[Joy in Mudville]

With the Joy in Mudville League at the All-Star Break, the West division races appear to be over.

In the American League West, the Texas Rangers (67-31) are 16 games in front of two-time division-winner Oakland. In the National League West, the Houston Astros (70-30) hold an 18.5-game cushion on the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers.

Meanwhile, in the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles (74-24) have opened a 9.5-game lead over the New York Yankees. In the NL East, the Pittsburgh Pirates (59-39) are 8.5 games better than their instate rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Diamond JIM Notes: American League June awards were given to Johnny Grubb (Rookie of the Month), Burt Hooton (Pitcher of the Month) and Bobby Murcer (Player of the Month) . . . NL honors went to Milt May (Rookie of the Month), Larry Dierker (Pitcher of the Month) and Wilie Stargell (Player of the Month) . . . For the second straight year a rookie is leading the American League in hitting. Last season it was Oakland's Rennie Stennett. This time around, Baltimore's Johnny Grubb is on top. Both players were chosen at or near the end of the first round of the amateur draft . . . Houston closer Mike Marshall has given up just one earned run in 23.2 innings of work this season . . . Cleveland right-hander J.R. Richard is on a pace to strike out 321 batters this season . . . New York Yankee infielder Jerry Kenney collected five hits against the Chicago White Sox in a 7-1 victory June 16 . . . Montreal's Ron Hunt will use the All-Star break to heal his body. Hunt has been hit by pitch 20 times already this season . . . Pitcher Dan Osinski of Houston and first baseman Tito Francona of Oakland each announced he will retire at the end of the season . . . League GMs are reminded that the trading deadline is July 31. In real time, you have until Tuesday, April 29.

Major League 1970 07-23-1972 Standings Report

American Standings

Eastern Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Baltimore Orioles 74 24 .755 - 71-27 3 40-10 34-14 8-1 15-11 55 W1 6-4 New York Yankees 65 34 .657 9.5 70-29 -5 30-20 35-14 5-8 14-16 L1 6-4 Boston Red Sox 51 44 .537 21.5 50-45 1 26-21 25-23 10-6 15-15 W1 4-6 Detroit Tigers 38 57 .400 34.5 44-51 -6 27-20 11-37 4-6 11-25 W1 7-3 Milwaukee Brewers 34 61 .358 38.5 33-62 1 15-31 19-30 6-9 10-18 W1 4-6 Cleveland Indians 31 65 .323 42.0 34-62 -3 14-34 17-31 5-8 12-20 W2 3-7 Western Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Texas Rangers 67 31 .684 - 54-44 13 36-16 31-15 6-3 32-7 49 L1 7-3 Oakland Athletics 51 47 .520 16.0 53-45 -2 25-21 26-26 5-6 18-13 L1 6-4 Minnesota Twins 44 51 .463 21.5 39-56 5 24-25 20-26 9-4 19-15 L1 5-5 Kansas City Royals 43 55 .439 24.0 44-54 -1 27-25 16-30 5-5 18-19 L1 3-7 California Angels 42 56 .429 25.0 42-56 0 22-25 20-31 4-7 19-24 W1 5-5 Chicago White Sox 41 56 .423 25.5 43-54 -2 21-26 20-30 3-7 15-15 L4 3-7

National Standings

Eastern Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Pittsburgh Pirates 59 39 .602 - 56-42 3 32-18 27-21 7-4 17-16 57 W5 6-4 Philadelphia Phillies 50 47 .515 8.5 47-50 3 24-24 26-23 3-4 18-16 W1 7-3 New York Mets 48 48 .500 10.0 47-49 1 26-22 22-26 6-4 17-16 L6 3-7 Chicago Cubs 45 52 .464 13.5 46-51 -1 26-23 19-29 4-6 14-17 L2 5-5 St. Louis Cardinals 45 52 .464 13.5 51-46 -6 18-31 27-21 4-4 12-15 W5 6-4 Montreal Expos 36 59 .379 21.5 37-58 -1 14-33 22-26 2-7 16-23 W1 4-6 Western Division Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Diff Home Away XInn 1Run M# Streak Last10 Houston Astros 70 30 .700 - 70-30 0 33-14 37-16 6-1 20-9 46 W2 8-2 Los Angeles Dodgers 50 47 .515 18.5 49-48 1 26-24 24-23 3-6 15-18 L1 7-3 Cincinnati Reds 46 50 .479 22.0 45-51 1 23-22 23-28 3-2 19-16 L6 3-7 Atlanta Braves 48 53 .475 22.5 47-54 1 19-26 29-27 6-8 19-16 L8 2-8 San Francisco Giants 47 52 .475 22.5 49-50 -2 23-30 24-22 6-4 8-14 W2 5-5 San Diego Padres 42 57 .424 27.5 41-58 1 23-32 19-25 5-5 18-17 L1 4-6