Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-02-16
BY FRANK G. MENKE.


than that of Hal Chase.
Still in the prime Of his career still
the most brilliant fielding first base
man the game ever has known, he
finds himself an undesirable; finds
that no major league clubs want him
at any price.
Hal Chase today is paying-and
dearly, too-for the folly of other
years; for the follies tnat he commit
ted while still an American Lacquer.
The fact that he is not wanted by any
big league magnates is not due to the
fact that he jumped to the Federal
League. Other players did Just as Hal
did and have been welcomed back.
But Halls offenses, in the eyes of the
baseball powers, have been many.
And Hal Chase now must pay. ,
Probably no player ever was idolized
more than Chase; probably none, out
side of Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson
and Honus Wagner. ever were lauded
from one end of the land to the other
as was Chase. In the early years of
his connection with the Yankees,
Chase was the sensation of the
American League.
Praise Turns Head.
The praise showered upon him
turned the head of Hal Chase. From
modest. retiring youth he blossomed
Into one who became arrogant. He
grew to be as temperamental as a
prima donna and his clashes with his
teammates became frequent. But
Chase because he was a star-and
real one-was coddled and petted by
his owners.
Chase reached the crest when he
was made manager of the Yankees
And that honor made Hal Chase "un.
bearable" in the opinion OF his team
mates. He ran his team as he saw fit
and soon there were charges of dis
sensions in the Yankee camp.
Chase is trouble maker" was
flashed around the circuit-and
throughout New York. Stories began
to appear which bitterly criticised
Chase; stories that banned" him for
his conduct. He was accused of list
lessness on the ball field; accused Of
thwarting the best interests OF his
club. He was accused of many things,
some true, but most of them exagger-
ataed or absolutely untrue.
But those stories painted black the
name OF Hal Chase. He no longer was
the drawing card of yore. He still
played with the brilliancy of old but
no longer was he idolized. And no
matter how great a player a man Is,
the fans don't warm up TO him unless
there is something about his PERSONAL.
ity that is likable.
Chase Popularity Waned.
Chase fingered longer with the
Yanks but his work seemed to fall off.
He no longer played with the same
ole spirit. The mechanical skill still
was apparent, but there was no life in
his play. And while the papers ham.
mered him the fans clamored for his
release.
Back in 1910 or 1911 Chase would
have brought around $4,000 on the
auction block, but none of the clubs
seemed overly anxious to get him
when he was placed on the auction
block. When the White Sox offered
Rollie zeider, the now bunionless in.
fielder, and Babe" Bortop, the Yank
owners eagerly seized the opportunity
and Chase went to the White Sox.
For while, Chase showed flashes
OF his old-time skill, but the Iaciug
that New York had given him
ranked; the thought that ne, Hal
Chase, THE Peerless" had been
traded for two mediocre players, wal.
loped his pride more than anything
else ever had. And with such feelings
pulsing through his brain, his mind
was not on his work, and SO he PLAYED
only a fair sort Of game for the Sox.
Chase Jumps to Feds.
Just at a time when the Chicagoans
were beginning to make unkind re,
marks about him and intimate that he
was "haB-been," Chase got an offer
from the Feds, and Chase jumped
The bigger salary wasn't the main fac
tor In deciding that jump. The real
reason was that Hal Chase looked UP
on the Federal circuit as n haven OF
refuge from those In the American
League. who knocked him
The American League hattled in
court TO prevent Chase from playing
In the Federal League. The Ameri
cans fought for him in court, not SO
much to prevent the Feds from get
ting him, but 1t is said, with the hope
that he would be ruled the property
OF the Americans so that the Ameri
cans could ride him out OF the biz
leagues.
Chase finally was awared to the
Feds, and he played as wonderfully
during the latter part OF 1914 and
throughout 1915 as he ever played in
his life. He seemed changed man