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| Though Chase fielded well, this was only a five game experiment and Chance soon returned him to first base. According to famed New York sportswriter Fred Lieb, Chance suspected Chase of throwing games. This situation, while similar to the Stallings episode of 1910, would not be swept under the rug by any "investigation." Even though Chase swore he never bet against his own team, it is conceded by many that he did. Fred Lieb explained the method "Prince Hal" might have employed: "His neatest trick (I think), was to arrive at first base for a throw from another infielder just a split second too late. A third baseman, for example, must throw to the bag, whether the first baseman is there or not. Chase, playing far off the bag, probably could have gotten there in time, with his speed. But if he wanted to let one get away...maybe if he moved just a bit lazily toward first for a step or two? He would then speed up and seem to be trying hard. But it would be difficult, and it would take a suspicious minded person like Chance, to charge him with anything but an error if a well thrown peg slipped off the end of his glove." After a loss in May, Chance angrily accused Chase in front of Lieb and sportswriter Heywood Broun in the Yankee pressbox after a game: Chance: "Did you fellows see what went on out there today? Chase let those throws go right through him. He's been doing that to me every day, throwing down me and the club." Chance sprinkled in some other choice words during this tirade. After conferring with his editor, Lieb wrote nothing about the exchange with Chance. Broun, however, penned that "(Chance) said Chase was not playing up to his ability and let some games get away with loose play." Owner Frank Farrell, who read the story, screamed at Broun the next day. Farell, along with co-owner Bill Devery, were heavy gamblers themselves. They must have tolerated any extracurricular activity on Chase's part because he was the lone star their team. Aside from occasional flashes from players Birdie Cree, Russ Ford, and semi-notables like Al Orth, the Yankees were a losing team for most of Chase's tenure. The company till certainly reflected this. With Devery and Farrell dipping in to pay off their accumulated gambling debts, and few fans coming to the park, ("They weren't drawing flies," said Lieb) the pot became lighter every day. The owners needed Hal and keep the franchise afloat. If not for his "magic glove," as the writers called it, the team would have faded from public view. |
