Chick Stahl
| Chick Stahl | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Outfielder | |||
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Born: January 10, 1873 Avilla, Indiana | |||
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Died: March 28, 1907 (aged 34) West Baden, Indiana | |||
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| MLB debut | |||
| April 19, 1897, for the Boston Beaneaters | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| October 6, 1906, for the Boston Americans | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .305 | ||
| Home runs | 36 | ||
| Runs batted in | 622 | ||
| Teams | |||
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As player As manager | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Charles Sylvester "Chick" Stahl (January 10, 1873 – March 28, 1907) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who was among the most feared and consistent hitters in his time. In his rookie 1897 season with the Boston Beaneaters, he batted .354, and over his first six seasons, he averaged over .300. In 1899, he had six hits in a game, and in the 1903 World Series, he hit three triples. By 1904, including his time with the Beaneaters and the Boston Americans, Stahl had been a key part of four pennant winning teams in seven seasons.
In 1906, he was named acting manager of the Americans after his friend Jimmy Collins was suspended[1] and decided to focus on his playing, and also due to the club's ownership opting for a change following a poor season by the club. He was officially named player-manager on December 4, 1906.
Death
Stahl committed suicide during the 1907 spring training in West Baden, Indiana, by drinking four ounces of carbolic acid. The reasoning behind Stahl's suicide has remained a mystery for over a century. He was known as a carefree, fun-loving man and had many love affairs going on throughout the country. He mentioned suicide days before in Louisville, Kentucky, prompting some teammates to take the carbolic acid from him. His final words to some of teammates were "Boys, I just couldn't help it. It drove me to it."[2] What "it" exactly was remains a mystery. A 1908 newspaper article claims that he was despondent because he had been tasked with discharging his friend Collins from the team.[3]
Cy Young reluctantly took over as manager to start the 1907 season, but he was replaced six games into the season. Collins was traded to Philadelphia in June 1907. Stahl's widow mysteriously died a year and a half later.[4] Just prior to her death, Julia Stahl was seen walking in a poor area of Boston while lavishly dressed. However, no bystanders seem to have seen the events of the last moments of her life.[3]
Chick Stahl was not related to Jake Stahl, despite contemporary baseball sources listing them as brothers.
Stahl gained popularity again in 2004 when he was mentioned along with teammates Bill Dinneen and Cy Young in the revival of the song "Tessie" by Dropkick Murphys.
See also
- List of baseball players who died during their careers
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
- List of Major League Baseball player-managers
- List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
References
- ↑ "Chick Stahl, Talent and Tragedy"
- ↑ ""Chick" Stahl A Suicide; Late Boston Manager Takes Carbolic Acid At West Baden". The New York Times. March 29, 1907. p. 11.
- 1 2 "Widow of "Chick" Stahl Dies a Mysterious Death in Boston". The Pittsburg Press. 16 November 1908. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ↑ Bill Ferber (2007) A Game of Baseball: The Orioles, The Beaneaters and The Battle For The 1897 Pennant, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 978-0-8032-1136-0, pg. 251
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- The Deadball Era