Flack's .974 lifetime fielding average was the best ever for a right fielder when
he retired, and was only a point behind the record for all outfielders. He made it
to the majors with the Chicago Whales of the
Federal League in 1914-15, stealing
37 bases each year. In 1915, when the Whales were league champions, that total ranked
fourth in the league, and Flack's career-high .314 was fifth-best. The Cubs bought
out the Whales after the FL folded. Flack spent the next six seasons as the Cubs'
regular leadoff hitter, scoring 85 runs in 1920 for his personal NL high. He twice
led NL outfielders in fielding, with very high averages for the time: .991 (1916)
and .989 (1921).
When the Cubs lost the 1918 World Series, it was Flack's error
in the third inning of the final game that let in the Red Sox' only two runs. Contrary
to his record as listed in Macmillan's Baseball Encyclopedia, he did not have an RBI in the Series.
(SFS)
Max Flack
