The New York Giants are setting a blistering pace in the National League pennant race and have opened up a 13.5-game lead over the Brooklyn Superbas. With Dell Coyne hitting .357 and both Paul Samples and Deacon White collecting hits at over a .325 clip, the Giants' offense is strong but the pitching is what has New York winning at a .766 pace.
With newcomer Long Island Lonnie Tauber winning 10 of his first 13 career decisions while posting a 1.94 earned run average, and with Aidan O'Day (2.11), Bernard Berry (2.26) and Clive Hines (2.27) also extremely effective, the New York pitching staff is more than a half-run better at 2.20 than their nearest competitor.
In the American League, Cleveland continues to surprise, leading the league with a 42-20 record, a game and a half ahead of Washington. Unlike New York, the Cleveland nine is winning on the strength of the most potent offense in baseball. The Blues are the only club in either league whose collective batting average is over .300, and are .036 above the AL average. Orville Taylor leads the club with a .355 mark, following on the heels of his .343 average last season. Joining the hit parade for Cleveland is ageless wonder Tom Ewart (.332) who may never retire and Rocky Hennessey (.311) who jumped to the Blues from the Boston National club, returning to the city where he began his professional career.
The game's top hitter is St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Milt "Cumby" Cumberledge with a .388 average while Boston Americans pitcher Jeb Brewer is knotted with Washington hurler Harlan Holladay with a 1.53 earned run average, to top all pitchers.
Lonnie Tauber