Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 311, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1919 — FRANK CHANCE ONCE DARED JIM CORBETT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FRANK CHANCE ONCE DARED JIM CORBETT

, Accused Champion of “Framing” With Kid McCoy. Former Baseball Star Started Out With Intention of Giving Pugilist a Thrashing—Bartender Interfered at the Right Time. The best fighters are not in the ring. Many athletes in’lines far removed from the wake of the resin, eould battle with ntorg. effect than some of the boys who earn their money meeting the lads in their class in the glove game. . Of all athletes in recent years who might be depended upon to give a good account of themselves- in any sort -of engagement, Frank Chance, famed as the manager of the Chicago Cubs a few'-years ago, was a real champion. He was always in first-class condition and was as game as a mountain trout. Chance was going to whip former Champion Corbett in the latter’s place of business In New York on one occasion, and only the rare p/esgnee of mind on the part of a bartender prevented what might have been a nasty encounter. Chance, with some friends, had witnessed the Corbett-McCoy fight In Madison Square garden in August, li)00. That was the bout in which both fighters were accused of having

“framed.” Chance paid $25 for a box seat at the show, and when it was over th 6 Cub star was in h white rage. He told his friends he was going to Corbett’s case at Twenty-third and Broadway the next day to tell the former champion what he thought of his integrity, and, if necessffry, he would take a smash at the boxer. He called on Corbett as he promised, Corbett met Frank with a his f|ce. Chance unloaded his criticism and decorated it with a few compliments for Corbett that swept the latter off his feet. Chance«4tfred Corbett to raise his hands, but before Corbett oould d.o so the bartender told Corbett he was wanted on the phone. Some friends hustled Chance out of the place. Corbett was taken in tow in another room and the trouble blew over. The matter was fixed up a few years later, and now Corbett and Chance are good friends, although Chance has never backed down from his stand that the fight was a rank fake. There are not many men outside of the fight game who would have trouble with Corbett at that time.

Frank Chance.