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The Black Prince of Baseball: Hal Chase and the Mythology of Baseball
The shady side of a baseball legend is highlighted here, with details about Hal Chase's scandalous dealings with criminals and his tarnished image before the Black Sox scandal of 1919 highlighted the dirty side of the game and prompted reforms.
436 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 22, 2016
Throughout his career in not only the major leagues, but also in semipro baseball and “outlaw” leagues in California (including the early days of the Pacific Coast League), Hal Chase was known alternately as one of the best fielding infielders in the early 20th century or one of the most crooked players in the game as it was the era of fixed games and shady deals on and off the field.
This extensively researched and well-written biography by Donald Dewy and Nicholas Acocella is an exhaustive look at the man and his accomplishment – both positive and negative. While the common line is that Chase was banned from the game because of his gambling, that was not the case as Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis did not ban Chase as he did the eight players from the Chicago White Sox for throwing the 1919 World Series. It is true he never played again in the major leagues after 1920, but that was more because teams didn’t want to take a chance on a 36-year-old infielder with a history of injuries and a poor reputation.
That, in a nutshell, is the case the authors are trying to prove with their research – that Chase, while far from an innocent person in the era of gambling in baseball, was merely one part of the entire operation that was a black eye on the game. Chase was an excellent personification of the lifestyle of the well-to-do at that time. His off-the-field exploits that included more gambling, shadier deals and many women (despite being married twice) is also well documented in the book. By giving this portrait of Chase, the authors also are allowing the reader to not only learn about the man and the times, but to also draw his or her own conclusion on how much Chase had to do with the gambling plaguing the game.
The book is not a quick or easy read. The writing is very detailed, especially when the topic is one of several grand jury trials in which Chase had to testify or was the subject of others’ testimony. While they can be slow to read and digest, these passages, along with the details of Chase’s interactions with others such as White Sox owner Charles Comiskey make for very interesting reading. It was not easy to finish this book, but like the fictional story that seemed to never end until it did, this one had that same feeling. The reader will wonder just how much more dirt can be dug up on Chase, but once it ends, it results in a very satisfying book.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
This extensively researched and well-written biography by Donald Dewy and Nicholas Acocella is an exhaustive look at the man and his accomplishment – both positive and negative. While the common line is that Chase was banned from the game because of his gambling, that was not the case as Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis did not ban Chase as he did the eight players from the Chicago White Sox for throwing the 1919 World Series. It is true he never played again in the major leagues after 1920, but that was more because teams didn’t want to take a chance on a 36-year-old infielder with a history of injuries and a poor reputation.
That, in a nutshell, is the case the authors are trying to prove with their research – that Chase, while far from an innocent person in the era of gambling in baseball, was merely one part of the entire operation that was a black eye on the game. Chase was an excellent personification of the lifestyle of the well-to-do at that time. His off-the-field exploits that included more gambling, shadier deals and many women (despite being married twice) is also well documented in the book. By giving this portrait of Chase, the authors also are allowing the reader to not only learn about the man and the times, but to also draw his or her own conclusion on how much Chase had to do with the gambling plaguing the game.
The book is not a quick or easy read. The writing is very detailed, especially when the topic is one of several grand jury trials in which Chase had to testify or was the subject of others’ testimony. While they can be slow to read and digest, these passages, along with the details of Chase’s interactions with others such as White Sox owner Charles Comiskey make for very interesting reading. It was not easy to finish this book, but like the fictional story that seemed to never end until it did, this one had that same feeling. The reader will wonder just how much more dirt can be dug up on Chase, but once it ends, it results in a very satisfying book.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
January 28, 2019
Hal Chase is the type of historical figure that always gets me... not on the tip of anyone's tongue, but always mentioned by the actual people of the time. In some of my reading about 1911 and the dead ball era, and popped up that he was part of the gambling issues.. so I've been dying to find out what the deal was.
This is similar to the recent Ty Cobb book that came out, in that it's meant to be a 'redemption'... while I think the author was trying to point out that much of the bad stuff that 'The Prince' did was never proven.. there's an awful lot of it. It's amazing to think about just how many guys in that era got accused of (and caught) throwing/fixing games.. it's no wonder gambling has been such a third rail for so long.
The most interesting part of the book to me was not about Chase's major league career, but all his side-lights and after career wandering in the various semi-pro 'outlaw' leagues.. it seems like there was a baseball league in every corner of the country! Is there still, and I'm just missing it? Or when authors call things 'semi-pro' do they really mean it's the local YMCA league putting on airs?
That stuff is really fascinating.
The book itself gets a little bogged down in listing facts at times, and spends FAR too long at the beginning set up the politics of Tamany Hall for some reason, but overall has some great stuff on Chase and the baseball era in general (as long as you're not a fan of John McGraw, that is)
This is similar to the recent Ty Cobb book that came out, in that it's meant to be a 'redemption'... while I think the author was trying to point out that much of the bad stuff that 'The Prince' did was never proven.. there's an awful lot of it. It's amazing to think about just how many guys in that era got accused of (and caught) throwing/fixing games.. it's no wonder gambling has been such a third rail for so long.
The most interesting part of the book to me was not about Chase's major league career, but all his side-lights and after career wandering in the various semi-pro 'outlaw' leagues.. it seems like there was a baseball league in every corner of the country! Is there still, and I'm just missing it? Or when authors call things 'semi-pro' do they really mean it's the local YMCA league putting on airs?
That stuff is really fascinating.
The book itself gets a little bogged down in listing facts at times, and spends FAR too long at the beginning set up the politics of Tamany Hall for some reason, but overall has some great stuff on Chase and the baseball era in general (as long as you're not a fan of John McGraw, that is)
December 14, 2024
The authors' thesis that Chase, while acknowledging he did throw games, became a scapegoat for baseball's gambling scandals because the sport's hierarchy wanted to settle scores (most prominently that he beat the reserve clause in state court years before Curt Flood's challenge reached the Supreme Court) is backed up with overwhelming detail. A reader's memory recall will be put to the test remembering names, places, and timelines in Chase's career that are referenced repeatedly. A shorter book might have helped the narrative flow smoother. Because of this, I can't quite give this four or five stars.
Nevertheless, there is a lot here to enjoy, as Chase's career is fascinating. The book gives detailed nuances of how Chase manned first base. I loved the stories quoted from Hal's great-nephew of Chase's days near the end of his life. While Chase's involvement in the 1919 World Series fix is downplayed, the authors don't deny Chase had some sort of advance knowledge it was going down. All sides and accusations are laid out, and it's ultimately for the reader to decide.
A recommended book for baseball junkies.
Nevertheless, there is a lot here to enjoy, as Chase's career is fascinating. The book gives detailed nuances of how Chase manned first base. I loved the stories quoted from Hal's great-nephew of Chase's days near the end of his life. While Chase's involvement in the 1919 World Series fix is downplayed, the authors don't deny Chase had some sort of advance knowledge it was going down. All sides and accusations are laid out, and it's ultimately for the reader to decide.
A recommended book for baseball junkies.
December 30, 2020
Exhaustively researched. Was inspired to read this after listening to The Glory of Their Times. So many of those players talked about how great a player Chase was. This book provides the whole story about his incredible talent and the events that led to his downfall.
January 19, 2012
Interesting in spots. Doesn't add much or do anything to change the general perception of Hal Chase, though it does explain some motivation. Worth a look.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews