The sun., 1919-02-06
CHASE EX0NERATED
OF VIOLATING RULES
Heydler Hands Down Decision
IN Favor Of Famous First
Baseman.
WILL PLAY WITH GIANTS
President Of League Declares
Loose Talk Caused the
Charges.
WILL PLAY WITH GIANTS
nv FREDERICK G. LIEB.

~ FREDERICK G. LIEB.
Earold n Chase, baseballs greatest
h-s. baseman, was exonerated OF all
charges made against him by the Gin
einrati club yesterday. He was cleared
o. making bets against his own club
md Of attempting TO influence pitchers
on his own and other clubs to the
es.riment Of Cincinnati. The decision
vas handed Town by John Heydler
PRESIDENT OF the National League.
THE Cincinnati club charged Chase
with violating section 40 of the National
League constitution. which appears un-
der tire heading, 'Crookedness and Its
Yeralties.' and submitted afidavits and
PERSONAL evidence 10 support its charges"
SAID Heydler. The case before the Ma
t.oral League then was one OF corobora-
ton, not RECITATION. We carefully ex-
Imlred the evidence submitted, and
found nothing IN It which we could con-
etrIA as a violation OF section 40.
Chase, therefore. is completely ac-
Quilted and no cloud rests over him.
d. not know where Chase will play
rsxt season, but have heard Informally
tnat he will be signed by the New York
club He will start the new season
with the best wishes OF the league, and
hope that the ordeal through which
Re hss passed has been lesson to him
ana wifi prevent such loose talk as that
which was responsible for his trial.
"Cuds the circumstances the Gin
e.anau club was fully Justified In max
ing the charges II did. and Of de-
msndirg OF the league to make an
iares' cation. While the league found
10 evidence OF wrongdoing Chase's con-
duet was such as to make his team
mates regard him with suspicion. He Is
70 blame fer much OF the loose talk
md gossip which was circulated about
the player and placed him in this at
rosphere OF suspicion. Much OF this
loose talk was due to Chase's careless
nature. which made him treat baseball
IS Joke and prevented him from
treating matters pertaining to the game
With proper seriousness"
To Play with Giants.
II dsmissine the charges sgains.
Chase Heyder takes a strong slap at all
baseball betting. and Issues sharp adj
~on-.on 10 National League players who
Pay he tempted to wager on contests in
re future. Heydler says that any
'.a,er detected placing wager on any
game while he is N Office will be ex-
PEELED from the league.
Cleared OF his charges OF crookedness.
Chase will sign with the Cincinnati club
before the week is out John McGraw.
manager Of the Giants. Is now in the
West signing up players. but Is expected
back late In the week The New York
10 will obtain Chase from Cincinnati in
exchange for the release OF Pat Moran.
NcCiraw recently agreed TO destroy
n N "A
assistant manager so that he might &c
- Cincinnati as manager. Heydler s
finding in full follows.
This matter comes before mo as
president OF the National League on
the complaint OF the Cincinnati club
against Hal Chase. a player under con-
tract with that club for the season of
1918. When the charges were filed 1
was acting president OF the National
League, and objection was made to
the hearing OF the evidence until the
formal election of president
This. with an adjournment granted
At the request OF the players attor-
n@ys. postponed the hearing TO Janu-
AIRY 60, 1919. on which date all testi-
Uony offered was heard The player
appeared In person and by his attor-
reys Further investigation and in
curry and examination OF the official
records have since been made, that
very available fact bearing on the
natter might be established.
IN substance the player was charged
WI making wagers against his club
N games in which he participated. In
Justice to Chase I feel bound TO state
VA both the evidence and the records
- - games 70 which reference was
rl1Ge fully refute this accusation. In
one game in which It was int'mated
frat Chase bet against his club the
records show that IN the sixth inning.
with two men on bases and the score
70 against his team. Chase hit a
fome run. putting Cincinnati one run
ahead.
All available evidence has been
carefully taken and considered. II
the charge were proved It would fol-
w as matter OF course that the
player would forever be disqualified
from participating IN National League
Sane', Under such circumstances Z
~I'd not hesitate to so decide. as tho
-'c.tsts Of the public and OF the
Ft.7e Of baseball are far more i'm
r'7nt than the fate of any in
'y4ua' These interests 1t Is my
,'av duty 70 protect. no matter what
t.e Meet may be on players or clubs.
Arr player who during my term
e. President OF the National League
e shown TO have any interest In a
wager On any game played In the
eag'Ie, whether he bets on his club or
against II, or whether he takes part
- ne game or not. will be promptly
expelled from tho National League.
Betting BY players will not be toll
Grated.
My conclusion ana finding, AFTER
-" consideration OF the evidence. 10
wat 4 Is nowhere established that
'"r 1cruScd was interested In any pool
~ ger that caused any game of
f1t % result otherwise than on It's
@'..'s and that Player Hal II. Chase
Of guilty OF the charges brought
..,t him.
Hearsay Evidence.
H"3ler added some supplemental y
a-Ns to the effect that the affidavit
Ihr!sty Mathewson. former mana ger
- re Reds, was carefully examined
However, Mathewson's complaints dealt
more with Chases conduct on tho Gin
'.nHan team than with any specific