[MattD]

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Team Reviews

CINCINNATI REDS (95-59) - 2B Nap Lajoie once again led the Reds to the pennant, copping his third straight Anson Trophy. He had a lot of help though from Jesse Burkett (.342, 5, 93), Topsy Hartsel (.293, 3, 84), and Dan McGann (.289, 5, 81). Doc Newton was spectacular on the hill, going 24-13.

PHILADELPHIA (N) PHILLIES (91-63) - The Phillies were well stacked for another run at the pennant, but came up just short. Happy Towsend continued to baffle NL hitters, but Bob Ewing added nearly a run to his ERA. Mike Donlin really improved over last year, jumping up to a .308 AVG, 7 HR, and 92 RBI.

BROOKLYN SUPERBAS (86-68) - Christy Mathewson finally lived up to his potential, winning the Spalding Award. He was just 22-18, but had a 1.61 ERA and allowed fewer than one baserunner per inning. The team's lack of power hurt them, hitting only 10 homers on the year.

BOSTON (N) BEANEATERS (83-71) - Boston did not excel in any category, but their defense really hurt them. It's amazing a team can continue to hold on to SS Bill Keister and his .897 fielding percentage. We all know he can hit but is becoming a huge defensive liability. Jack Taylor (24-12, 2.66) had his best season.

NEW YORK (N) GIANTS (77-77) - The Giants believed they would seriously challenge for the flag this year, but fell far short. One of the players who struggled was George Van Haltren, who hit just .220. Age may be catching up to the former star. Eddie Plank had his third straight year with at least 21 victories.

CHICAGO (N) CUBS (68-86) - The Cubs seemed to be riding a rollercoaster all season long. They had long winning streaks followed by long losing streaks and were seeking consistency all year. SS Bill Friel was about the only bright spot all year long, putting up a .314 average.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES (67-87) - Danny Green had another great year with his bat - .316 AVG, 7 HR, 21 2B, 91 RBI - but didn't have much help. C Jiggs Donahue swung well enough to hit .308. Their pitching was mediocre at best with none of their starters posting a winning record.

ST. LOUIS (N) CARDINALS (49-105) - The Cards went through pitchers like no one else during the year. Their rotation was ravaged by injuries. The only bright spot to all the injuries was the Addie Joss was allowed to continue to improve. Candy La Chance's numbers continued to declined, but he was still the team's top hitter.

League Leaders
BATTING LEADERS

TOP 10 in BATTING AVG :
.347 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
.342 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
.326 Sam Crawford(NY1,NL)
.319 Steve Brodie(PHI,NL)
.316 Danny Green(PIT,NL)
.308 Jiggs Donahue(PIT,NL)
.308 Mike Donlin(PHI,NL)
.302 Jimmy Sheckard(NY1,NL)
.299 Frank Chance(PIT)
.297 Sam Dungan(BRO)

TOP 10 in HOMERUNS :
8 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
7 Mike Donlin(PHI,NL)
7 Danny Green(PIT,NL)
6 Jake Beckley(NY1)
6 Bobby Lowe(PIT)
6 Bill Friel(CHN,NL)
6 George Davis(PHI)
5 Emmet Heidrick(BSN)
5 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
5 Dan McGann(CIN,NL)

TOP 10 in RBI :
100 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
93 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
92 Mike Donlin(PHI,NL)
91 Danny Green(PIT,NL)
87 Kitty Bransfield(CHN,NL)
86 George Davis(PHI)
85 Jake Beckley(NY1)
85 Jimmy Sheckard(NY1,NL)
84 Topsy Hartsel(CIN)
81 Dan McGann(CIN,NL)

TOP 10 in Doubles :
62 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
38 Ducky Holmes(SLN)
36 Kitty Bransfield(CHN,NL)
35 Jimmy Sheckard(NY1,NL)
35 Kip Selbach(SLN)
33 John Titus( BRO)
33 Kid Elberfeld(PHI,NL)
33 Frank Chance(PIT)
31 John Farrell(PHI)
30 Jake Beckley(NY1)

TOP 10 in Triples :
20 Jimmy Sebring(PIT)
18 Tommy Leach(BRO,NL)
18 Mike Donlin(PHI,NL)
17 Bill Keister(BSN)
16 Steve Brodie(PHI,NL)
15 Frank Isbell(PHI)
15 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
15 Frank Shugart(BRO,NL)
15 Cy Seymour(CHN)
15 Bill Bradley(SLN)

TOP 10 in Runs :
113 Nap Lajoie(CIN,NL)
101 Doc Casey(CIN)
98 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
92 Mike Grady(PIT)
91 Tommy Leach(BRO,NL)
90 Sam Crawford(NY1,NL)
89 Kip Selbach(SLN)
88 Frank Isbell(PHI)
87 Topsy Hartsel(CIN)
86 Candy LaChance(SLN)

