Chick Stahl

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. Stahl was an active major-league player when he committed suicide during spring training before the 1907 season.

Chick Stahl
Outfielder
Born: (1873-01-10)January 10, 1873
Avilla, Indiana
Died: March 28, 1907(1907-03-28) (aged 34)
West Baden, Indiana
Batted: Left Threw: Left
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 runs36
Runs batted in622
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Career

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.

In 1,304 games played, Stahl compiled a .305 batting average (1546-5069) with 858 runs scored, 219 doubles, 118 triples, 36 home runs, 622 RBI, 189 stolen bases, 470 walks, an on-base percentage of .369 and slugging percentage of .416 in 10 major-league seasons. In the 1903 World Series, he hit .303 (10-33), scoring 6 runs and recording 3 RBI, helping the Boston Americans win the first modern World Series.

Death

In March 1907, Stahl committed suicide during 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 had 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 was mentioned along with teammates Bill Dinneen and Cy Young in the revival of the song "Tessie" (2004) by Dropkick Murphys.

See also

References
  1. "Chick Stahl, Talent and Tragedy"
  2. ""Chick" Stahl A Suicide; Late Boston Manager Takes Carbolic Acid At West Baden". The New York Times. March 29, 1907. p. 11.
  3. "Widow of "Chick" Stahl Dies a Mysterious Death in Boston". The Pittsburg Press. 16 November 1908. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  4. 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
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