Ken Chase

Kendall Fay Chase
(Lefty)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
• High School Treadwell High School
• Debut April 23, 1936
• Final Game October 1, 1943
• Born October 6, 1913 in Oneonta, NY USA
• Died January 16, 1985 in Oneonta, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

New York native Ken Chase spent nine seasons in professional baseball from 1935 to 1943.

The left-hander started his pro career with a 11-11 record in 32 outings for the Panama City Pilots of the Class D Georgia-Florida League in 1935, leading the league with 220 strikeouts. Ken made his big league debut with the Washington Senators on April 23, 1936, appearing in the one game and giving up three earned runs. He spent the rest of the season with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association with a 3-10 record in 47 games. Ken was with Chattanooga again in 1937, going 5-12 with a 3.66 ERA in 20 games, and finished the year for the Senators with a 4-3 record and a 4.13 ERA in 14 games.

He remained with the Washington team for several years, accumulating a 44-67 record. He had some big moments in 1939; although he lost a no-hitter in the 9th inning, when Skeeter Webb garnered the first of two hits, Chase held on to beat Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians on July 28‚ 2-0. On April 29, Chase gave up hit number 2,721 of Yankee captain Lou Gehrig's career. Gehrig never recorded another as he willingly pulled himself out of the lineup the next day and never played another game. His most productive season came in 1940, when he set career numbers with 15 wins, a 3.23 ERA, and 129 strikeouts. Unfortunately, he struggled with poor control, allowing 143 walks and 12 wild pitches to lead the American League.

Along with Johnny Welaj, Ken was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for Stan Spence and Jack Wilson on December 13, 1941. Chase promptly had his best single season record at 5-1 with the Red Sox in 1942 but blew it all apart in 1943 with an 0-4 start as part of a 4-12 season split with the New York Giants. In his big league career, Ken was 53-84 with a 4.27 ERA in 188 games, including 160 starts and 62 complete games, with 4 shutouts while pitching 1,165 innings.

Following his retirement, Chase remained active to run his family dairy farm near Cooperstown, NY. He died in his hometown of Oneonta, NY on January 16, 1985, at the age of 71.

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1940)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 3 (1939-1941)

Related Sites

• Ken Chase at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page