TOP 10 in Stolen Bases :
51 Gene DeMontreville(CHN)
49 Steve Brodie(PHI,NL)
49 Frank Chance(PIT)
48 Lefty Davis(BSN)
48 Fielder Jones(BRO)
47 Topsy Hartsel(CIN)
47 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
45 Herman Long(CIN)
40 Charlie Babb( CHN)
40 Frank Isbell(PHI)

TOP 10 in BB's :
71 Fielder Jones(BRO)
70 Topsy Hartsel(CIN)
70 Jesse Burkett( CIN,NL)
64 Roy Thomas(BSN)
60 Emmet Heidrick(BSN)
59 Lefty Davis(BSN)
58 Ducky Holmes(SLN)
57 Danny Green(PIT,NL)
55 Steve Brodie(PHI,NL)
55 Kid Elberfeld(PHI,NL)

TOP 10 in Strikeouts :
78 Fred Jacklitsch(PHI)
73 Fred Burchell( CIN,NL)
72 Sam Dungan(BRO)
70 Eddie Plank(NY1,NL)
69 Doc Newton(CIN,NL)
69 Vic Willis( CHN)
68 Jud Smith( NY1)
66 George Winter(PIT)
64 Christy Mathewson(BRO,NL)
57 Mordecai Brown( NY1)

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PITCHING LEADERS

TOP 10 in ERA :
1.61 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)
2.28 Norwood Gibson ( BRO)
2.28 Rube Kisinger (BRO)
2.51 Addie Joss (SLN)
2.51 Doc Newton (CIN,NL)
2.56 Eddie Plank (NY1,NL)
2.59 Happy Townsend (PHI)
2.63 Tom Hughes (CHN)
2.66 Jack Taylor ( BSN,NL)
2.70 George Winter (PIT)

TOP 10 in WINS :
24 Eddie Plank (NY1,NL)
24 Jack Taylor ( BSN,NL)
24 Doc Newton (CIN,NL)
23 Bob Ewing (PHI)
23 Fred Burchell ( CIN,NL)
22 Happy Townsend (PHI)
22 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)
22 Sam Leever ( PHI,NL)
21 Snake Wiltse (CIN,NL)
20 Jake Weimer ( BRO)

TOP 10 in LOSSES :
26 Bill Donovan ( SLN)
25 George Winter (PIT)
23 Addie Joss (SLN)
23 Vic Willis ( CHN)
22 Otto Hess (PIT)
20 Roger Denzer (NY1)
19 Mordecai Brown ( NY1)
18 Bob Ewing (PHI)
18 Tom Hughes (CHN)
18 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)

TOP 10 in SAVES :
4 Ambrose Puttmann ( CHN)
4 Jack Sutthoff (CIN,NL)
4 Kid Carsey (PHI)
3 John McPherson (CHN)
3 Bob Wicker (BSN)
3 Frank Owen (NY1)
2 Noodles Hahn (BSN)
2 Bill Duggleby (BSN)
2 Cowboy Jones ( NY1)
2 Ed Taylor ( PIT)

TOP 10 in COMPLETE GAMES :
39 Bob Ewing (PHI)
36 George Winter (PIT)
35 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)
35 Vic Willis ( CHN)
34 Fred Burchell ( CIN,NL)
33 Addie Joss (SLN)
33 Sam Leever ( PHI,NL)
32 Happy Townsend (PHI)
32 Doc Newton (CIN,NL)
32 Eddie Plank (NY1,NL)

TOP 10 in SHUTOUTS :
6 Eddie Plank (NY1,NL)
4 Jack Taylor ( BSN,NL)
3 Bob Ewing (PHI)
3 Doc Newton (CIN,NL)
3 Noodles Hahn (BSN)
2 Fred Glade (SLN)
2 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)
2 Happy Townsend (PHI)
2 Fred Burchell ( CIN,NL)
2 Addie Joss (SLN)

TOP 10 in K's :
212 Doc Newton (CIN,NL)
203 George Winter (PIT)
194 Happy Townsend (PHI)
167 Noodles Hahn (BSN)
160 Christy Mathewson (BRO,NL)
144 Tom Hughes (CHN)
119 Frank Owen (NY1)
108 Addie Joss (SLN)
102 Bob Lawson (BSN)
102 Bob Ewing (PHI)

TOP 10 in BB's :
102 Bob Ewing (PHI)
87 Bill Donovan ( SLN)
80 Vic Willis ( CHN)
79 Tom Hughes (CHN)
79 Charlie Case (CHN)
76 Fred Burchell ( CIN,NL)
73 Happy Townsend (PHI)
73 Ed Doheny (PIT)
71 Otto Hess (PIT)
71 Gus Dorner (CHN)