Anybody read the Hal Chase biography?

[MATTSCHMIDT]

Another guy mentioned Hal Chase in the thread on Clemente and I was just curious if anyone read the Chase bio that came out last year called The Black Prince Of Baseball. A very thorough look at Chase's life that tries to dispel some of the myths surrounding his legacy. I thought it was a pretty interesting read until his major league career ends and then the book drags quite a bit. The sections on his alleged involvement in the Black Sox scandal and his time in the Mexican leagues are pretty boring reading.

Bill James has a pretty good rant about Chase in his last Abstract. He diminishes Chase's accomplishments by saying that Chase never scored or drove in 90 runs in a season. I think he mentions these numbers to frame the level of Chase's selfishness and propensity for throwing games.

What James doesn't say is that hardly anybody was scoring or driving in 90 runs in a season. Chase finished in the top 10 in runs scored 3 times and in the top 10 in RBI 8 times (and four times in the top 5).

[Denorien]

Had Hal been a better citizen, I think he's a borderline HoFer.

Though not as strong a candidate as Ross Barnes, Harry Stovey, or Tony Mullane.

[Runnin Rebel]

Sure, list him as a "borderline HOfer", but uphold the suspension of Pete Rose who is banned for life for questionable gambling practices. I think it speaks volumes that Rose received 10 write-in votes this year. A mild protest but a small show of support for the All-Time Hits Leader.

[PJ Axelsson]

I like Pete in SOM... :lol:

[Denorien]

Pete was always a favorite of mine, and I DON'T think Hal should be in the Hall. Just that he played well enough to be in the Hall if he was a better citizen.

By the way, imo, Pete gets in the Hall the day after he croaks. Not a moment sooner.

If you want a mission, try to figure out why Ross Barnes, Harry Stovey, and Tony Mullane are NOT in the HoF. Keep in mind that Mullane threw with both hands on occasion (the game's only meaningful switch pitcher).