Chick Stahl
Charles Sylvester "Chick" Stahl (January 10 1873 - March 28 1907) was a 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 Pilgrims and the Beaneaters, Stahl had been a key part of four pennant winning teams in seven seasons.
Stahl committed suicide in spring training in 1907 in West Baden, Indiana, by drinking four ounces of carbolic acid, in which he was given to treat an injury. 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, Ky., prompting some teammates to take the carbolic acid from him. He was in his usual good spirits the morning of his suicide, even stating to the hotel manager that "it's a fine day for baseball." He uttered the words "I couldn't help it boys; it drove me to it" before losing consciousness and passing away. What "it" exactly was remains a mystery.
In 1906, he was named manager of the Boston Red Sox after his friend Jimmy Collins decided to focus on his playing, and with the club's management opting for a change following some mediocre season by the Boston club. Stahl committed suicide during the 1907 spring training in West Baden, Indiana by drinking four ounces of carbolic acid. His suicide note read "Boys, I just couldn't help it. It drove me to it."[1] Cy Young reluctantly took over as manager to start the 1907 season, but he was replaced six games into the season. Stahl's widow mysteriously died one year later. [2]
Chick Stahl was not related to Jake Stahl, despite contemporary baseball sources listing them as brothers.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference
- The Deadball Era
References
- ^ ""Chick" Stahl A Suicide; Late Boston Manager Takes Carbolic Acid At West Baden". The New York Times. March 29, 1907. p. 11.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Bill Ferber (2007) A Game of Baseball: The Orioles, The Beaneaters and The Battle For The 1897 Pennant, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 9780803211360, pg. 251
- 1873 births
- 1907 deaths
- Major League Baseball players from Indiana
- Major League Baseball center fielders
- Boston Beaneaters players
- Boston Americans players
- Boston Red Sox managers
- Baseball player-managers
- Suicides by poison
- Baseball players who committed suicide
- Deaths among active Major League Baseball players
- Suicides in Indiana