[Big Six]

May 1, 1937

• Things are looking up in greater New York, where all three local teams are within two games of the lead in the National League Northern Division. The Yankees took the bold step of trading the ace of their pitching staff, Bill Swift, to the Sacramento Solons for talented young shortstop Jesus Lopez. The deal has worked out well for the Yankees so far; Lopez is hitting .313 and making all the plays defensively, while Swift has struggled (2-3, 4.60).
  
  
• Chuck Klein, the pride of Portland, reached the 2000-hit milestone on April 5. Klein's landmark single drove in the Beavers' first run in a 4-2 victory over Oakland. The RBI was the 1200th of Klein's career; his other career marks include 374 home runs, 1069 runs scored, and a .365 lifetime average that is the highest in baseball history. Chuck is 32 years old, and should have plenty of productive years ahead of him.
  
  
• The San Diego Padres have picked up right where they left off in 1936, with a 17-4 record that is the best in either league. Their ace, Cliff Melton, was named the American League Pitcher of the Month. Melton went 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA during April.
  
  
• It's still early, but the Milwaukee Braves' hot start has the team's fans dreaming of pennant glory. Hard hitters like Hank Greenberg (9 home runs) and Les Mallon (.354) are leading the way for the new-look Braves.
  
  
• Lou Gehrig is off to a splendid start in 1937, too. The Pirates slugger won the NL Batter of the Month award, hitting .408 with seven homers and 26 RBI. He's reaching base just over half the time.
  
  
• Gehrig's teammate, Buster Ross, won April's Pitcher of the Month honors for the National League. Ross, a 34-year-old southpaw, won four of his five starts and recorded a 1.60 ERA.
  
  
• The AL Batter of the Month for April is, like Gehrig, a slugging first baseman. The K.C. Athletics' Jimmie Foxx hit .358 and hammered 11 homers during April, driving in 26 runs.