Earl Chase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earl Chase
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Chase, circa 1934
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| Born | August 16, 1910 North Buxton, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | May 5, 1954 (aged 43) Elmstead, Ontario, Canada
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| Known for | Baseball player with the Chatham Coloured All-Stars |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Ethel Black |
| Children | 4 |
Earl "Flat" Chase (born August 16, 1910 – died May 5, 1954) was a talented Canadian baseball player. He was known as a "two-way player" because he was great at both hitting the ball very hard (a power hitter) and throwing pitches (a pitcher). He played for the famous Chatham Coloured All-Stars. This team was the first Black baseball team to win a championship title from the Ontario Baseball Amateur Association (OBAA).
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Earl "Flat" Chase
Earl Chase was an amazing baseball player from Canada. He was known for his powerful hits and his fast pitches. His nickname "Flat" came from him having flat feet.
Early Life and Baseball
Earl Chase was born in North Buxton, Ontario. He had eight brothers and sisters. In the 1920s, he moved to Windsor, Ontario. His home was right across from a baseball park, where he spent most of his free time playing.
By the time he was 15, Earl was already playing on baseball teams. He played for church teams, like the Second Baptist Church, and even for the Detroit Church League Champs. He became very well known in the community for his skills. People said he was a "very versatile player." This means he could catch, pitch, and play all the positions in the infield.
Playing for the All-Stars
In 1934, Earl Chase joined the Chatham Coloured All-Stars. This team faced a lot of unfair treatment because of their race. They experienced discrimination both on and off the field.
Despite these challenges, the All-Stars were a strong team. In the final game of the 1934 championship, Earl Chase was the pitcher. He played against Phil Marchildon from the Penetanguishene team and helped his team win the title.
Amazing Skills
Many people believed that Earl Chase, like his teammate Wilfred "Boomer" Harding, could have played in the major leagues. However, because of the color of his skin, he was not allowed to play in those leagues in the 1930s. His teammates often said that "Chase should have been a big league pitcher."
Earl's pitches were incredibly fast, reaching speeds of 80 to 100 miles per hour. He also set many records for hitting the ball the farthest in different baseball parks. These parks included those in Sarnia, Strathroy, Aylmer, Welland, Milton, and Chatham.
Once, while playing in the Chatham City League, he had an amazing .700 batting average. This means he got a hit 7 out of every 10 times he tried. His teammate, Boomer Harding, told a story about a game in Welland. He said Earl hit the ball so hard that it not only went over the right field fence, but it also cleared a building behind the fence. The ball was said to have landed in downtown Welland!
Later Career and Legacy
Earl Chase played for many other baseball teams throughout his career. These included the London Majors, Patterson Cars, Windsor City League Champions, Windsor Stars, Chatham Shermans, Chatham Hadleys, and Arcades. He also played with the Taylor AC Panthers, where many other former All-Stars and their children later played. In 1944, while playing for the London Majors, he helped them win the Canadian Sandlot Congress championship.
Outside of baseball, Earl Chase worked in the sanitation department in Chatham. He married Julia Ethel Black in 1934, and they had four children: Earl Jr., Horace, Marilyn, and Gladys. Both of his sons, Earl Jr. and Horace, followed in their father's footsteps and played baseball with the Panthers in the 1950s.
Earl Chase passed away in May 1954, at the age of 43. He was found in a cabin in Elmstead, Ontario, and his death was determined to be an accident.
In 2001, Earl Chase was honored for his incredible contributions to baseball. He was inducted into the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame.
