OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Notes from an alternate reality-OOTP 2006 version

Lee · 07-02-2006, 09:32 PM

As it was:
“Prince” Hal is generally regarded as one of the vilest figures to ever darken the Diamond. A truly unconscionable soul, with considerable charm and a knack for persuasion, Chase seemed to have somewhere lost sight of the line that separates right from wrong, and lies from truth. The term “gray area” seems to have personified his entire existence to the point where even he was unable to differentiate where the line between good and evil truly fell. When he wasn’t throwing games, seducing the Wives of teammates or undermining his Managers, Chase occasionally displayed the skill that caused many to regard him as the greatest defensive first Baseman of his time. His propensity to live up to this moniker was probably best summed up by a quote from the Sporting news in 1913. “That he (Chase) can play first base as it never was and perhaps never will be played is a well known truth………….That he will is a different matter."

Debuting for the Highlanders in 1905 hitting .249 and following that up with a .323 Season in 1906. Already he was being lauded as the greatest Defensive 1B in the game. Bitter over his pay in 1907, Chase played lackadaisically and left the Club after the Season, going to the California League and playing under an assumed name at the beginning of 1908, despite the fact that Highlander management caved in to his salary demands. It is interesting to note as well that despite these antics being known, Chase was still presented with a Silver loving Cup by his teammates upon his return to the Team.

Chase had solid years in 1909 and 1910 hitting .283 and .290, while developing a penchant for making in errors at inopportune times. In fact Chase would lead the league in errors at first base seven times during his career. The amazing thing here is that the total would probably be even higher, but Chase was given the benefit of a doubt quite frequently. Due in part to his reputation as an excellent fielder and in part, to his inherent ability to make some routine plays look tough when it suited his needs, thereby gaining a pass from the scorer.

1910 was also the Season he was first openly accused by Manager George Stallings of throwing games. Chase beat these charges and undermined Stallings in the process, taking over as Manager. After the team worsened over the next 2 Seasons, Frank Chance came in and again accused Chase of throwing games. This time he was traded and after stints with the White Sox and Buffalo Federal League Team ended up with Cincinnati and straight arrow Manager Christy Matthewson. It wasn’t long before the suspicions popped up again due to Chase’s questionable play prompting his suspension for two Months in 1918. He eventually wound up in New York again, with the Giants, and even the taciturn John McGraw could not straighten him out, suspending Chase again before the 1919 Season ended.

Chase’s dealings had finally caught up with him and he was barred for life prior to 1920. His name also surfaced in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, and having connections in both Chicago and New York, he was rumored to have brought some of the key parties together, though he never directly contacted any of the White Sox players. He left with a career average of .291 with a high of .339 in 1916 with Cincinnati. He played up until his 50’s in the outlaw minors and was named the greatest 1B of all-time by both Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth. The latter’s choice is especially interesting, considering he played with Lou Gehrig and against the likes of Jimmy Foxx, Hank Greenberg and George Sisler.

As it is now:
Chase is drafted by the Reds with the 6th pick of the second round in 1904. His first two Seasons are lackluster as he hits just .129 and .220, with only his glove work keeping him in the lineup. He finally manages to hit .271 in 1907, then follows that up with Seasons of .291, .293 and .297 respectively. He also garners his first and only Gold Glove award in 1907, fulfilling the expectations many in the game feel he is capable of. Beginning in 1908 however, he begins to exhibit runs of sloppy play in the field, particularly in situations where the game is on the line, and the suspicions begin.

1911 is his finest Season in the Majors, as Prince Hal hits .343 and knocks in a career high 77 runs, yet the Reds, despite a lineup that includes Jimmy Sheckard, Ed Konetchy and Bris Lord finish 7th. Chase fielded brilliantly all year, probably secure that the Reds pitching would consistently fail and it did, yielding a 27 game loser in young Smokey Joe Wood, and a team ERA of 4.04. A new motif emerges in 1912, as Chase continues to dazzle in the field, yet folds at the plate in key situations with a greater frequency than Rube Waddell accumulates unpaid bar tabs. Dissatisfied with his attitude, the Reds ship him off to the Giants for SS Dolly Starks in November.

