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| The appointment of Chance as Yankee manager was certainly a huge mistake. Chance had sustained so many beanings during his playing career that he was virtually deaf in one ear. This condition, coupled with the fact that Chance knew nothing about the the dismal club he was taking over, made for a bad year with the Yankees. Over the early course of the season, Chance implored Farrell to trade Chase. This was not an easy task as Chase's salary had jumped to $8,000 a year and his bad reputation was additional baggage that turned off many teams. Chance and Chase had a shared hatred for each other. Chase mocked Chance in front of the other players, when Chance's deaf ear was turned. Chance was alerted to this by Jeff Sweeney, a catcher. Enraged, Chance told Chase: "Get out. You'll never wear that uniform again!" On that night of May 31, in one of the worst trades in Yankee history, Chase was sent to the Chicago White Sox for first baseman Babe Borton and shortstop Rollie Zeider. Zeider couldn't play because of bunions and Borton's play was unremarkable. Sportswriter Mark Roth, later a road secretary for the Yankees, wrote this immortal line: "Chance traded Chase for a bunion and an onion." Co-owner Bill Devery knew the Yankees were shortchanged with the deal. He and Chance almost engaged in a fistfight while happy White Sox owner Charles Comiskey declared in the June 5 Sporting News: "It means the pennant!" In New York, Chance was cursed by the fans and severely criticized by the newspapers. Despite their suspicions about Chase, they didn't want to see their star go. With his departure, the Yankees were bereft of big name players and a void also existed at first base, one that was not adequately filled until 1915, with the arrival of Wally Pipp. Chase's first appearance for the White Sox came in New York. On his first at bat, his old fans cheered him. He went two for four at the plate and was then booed as the game went on. Chase's most dubious moment with the Sox came on July 23, 1913. He committed four errors in one game and aroused more suspicion in the stands. Hal batted .286 for his new team but Comiskey's pennant prediction came up short as the White Sox finished the 1913 American League season in fifth place, with a 78-74 mark. Chase would find much controversy on Chicago's South Side. |
