Early Life
Chance was born in Salida, California, in Stanislaus County, on September 9, 1876. His family was of English and Scottish descent. He was raised in Fresno, California, and attended Fresno High School. His father was president of the first national bank in Fresno.
Chance enrolled at the University of California, where he pursued a degree in dentistry. He transferred to Washington College in Irvington, California. While playing baseball for the school's baseball team, he received an offer to play semi-professional baseball for a team in Sullivan, Illinois, for $40 a month ($1,117 in current dollar terms), which he accepted.
Returning to college the next year, Chance led his team to a third place finish in an amateur tournament of 50 teams. Bill Lange of the Chicago Cubs discovered Chance and convinced the Cubs to sign him as a backup catcher and outfielder, receiving $1,200 a year ($33,523 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.
Read more about this topic: Frank Chance
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