Once with the Giants, “Prince” Hal acquires a whole new circle of unsavory friends and his performance drops accordingly, especially when it matters the most, and he hits just .250 and 263 over the next two Seasons. In 1915 he is benched in early August hitting just .243, with a measly OBP of .256. He leaves the team after the Season and signs with Kansas City of the American Association. Rejuvenated and revered on his new Team, Chase hits .329, .303, .358, .316 and .319 between 1916 and 1920. Signed by the Boston Red Sox after the close of the 1920 AA Season, he is called on to Pinch hit and strikes out with the Winning runs on 2nd and 3rd in a late Season game. Fittingly, it will be his last Major League at Bat.

Epilog-Aces and Eights
Chase returned to his native California in early 1921 and after kicking around on some Semi-Pro and low Minor League teams for a few Years, moved to Vernon and opened a Bar. Soon a large number of the Vernon Tigers, a PCL franchise, frequented the establishment. Not long after Chase’s name again surfaced in connection with questionable loses suffered by the Tigers, though nothing is ever proven. In 1931 Chase is shot in his bar by a drunken business man, who accused the former Big Leaguer of fleecing him in an illegal back room Card game. Chase’s alternate career ends with a career average of .276, 14 career Homeruns, 210 steals, who knows how many Ducats picked up for a well booted Ball here and there and an alternate ending befitting, the Dark Prince of Baseball.

Side Note-Hello Dolly
Chase was traded for Dolly Stark in November 1912 after wearing out his welcome in Cincinnati. Stark, the 48th overall pick of the 1910 Draft, hit .355 in limited duty his rookie Season and followed it up with a second .355 Season in 1912. In what looked like a steal for the Reds, Stark hit .323 in 1913 and .378 in an injury plagued 1914 Season that included an All-Star game selection. From here it was all downhill as Dolly never did reach the heights of the Broadway play that shared his name. Over the last 7 Seasons of his career, Stark had over 100 AB just once (1916, only hitting .233 in the process) He lasted one year longer than Chase, retiring in 1921 at age 36 with a career average of .336, forged mainly on the strength of his first 4 Seasons. In real life Stark hit .238 over 378 career at bats with the Naps and Superbas (1909 – 1912)

