
the time Of Halls deserttOn.
Now when even the National COM
tent as someone beyond the pale Of
organized baseball law should Chase
be blamed for subsequent develop
ments2 Hardly That of itself made
him more powerful than any manager
Frank Farrell ever engaged until
Frank Chance hove in view. The
Peerless Leader simply would not
stand for Halls Indifference He had
surprised than Chase when notified OF
his release to Chicago.
Chance Insists on Discipline.
The beginning of the end of Chase
came in Bermuda during the training
season Halls ankle was badly sprained
IN practice game. That same day
he was out riding a bicycle in the
teeth Of the trainers orders to re-
the bicycle again. fell off it and de-
velOped a serious injury from one
that had been slight in the first place.
He displayed toward Chance a dispO-
sition like that Of pampered child
toward It's gOverness- He sealed his
fate with 'Husk" the moment he first
showed his Indifference. Thereafter
his life with the Highlanders was linn
tied to that time which il took for the
Yankee manager to arrange the most
advantageous trade.
Chase was through as New York
asset the moment he failed as a man
ager- His is not the spirit to brook
demouOn IN any form.
Larry LajOie saw some of his best
playing years after he had given up
the reins of management in Cleve-
land If Chase had been blessed with
Larry's disposition. however. there is
no doubt that he would have stood to-
day as one of the most revered fig
ures in baseball As it is his star may
not have set as yet The change to
Chicago may eventually work out his
salvation. But in his debut as a White
Stocking he gave very good imita-
ton Of "has-been' doing his best