Baseball historian Scott Longert has penned a new biography titled “Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman.” The book details the life of Chapman, a Major League Baseball player tragically killed by a pitched ball in 1920, and his deep ties to Owensboro through his uncle, J.R. Johnson, a long-time resident of the city.
Chapman, who was a standout shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, visited Owensboro every winter to stay with his uncle until his untimely death, according to Longert. His visits and activities were regularly covered by the local newspaper at the time, which highlighted his participation in the winter indoor baseball league and his personal milestones, including his engagement to Kathleen Daly, daughter of the president of East Ohio Gas Company.
“I had known about Ray Chapman for many years, but aside from his being killed by a pitched ball, there was little else I was familiar with,” Longert said. “A few years ago, I began to do research and discovered he had a remarkable life in and outside of baseball.”
Longert believes Chapman’s connection to Owensboro played a significant role in shaping both his personal life and his baseball career.
“Ray was especially close to his uncle and aunt. I am sure he consulted them on decisions regarding his personal life and his baseball career,” Longert said. “From the time he was a small boy to adulthood, he visited them every summer and winter when he played professional baseball.”
During one of his stays in Owensboro, Chapman participated in the city’s indoor baseball league, where he played with a “mush ball” and tiny bats while wearing padding to protect against the hard gymnasium floors, according to Longert. The games drew large crowds, eager to see the Major Leaguer in action.
According to Longert, in 1918, the local newspaper featured a story proclaiming Chapman as the best shortstop in all of Major League Baseball, emphasizing that the opinion was based on his talent, not hometown bias. Longert noted that this coverage shows how deeply connected Chapman was to Owensboro, with his accomplishments celebrated far beyond the ballpark.
Chapman’s death sent shockwaves through the baseball community, leading to calls for action against Carl Mays, the pitcher responsible for the fatal throw.
“Players, managers, and fans all bore Ray’s death as a personal loss. His funeral in Cleveland had over 5,000 people in attendance,” Longert said. “The Indians went into a deep slump and fell out of first place, but eventually recovered and won the pennant. The team wore black armbands the rest of the season.”
Longert details the actions following Chapman’s death in the book.
“Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman” is Longert’s seventh book. He spent 2 years researching and writing, including interviewing several of Chapman’s relatives to gather personal stories and insights into his life.
“I tried to find all the noteworthy parts of Ray’s life from his early days up until his death,” Longert said. “Fortunately, I located several relatives who shared some family anecdotes. I did several rewrites before I turned in the manuscript to my publisher.”
The biography is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and independent bookstores. It can also be ordered directly from the publisher, Ohio University Press in Athens, Ohio.
Longert will also be at the Daviess County Public Library on January 11 for a presentation and book signing.
