Earl "Flat"
Chase was born in 1910 in Buxton, Ontario but moved to
Windsor when quite young. He lived across the street from
a ball park and all his spare hours were spent there,
participating and learning the skills of the game at which
he became very proficient. From the 1920's to the 1950's,
inspired by Babe Ruth, baseball was king in North America
as every city and town had a men's baseball league and
every city and town played other communities. Chatham was
no exception. "Flat" was a very versatile player
as he could catch, pitch, and play all infield positions.
Although he led many leagues in batting in his career, he
became renowned as a long homerun hitter as he held
records for the longest balls hit in Sarnia, Strathroy,
Aylmer, Welland, Milton, and Chatham.
- 1934
- Moved to Chatham to play for the Colored
All-Stars. He began to build a legend that
quickly spread throughout baseball circles in
Ontario and beyond; he led city league in hitting
with a .525 average; his pitching and hitting led
team to O. B. A. Intermediate "B"
Championship. In final series against Penetang,
was winning pitcher in final 2 games against Phil
Marchildon who went on to star for the Philadelphia
Athletics.
- 1935
- Member of the 1935 Colored All-Star team that won
the OBA Intermediate "B" Championship
- 1939
- Starred for London Majors, won the Amateur
World's Baseball Championship by beating all teams
they faced from the Baseball Congress of
America
- 1945
- Member of Chatham Arcades; won the OBA
Intermediate Championship
- 1947
- Member of Chatham Shermans; won the OBA
Intermediate "A" Championship. He led city
league in hitting with a .471 average
- 1949
- Member of Chatham Hadleys; won the OBA
Intermediate "A" Championship
- 1954
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