Frank Leroy Chance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Chance

Frank Leroy Chance (September 9, 1876 – September 15, 1924) was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Performing the roles of first baseman and manager, Chance led the Chicago Cubs to four National League championships in the span of five years (1906–1910) and earned the nickname "The Peerless Leader".

Chance was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

Career

Born in Fresno, California, Chance began his career in 1898 with the Chicago Cubs and played irregularly until 1902. In 1903 he asserted himself with a .327 batting average, 67 stolen bases and 81 RBI in 441 at-bats. Chance was the first player ever ejected from a World Series game, doing so in Game 3 of the 1910 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics.

He was part of the trio of infielders remembered for their double-play ability in "Tinker to Evers to Chance", also known as Baseball's Sad Lexicon," written by the twenty-eight-year old New York Evening Mail newspaper columnist Franklin Pierce Adams in July 1910,.

Chance took over as Chicago's manager in 1905, taking the helm of a very good team. Although his playing time decreased towards the end of the decade, as a manager he proved inspirational. The Cubs won the NL pennant in 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1910, and won the World Series in 1907 and 1908. He left the Cubs after the 1912 season to manage the New York Yankees, which he did for two seasons. He returned to his native California, and was manager of the Los Angeles Angels (Pacific Coast League) team in 1916-17, winning the league championship in 1916. He also was granted a part ownership in the Angels from the majority owner, John F. Powers. Powers and Chance remained good friends for the rest of his life. After a brief retirement, he returned to coach the Boston Red Sox in 1923 before retiring for good. His lifetime record as a manager was 946-648.

Later life

He died at age 48, and was interred in the Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. His death was greatly mourned, and his funeral received widespread publicity in Los Angeles and Chicago. Among his pallbearers were Barney Oldfield, noted race car driver and close friend, and good friend John Powers.