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American baseball player and manager (1877–1924)

Frank Leroy Chance (September 9, 1877 – September 15, 1924) was an American professional baseball player. A first baseman, Chance played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees from 1898 through 1914. He also served as manager of the Cubs, Yankees, and Boston Red Sox. Discovered by the Cubs as he played semi professional baseball while attending college, Chance debuted with the Cubs in 1898, serving as a part time player. In 1903, Chance became the Cubs' regular first baseman, and in 1905, he succeeded Frank Selee as the team's manager. Chance led the Cubs to 100 wins in 1906, 1907, 1909, and 1910, becoming the first manager to compile four 100 win seasons (only eight other managers have accomplished the feat in MLB history), with no other manager other than Chance leading a team to 100 wins four times in five seasons. They would win four National League championships in that span and won the World Series in 1907 and 1908. With Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers, Chance formed a strong double play combination, which was immortalized as "Tinker to Evers to Chance" in "Baseball's Sad Lexicon". Let go by the Cubs after the 1912 season, Chance signed with the Yankees, serving as a player–manager for two seasons. He joined the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League as a player–manager, returning to MLB in 1923 as manager of the Red Sox. Chance was named the manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1924, but never took control of the team as he became ill. He died later that year. Noted for his leadership abilities, Chance earned the nickname "Peerless Leader." He is the all time leader in managerial winning percentage in Cubs history. Chance was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1946 balloting by the Veterans Committee, along with Tinker and Evers. He was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame's first class, in 1959.

Chance was born in Salida, California, in Stanislaus County, on September 9, 1877. His family was of English and Scottish descent. and attended Fresno High School. receiving $1,200 a year ($ in current dollar terms). Chance was scouted by other teams, but chose the Cubs as Tim Donohue was the only catcher ahead of him on the Cubs' depth chart. On May 30, 1904, he was hit by a pitch five times in a double header. Selee fell ill in 1905, and Chance was selected to succeed him as manager. In 1906, Chance batted .319 and led the NL in runs scored (103) and stolen bases (57). His batting average was fifth best in the league, while his .419 on base percentage finished in third, and his .430 slugging percentage placed him in fifth. When Chance stole home from second base in a tie game against the Cincinnati Reds, team owner Charles W. Murphy granted him a ten percent ownership stake in the club to show his gratitude. Chance later sold his share of the franchise for approximately $150,000. The Chicago White Sox of the American League defeated the Cubs in the 1906 World Series. Chance batted .293 during the 1907 season, finishing sixth in the NL, while his .395 on base percentage was third best. He tied Ed Abbaticchio for seventh with 35 stolen bases. The Cubs returned to the World Series in 1907. Though Chance only batted .154 in the 1907 World Series, the Cubs defeated the Tigers in four games. Chance began to decline during the 1908 season. Though he finished third in the NL with 27 doubles, he did not finish among the ten best in the categories of batting average, on base percentage, or stolen bases in 1908, 1909, or 1910. Chance batted .421 in the 1908 World Series, as the Cubs again defeated the Tigers, this time in five games. By 1910, Chance began to groom Fred Luderus as his successor at first base. He rebuilt the team in 1911 after Evers's nervous breakdown and the departure of Harry Steinfeldt, replacing them with Heinie Zimmerman and Jim Doyle respectively. The Cubs returned to the World Series in 1910, against the Philadelphia Athletics. Chance batted .353 in the 1910 World Series, though the Athletics won the series in five games. Chance was ejected in game three, becoming the first player ever ejected from a World Series game. Chance continued to transition himself out of the Cubs' lineup in 1911, as he played in only 31 games. The Cubs released Chance while he was hospitalized, He also played first base for the Yankees and served as field captain, though he played in no more than 12 games in a season. In 1914, Chance named Roger Peckinpaugh the Yankees' new captain. After struggling during the 1914 season, Chance criticized the talent brought to him by Yankees scout Arthur Irwin. After repeatedly seeking to have Irwin fired, he offered his resignation from the team late in the season on the condition that he still was to receive his 1915 salary. After this was accepted by team owner Frank J. Farrell, Chance resigned with three weeks remaining in the season, and Peckinpaugh served as player–manager for the remainder of the season.