07-02-2006, 09:32 PM	#11
Lee Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Scorched Desert Posts: 4,653	Hal Chase-March of the dark Prince As it was: “Prince” Hal is generally regarded as one of the vilest figures to ever darken the Diamond. A truly unconscionable soul, with considerable charm and a knack for persuasion, Chase seemed to have somewhere lost sight of the line that separates right from wrong, and lies from truth. The term “gray area” seems to have personified his entire existence to the point where even he was unable to differentiate where the line between good and evil truly fell. When he wasn’t throwing games, seducing the Wives of teammates or undermining his Managers, Chase occasionally displayed the skill that caused many to regard him as the greatest defensive first Baseman of his time. His propensity to live up to this moniker was probably best summed up by a quote from the Sporting news in 1913. “That he (Chase) can play first base as it never was and perhaps never will be played is a well known truth………….That he will is a different matter." Debuting for the Highlanders in 1905 hitting .249 and following that up with a .323 Season in 1906. Already he was being lauded as the greatest Defensive 1B in the game. Bitter over his pay in 1907, Chase played lackadaisically and left the Club after the Season, going to the California League and playing under an assumed name at the beginning of 1908, despite the fact that Highlander management caved in to his salary demands. It is interesting to note as well that despite these antics being known, Chase was still presented with a Silver loving Cup by his teammates upon his return to the Team. Chase had solid years in 1909 and 1910 hitting .283 and .290, while developing a penchant for making in errors at inopportune times. In fact Chase would lead the league in errors at first base seven times during his career. The amazing thing here is that the total would probably be even higher, but Chase was given the benefit of a doubt quite frequently. Due in part to his reputation as an excellent fielder and in part, to his inherent ability to make some routine plays look tough when it suited his needs, thereby gaining a pass from the scorer. 1910 was also the Season he was first openly accused by Manager George Stallings of throwing games. Chase beat these charges and undermined Stallings in the process, taking over as Manager. After the team worsened over the next 2 Seasons, Frank Chance came in and again accused Chase of throwing games. This time he was traded and after stints with the White Sox and Buffalo Federal League Team ended up with Cincinnati and straight arrow Manager Christy Matthewson. It wasn’t long before the suspicions popped up again due to Chase’s questionable play prompting his suspension for two Months in 1918. He eventually wound up in New York again, with the Giants, and even the taciturn John McGraw could not straighten him out, suspending Chase again before the 1919 Season ended. Chase’s dealings had finally caught up with him and he was barred for life prior to 1920. His name also surfaced in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, and having connections in both Chicago and New York, he was rumored to have brought some of the key parties together, though he never directly contacted any of the White Sox players. He left with a career average of .291 with a high of .339 in 1916 with Cincinnati. He played up until his 50’s in the outlaw minors and was named the greatest 1B of all-time by both Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth. The latter’s choice is especially interesting, considering he played with Lou Gehrig and against the likes of Jimmy Foxx, Hank Greenberg and George Sisler. As it is now: Chase is drafted by the Reds with the 6th pick of the second round in 1904. His first two Seasons are lackluster as he hits just .129 and .220, with only his glove work keeping him in the lineup. He finally manages to hit .271 in 1907, then follows that up with Seasons of .291, .293 and .297 respectively. He also garners his first and only Gold Glove award in 1907, fulfilling the expectations many in the game feel he is capable of. Beginning in 1908 however, he begins to exhibit runs of sloppy play in the field, particularly in situations where the game is on the line, and the suspicions begin. 1911 is his finest Season in the Majors, as Prince Hal hits .343 and knocks in a career high 77 runs, yet the Reds, despite a lineup that includes Jimmy Sheckard, Ed Konetchy and Bris Lord finish 7th. Chase fielded brilliantly all year, probably secure that the Reds pitching would consistently fail and it did, yielding a 27 game loser in young Smokey Joe Wood, and a team ERA of 4.04. A new motif emerges in 1912, as Chase continues to dazzle in the field, yet folds at the plate in key situations with a greater frequency than Rube Waddell accumulates unpaid bar tabs. Dissatisfied with his attitude, the Reds ship him off to the Giants for SS Dolly Starks in November. Once with the Giants, “Prince” Hal acquires a whole new circle of unsavory friends and his performance drops accordingly, especially when it matters the most, and he hits just .250 and 263 over the next two Seasons. In 1915 he is benched in early August hitting just .243, with a measly OBP of .256. He leaves the team after the Season and signs with Kansas City of the American Association. Rejuvenated and revered on his new Team, Chase hits .329, .303, .358, .316 and .319 between 1916 and 1920. Signed by the Boston Red Sox after the close of the 1920 AA Season, he is called on to Pinch hit and strikes out with the Winning runs on 2nd and 3rd in a late Season game. Fittingly, it will be his last Major League at Bat. Epilog-Aces and Eights Chase returned to his native California in early 1921 and after kicking around on some Semi-Pro and low Minor League teams for a few Years, moved to Vernon and opened a Bar. Soon a large number of the Vernon Tigers, a PCL franchise, frequented the establishment. Not long after Chase’s name again surfaced in connection with questionable loses suffered by the Tigers, though nothing is ever proven. In 1931 Chase is shot in his bar by a drunken business man, who accused the former Big Leaguer of fleecing him in an illegal back room Card game. Chase’s alternate career ends with a career average of .276, 14 career Homeruns, 210 steals, who knows how many Ducats picked up for a well booted Ball here and there and an alternate ending befitting, the Dark Prince of Baseball. Side Note-Hello Dolly Chase was traded for Dolly Stark in November 1912 after wearing out his welcome in Cincinnati. Stark, the 48th overall pick of the 1910 Draft, hit .355 in limited duty his rookie Season and followed it up with a second .355 Season in 1912. In what looked like a steal for the Reds, Stark hit .323 in 1913 and .378 in an injury plagued 1914 Season that included an All-Star game selection. From here it was all downhill as Dolly never did reach the heights of the Broadway play that shared his name. Over the last 7 Seasons of his career, Stark had over 100 AB just once (1916, only hitting .233 in the process) He lasted one year longer than Chase, retiring in 1921 at age 36 with a career average of .336, forged mainly on the strength of his first 4 Seasons. In real life Stark hit .238 over 378 career at bats with the Naps and Superbas (1909 – 1912)