Chase spent the remaining years of his life drifting through towns in Arizona and California, selling an automobile called the Marmon, tending bar, and drinking heavily. Chase gave various interviews during these waning years of his life. All of them find him contrite and full of regret. Among his comments: "You know, baseball was good to me, but I¹m afraid I wasn't very good to baseball Most of the grief I had during my career as a player was of my own making. At least, if it wasn't of my own making, I could have prevented it, had I acted more wisely." In 1930, Chase moved to Oakland, California. He met a mining prospector who convinced Chase to move into the foothills. During weekdays he mined for gold. Shortly thereafter, Chase returned to Williams, Arizona. There he ran a pool hall. The year 1934 found Chase back in Oakland, and he lived there for three years with his niece. The articles written about Chase in his final years seem even more hyperbolic and reverential than any that appeared during his playing career. These stories also condemn Chase for his behavior. An offering by writer Harry Grayson of the New York World-Telegram describes just how far "Prince Hal" had descended from his throne. The following article appeared on January 4, 1934:

One-Time Prince Hal in Taters TUCSON, Ariz.- A disheveled and broken figure stumbled into the gorgeous lobby of the Hotel El Conquistador here. "I'd like to see Doc Barrett," he told the clerk. Charley Barrett is the veteran trainer of the Columbia University football team (on a stopover for the New Year's Day game with Stanford. "Chase," muttered the man in filthy clothing, "Chase, tell Doc it's Hal Chase" Barrett couldn't believe it and came down to the lobby to ascertain who the imposter was. But it wasn't a pretender. Although Barrett scarcely recognized him, there stood once glamorous Prince Hal, the baseball immortal considered by many to be the greatest first baseman who ever lived. Barrett trained the old New York Yankees, with whom Chase played some years ago, when he was at the height of his fame. Tears poured down the cheeks of both as they embraced each other.