New biography sheds light on the tragic death of MLB player Ray Chapman and his ties to Owensboro

Baseball historian Scott Longert has written a new biography called “Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman.” The book details the life of Chapman, a Major League Baseball player who was tragically killed by a thrown ball in 1920, and his close connection to Owensboro through his uncle JR Johnson, a long-time resident of the city.

According to Longert, Chapman, who was a standout shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, visited Owensboro every winter to stay with his uncle until his untimely death. His visits and activities were regularly reported on in 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 the East Ohio Gas Company.

“I had known about Ray Chapman for many years, but aside from the fact that he was killed by a thrown ball, I knew little else,” Longert said. “A few years ago I started researching and discovered he had a remarkable life in and out of baseball.”

Longert believes Chapman’s connection to Owensboro played a significant role in shaping his personal life and baseball career.

“Ray was particularly close to his uncle and aunt. “I’m sure he consulted her when making decisions about his personal life and his baseball career,” Longert said. “From his childhood through adulthood, he visited her 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, according to Longert, he played with a “mushball” and tiny bats while wearing pads to protect him from the hard gym floors. The games attracted large crowds eager to see the major league player in action.

According to Longert, in 1918 the local newspaper published an article declaring Chapman the best shortstop in all of Major League Baseball, emphasizing that the opinion was based on his talent and not hometown bias. Longert noted that this coverage shows how closely connected Chapman is to Owensboro and that his accomplishments are celebrated far beyond the stadium.

Chapman’s death shocked the baseball community and led to calls for action against Carl Mays, the pitcher responsible for the fatal throw.

“Players, managers and fans all took Ray’s death as a personal loss. His funeral in Cleveland was attended by over 5,000 people,” Longert said. “The Indians fell into a deep slump and fell out of first place, but eventually recovered and won the pennant. The team wore black armbands for the rest of the season.”

In the book, Longert describes the actions following Chapman’s death.

Love and Loss: The Short Life of Ray Chapman is Longert’s seventh book. He spent two years researching and writing, including interviewing several of Chapman’s relatives, to collect personal stories and insights into his life.

“I tried to find all the notable parts of Ray’s life from his early days to his death,” Longert said. “Fortunately, I tracked down several relatives who shared some family anecdotes. I rewrote the manuscript several times before giving it to my publisher.”

The biography is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and independent bookstores. It can also be ordered directly from publisher Ohio University Press in Athens, Ohio.