MAJOR MATTERS - AUGUST 1, 1905 EDITION
The story of the 1905 season continues to be the tight race for the National League pennant. In what will surely be remembered as a pennant chase for the ages, four team continue to vie for the right to face the American League's champions in this October's World's Championship Series.
As the calendar flips to August, the Boston Beaneaters and Cincinnati Reds are locked at the top in a tie with identical 54-41 records. Right there with them is the New York Giants at 53-41 and the St. Louis Cardinals are also in the fight, with their record currently 51-44. The teams are an interesting mix: the Reds and Cardinals feature the top two batting averages in either league at .267 and .260 respectively. The Giants are easily the top pitching team in the circuit, with a 2.05 ERA collectively. The Beaneaters are somewhat surprising - though their average (.238) is nothing special, they're second in the league in runs scored with 408 and though their pitching is above average, it's not stellar like that of the Giants. So which formula will ultimately equal success? That remains to be seen.
The American League race - and yes, it does have one - is not as crowded as that of the National League, but it is still a compelling story. The Washington Senators are the cream of the crop, having won the last two pennants while the Cleveland Blues are the upstarts, seeking to bring the first title to the city on the shores of Lake Erie. Cleveland's playing-manager, the all-time hit king Tom Ewart, is not playing much anymore (22 games, 32 at-bats and a ridiculously poor .094 average), but his charges are proving to have serious staying power. Washington and Cleveland a 1-2 in the league in both batting average and runs scored and those positions are reversed in pitching where Cleveland's 1.79 ERA is the best in all of base ball and Washington's 1.88 is second-best. The race is tight - Washington currently has a three-game edge - and is likely to remain so for the balance of the season.
BEATING THE BUSHES, AUGUST 1, 1905 EDITION
EASTERN LEAGUE: Like the two "major" leagues, the Eastern League has a great pennant race going on with the Montreal Royals currently holding a one-game edge on both the Newark Sailors and Providence Grays. The Grays have been hot, winning eight of their last ten, and with Nat Davis apparently sticking around, they have the pitching to win the pennant. Former Cleveland Blues first baseman Charlie Worley is leading the Newark attack - and the league - in hitting with a .371 mark while Montreal's success rides on the arms of former Cincinnati pitcher Caden Black (22-7, 2.32) and young Bob Thiele (18-10, 2.16).
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: The Louisville Colonels still appear to be the class of the AA, though the Indianapolis club remains in shouting distance four games behind. Don Hunsacker has been a big reason for the Colonels' success - the 31-year-old right hander leads the Association in wins (19) and ERA (1.03). Dave Payne of Toledo continues to lead the league in hitting, but is rumored to be on the verge of joining the National League's Cincinnati Reds, and with second-place belonging to Gaylord Robinson of Minneapolis (who is also rumored to be heading up to the major leagues), the batting race will be wide open.
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: Seattle (76-60) heads up the PCL standings, currently two games ahead of Portland. Whether Seattle can hold that lead remains to be seen as they sold pitcher Silas Songer to the American League's Washington club and recently lost star third sacker Calvin Lords to injury. With Portland's powerful club featuring outfielder Tim Armstrong (.376) and pitcher Ned Wayman (15-8, 2.38) will Seattle's remaining star players Chuck Flinn (20-9, 2.88) and keystone Floyd Volpe (.345) have enough to keep the Siwashes on top?
DON HUNSACKER, LOUISVILLE (AA)