Hal Chase
Position: First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Left
6-0, 175lb (183cm, 79kg)
Born: February 13, 1883 in Los Gatos, CA
Died: May 18, 1947 in Colusa, CA
Buried: Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose, CA
High School: Los Gatos HS (Los Gatos, CA)
School: Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, CA)
Debut: April 14, 1905 (2,675th in MLB history)
Last Game: September 25, 1919
vs. BSN 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB
Hal Chase on Baseball-Reference
Full Name: Harold Homer Chase
Nicknames: Prince Hal
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1905
Ty Cobb
Hal Chase
Mickey Doolan
Otto Knabe
Al Bridwell
Rube Oldring
Eddie Cicotte
Ed Reulbach
George Gibson
All-Time Teammate Team
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Notable Events and Chronology for Hal Chase Career
Among the most unsavory characters in the history of the game during baseballs often rough-and-tumble Deadball Era. Chase was an oddly charismatic star. Hal Chase was both acclaimed as the finest defensive first baseman of his time, and simultaneously accused of countless instances of throwing games. A master card shark and billards player, Chase spent much of his time hustling unsuspecting opponents. When he did play honestly on the diamond he was a fine hitter and marvel with the glove, but the honest streaks were few and far between. Ultimately, this tragic figure was banished from the major leagues.
He led his league’s first basemen in errors seven times, but only in 1911, as a playing manager, did he lead in any positive fielding categories (putouts and assists, but also errors once again). He holds the AL career first baseman’s mark for errors (285). On September 21, 1906, he tied the ML record for putouts by a first baseman in a nine-inning game with 22; two other times he had 21.
The venal gate attraction jumped the Highlanders (later the Yankees) after the 1907 season, demanding a $4,000 salary. Management gave in to him, but he jumped anyway, playing for San Jose (California League) under an assumed name. He was suspended, then reinstated; when he returned to New York, his teammates presented the redhead with a silver loving cup. In 1910 manager George Stallings accused Chase of throwing games. Chase beat the charge and then used his popularity to take over the managerial post himself at the end of the season. In his first full year at the helm, the team dropped from second place (88-63) to sixth (76-76). Traded to the White Sox in June 1913 after his lackadaisical play became blatant, he jumped to the Federal League a year later. Playing in a small park, he hit an atypical 17 HR (his previous high was four) to lead the league in 1915. This made him much sought-after when the FL folded, and he was signed by the Reds. He led the NL in batting in 1916 with a career-high .339. He hit .300 four times, but usually with very few walks. He did steal as many as 40 bases (1910), and he finished his career with 363 steals. However, Chase never scored more than 85 runs or drove in more than 89, both highs coming in 1915.
In 1918, playing under the scrupulously honest Christy Mathewson, Chase was suspended for throwing games. He was initially cleared by an establishment eager to disbelieve Chase’s accusers, but the charge was later proven. John McGraw of the Giants, always sure of his ability to reform the wayward, tried Chase in 1919, but by the end of the season wouldn’t play him. Chase was implicated in the Black Sox scandal when the World Series was thrown at the end of the season, and thereafter he was persona non grata.
Quotes About Hal Chase
“For all the things that have been charged against Chase, the fans cannot help remembering his astonishing fielding feats around first. ‘Prince Hal’ could do things with his hands that no other first baseman of the past decade has even attempted. He had wonderful natural grace, and amazing speed in covering ground. Without a thought of attempting anything fancy, he would make one-handed grabs that left the spectators speechless… Chase had a baseball brain that worked with his hands. It is doubtful if a smarter player, using smart strictly in a baseball sense, ever wore cleats. At times he was well nigh uncanny.” — sportswriter Damon Runyon, The New York American, July 21, 1921.
Other Players Who Debuted in 1905, Ty Cobb, Mickey Doolan, Otto Knabe,Al Bridwell, Rube Oldring, Eddie Cicotte, Ed Reulbach and George Gibson
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