Chance returned to his native California, and was named manager of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League in 1916. Chance won the league championship in 1916. He re signed with the Angels for the 1917 season and was also 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. He resigned during the 1917 season due to his declining health. He then served as president of the California Winter League, continuing to instill discipline in players: he fined Ty Cobb for "abusing an umpire". Chance managed the Boston Red Sox in 1923. The Red Sox did not retain Chance after the season. But some sources noted that Chance had only agreed to a one year contract and was not necessarily interested in returning to the Red Sox, a team described by one sportswriter as no better than a minor league club. After his relationship with the Red Sox was severed, he was named the Chicago White Sox manager for the 1924 season but developed severe influenza before he could take the helm. He soon developed other respiratory complications, including asthma. He returned to Chicago briefly in April, but was unable to take charge of the team. Chance returned to Los Angeles where he underwent emergency surgery in April 1924. Evers was named the White Sox acting manager for the 1924 season.

Chance was part of the trio of infielders remembered for their double play ability, with Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers. The trio were immortalized as "Tinker to Evers to Chance", also known as "Baseball's Sad Lexicon", written by the 28 year old New York Evening Mail newspaper columnist Franklin Pierce Adams in July 1910. Chance helped Evers develop an underhanded throw. Chance took over as Chicago's manager in 1905. His playing time decreased towards the end of the decade. The Cubs won the NL pennant in 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1910, and won the World Series in 1907 and 1908—the team's last World Series titles before 2016. He became the highest paid player in baseball, earning as much as $25,000 ($ in current dollar terms) in 1910. Noted for his leadership abilities, Chance earned the nickname "Peerless Leader." John McGraw, a contemporary and rival of Chance, considered Chance one of the greatest players he ever saw. Chance's lifetime record as a manager was 946–648 (0.593 winning percentage); his .664 winning percentage as manager of the Cubs is the highest in franchise history. He preached moderation in socializing, including avoiding alcohol, to his players. Chance fined his players for shaking hands with members of the opposing team and forced Solly Hofman to delay his wedding until after the baseball season, lest marriage impair his abilities on the playing field. though he reinstated Tinker two days later.

Team Year Regular season PostseasonGamesWonLostWin %Finish Won Lost Win % ResultCHC 8855330.625 3rd in NL – – – –CHC 152116360.763 1st in NL 2 4 .333 Lost World Series (CWS)CHC 152107450.704 1st in NL 4 0 1.000 Won World Series (DET)CHC 15499550.643 1st in NL 4 1 .800 Won World Series (DET)CHC 153104490.680 2nd in NL – – – –CHC 154104500.675 1st in NL 1 4 .200 Lost World Series (PHA)CHC 15492620.597 2nd in NL – – – –CHC 15091590.607 3rd in NL – – – –CHC total 1157 768 389 0.664 11 9 .550 NYY 15157940.377 7th in AL – – – –NYY 13460740.448 resigned – – – –NYY total 285 117 168 0.411 0 0 – BOS 15261910.000 8th in AL – – – –BOS total 152 61 91 0.401 0 0 – Total 1594 946 648 0.593 11 9 .550

During the baseball offseasons, Chance worked as a prizefighter. James J. Corbett and John L. Sullivan, among the best fighters of the era, both considered Chance "the greatest amateur brawler of all time." Chance married Edythe Pancake on October 3, 1903. Edythe became an advocate for baseball, imploring women to attend baseball games. Chance died at age 47. Some sources simply said that he died after a "long illness", while others attributed it to heart disease brought on by severe spasms of bronchial asthma. He was survived by his wife, mother, sister, and three brothers. Chance was interred in the Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles. His death was greatly mourned, and his funeral received widespread publicity in Los Angeles and Chicago. Among his pallbearers were Powers and race car driver Barney Oldfield. His estate was valued at $170,000 ($2.35 million today).

After falling short of induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame by seven votes in 1945, Chance was elected to the Hall of Fame in the 1946 balloting by the Veterans Committee. Tinker and Evers were elected the same year. Chance was also elected to the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame's first class, in 1959. Retired players participated in an exhibition game in Chance's honor in 1937. The City of Hope National Medical Center created the Frank L. Chance Research Fellowship Foundation in his memory.