Chick Stahl

Chick Stahl
Outfielder
Born: January 10, 1873(1873-01-10) 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
Career statistics
Batting average	.305
Home runs	36
RBI	622
Teams
As Player Boston Beaneaters (1897-1900) Boston Americans (1901-1906) As Manager Boston Americans (1906)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (1903)

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. 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, Ky., 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. 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.^[3]

Chick Stahl was not related to Jake Stahl, despite contemporary baseball sources listing them as brothers.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
• List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
• List of Major League Baseball triples champions

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. ^ 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

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• The Deadball Era

Preceded by Jimmy Collins

Boston Red Sox Manager 1906

Succeeded by Cy Young

Persondata
Name	Stahl, Chick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 10, 1873
Place of birth	Avilla, Indiana
Date of death	March 28, 1907
Place of death	West Baden, Indiana