Saxis native Larry A. Chance inducted into Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame

By Patsy Goard

Larry A. Chance of Saxis was inducted into the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 18, during a ceremony held at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds.

In an interview following the induction, Chance reflected on the journey to this milestone. He shared that his son, Corey, and wife, Denise, had nominated him in 2024, though he was not elected that year. Earlier this spring, Corey invited him over to his house. When his wife began recording on her phone, Chance sensed something was up. Corey then extended his hand and said, “Congratulations, Dad. You are in the Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame.”

Chance described feeling a mix of emotions—shocked, humbled, and overwhelmed—particularly as he stood alongside fellow inductees who had played in the minor leagues. “It’s an honor,” he said.

A lifelong contributor to baseball on the Shore, Chance has coached and mentored countless young athletes over the years. When asked who he credits for his own success, he first pointed to his son Corey, who has worked beside him in training camps. But he said the day belonged to two others—his older brothers, Eddie and the late Tommy Chance—who helped shape his love for the game from an early age.

Eddie was present at Sunday’s ceremony, while Tommy, who passed away five years ago, was honored in memory.

When jokingly asked whether he’d consider filling a recent coaching vacancy with the struggling Baltimore Orioles, Chance laughed and said he wasn’t qualified. Judging by the loud applause and cheers from the crowd when his name was announced, many would disagree.

Whether or not he takes a major league role, Larry Chance continues to be a major force in the lives of young athletes on the Eastern Shore—and a source of pride for the community he’s served so well.