Despite being painted as the "go-between" of the players and Abe Attell, Chase's involvement in the Black Sox Scandal was only peripheral. Proof of this is the fact that none of the implicated players named Chase as their ring leader. According to the court testimony of Joe Jackson, the most celebrated player of the tainted White Sox crew, first baseman Chick Gandil launched the plot. Judging by Gandil's comments to Jackson, it can be safely assumed that the scandal would have materialized with or without Chase's help...

BEFORE THE GRAND JURY OF COOK COUNTY September, A.D. 1920 Term.
Joe Jackson, called as witness, having been first duly sworn, testified as follows:
Q: Who do you think was the man they (Bill Burns and gambler Abe Attell) first approached ? A: Why, Gandil. Q: What makes you think Gandil ? A: Well, he was the whole works of it, the instigator of it, the fellow that mentioned it to me. He told me that I could take it or let it go, they were going through with it. Q: Didn't you think it was the right thing for you to go and tell Comiskey about it ? A: I did tell them once, "I am not going to be in it," I will just get out of that altogether. Q: Who did you tell that to ? A: Chick Gandil. Q: What did he say ? A: He said I was into it already and I might as well stay in. I said, 'I can go to the boss (Comiskey) and have every damn one of you pulled out of the limelight." He said, 'It wouldn't be well for me if I did that."

In light of his past misdeeds, Chase simply became a convenient scapegoat for what was an embarrassing and unfortunate moment for baseball. Though claiming innocence in the Black Sox incident, Chase was well acquainted with the proliferation of gambling during baseball's early days ...