The FEDERAL LEAGUE

Hal Chase

He was described as a brilliant player but with a "corkscrew brain". He was often accused of throwing baseball games but was never officially banned from major league baseball.

Chase started his career with the New York Highlanders (Yankees) in 1905. He quickly became a star and was "perhaps the biggest drawing card in baseball" - Sporting Life. He hit .323 in 1906 to finish third in the league in hitting.

Chase continued to play very well for New York but repeatly had problems. He held out in the beginning of the 1907 season and even joined the outlaw California State League before re-signing with the Yankees. In 1908, Chase left the team near the end of the season to again play in the outlaw California State League. He was upset that he was overlooked as being the new manager of the Yankees when manager Clark Griffith left.

There were already rumors spreading at this time about Chase throwing ballgames. By 1910, Yankee manager George Stallings publicly charged Chase. Yankee club president Frank Farrell and American League President Ban Johnson backed Chase and Stallings was eventually fired with Chase replacing him as manager of the Yankees. He did not last as the Yankees fell to 6th place after finishing 2nd in 1910. Chase was replaced as manager after the 1911 season.

In 1913, Chase was traded to the Chicago White Sox but played a little over 1 year there. When the Federal League declared itself major status, Chase jumped to the Buffalo Blues.

After the Federal League folded, Chase signed a three year contract with the Cincinnati Reds. During the 1918 season, Reds manager Christy Mathewson already suspicious about Chase's play suspended the firstbaseman for "indifferent" playing. Chase was formally charged by the Nation League and a hearing was held in the beginning of 1919. During the hearing, Mathewson, Reds players Jimmy Ring, "Greasy" Neale, Mike Regan, New York Giants manager John McGraw, and Giants pitcher "pol" Perritt testified against Chase. The National League President John Heydler found that the Reds were justified in suspending Chase based on the rumors of his play but that Chase was not guilty of "fixing" games.

Despite testifying against him, manager John McGraw signed Chase to play for the New York Giants during the 1919 season. Chase played well but retired at the end of the year. It was said that he was quietly being pushed out for his throwing of games.

Chase continued to play minor league ball after 1919 but was repeatly banned from many leagues for throwing ballgames or trying to talk others into throwing games for him.

In 1931, Chase wrote to baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Landis to ask about his status. He stated that he had made mistakes in the past but was remorseful about them. Landis responded that Chase was officially a member in good standing but wanted to know more about his mistakes. On the advice of his lawyer, Chase did not reply.