As the calendar page turns to July, the American League race is shaping up to be a great one. Philadelphia and Washington are knotted at the top of the standings with identical 33-26 records. Milwaukee (30-26) is a game and a half off the pace. With Boston four back and both Chicago and Cleveland four-and-a-half back, the race is wide open. Even the last-place Baltimore club is only eight games behind the leaders.
The National League, on the other hand, is shaping up into a two-horse race. Boston continues to set the pace with a stellar 45-18 record, good for a .714 winning percentage. Pittsburgh, at 41-23, is four-and-a-half back, but within shouting distance and has been getting the top-notch pitching necessary to chase down a pennant. The great records of the top two has left New York (34-30) a distant third despite a relatively strong showing thus far. Cincinnati (34-34) is showing a rebound from recent disappointments and may be shaping up to become a contender in the near future.
The Boston Beaneaters' Heinie Staudenmaier is hitting .394 to top both leagues in batting average while Milwaukee's Harry Lynch, who bolted the Phillies this past winter, is leading the American League with a .365 mark. Washington's Ken Lammers is the first hurler to notch fifteen victories this season while Pittsburgh's Claude Martin has been phenomenal with an ERA of 0.65 - an incredible mark.
CLAUDE MARTIN