MAJOR MATTERS, SEPTEMBER 1, 1905 EDITION:
As the calendar page turns to the final full month of the 1905 season, the New York Giants and Washington Senators are back in their accustomed positions atop their respective circuits. The Senators enjoy a comfortable lead of 9.5 games and look to sew things up with relative ease after spending the first four months of the season in a tight battle with Cleveland. The Blues faltered in August, while the Senators powered to a 20-7 month, giving them an 85-39 mark for the season and that nice cushion in the standings.
The National League continues to be a tight race. The Giants lost the lead twice in the last two weeks of August, but finished strong and end the month 19-8 and with a 1.5 game lead on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals who were 19-7 themselves and are riding high on the strength of star centerfielder Paddy Murphy's resurgence. Murphy, an established star player, got off to a slow start, and hit just .206 in June. But he followed that with a .406 mark in July and a .389 August. As his hitting improved, so did the Cardinals in the standings. A red-hot Murphy will be key to St. Louis' hopes of dethroning the Giants in September. Also in the mix is Boston, which faltered a bit after briefly taking the lead in the third week of August and is now four games back. Cincinnati struggled in August with a 12-15 mark for the month and is now 6.5 behind the Giants.
BEATING THE BUSHES, SEPTEMBER 1, 1905 EDITION:
EASTERN LEAGUE: Newark surged in August, and now holds a five-game lead on the Montreal Royals. Charlie Worley and his .374 average continue to lead the way for the Sailors at the bat, while hurler Roger Stewart has been an ace with a 24-6 record and 1.94 ERA. First-year pitcher Ray Vanover is drawing some attention in an otherwise lackluster year for Rochester. The 26-year-old right hander is 22-8 and has a league-best 1.50 ERA.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: Dandy Dave Payne may be gone to Cincinnati, but the former Toledo star is still atop the leader board in batting in the Association. Don Hunsacker continues to be the big story as the Louisville ace is tops in both wins (21-7) and ERA (1.24). He may be 31 years old, but one has to wonder if he couldn't be helping a team like St. Louis in their chase for the pennant.
PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: The biggest news out on the coast was the purchase of the contract of Tacoma's Otis Chesterfield by the St. Louis club of the American League. The terms have not been disclosed, but the rumors are rampant that the price was very high for young Mr. Chesterfield. For now, he and his league-best .386 batting average are staying in Tacoma as the Browns are out of the pennant picture and would like to see Otis get a little more seasoning before joining them for the 1906 campaign. In the mundane matter of the pennant race, the Portland club currently holds a two-game edge on Seattle.
PADDY MURPHY, ST. LOUIS (N)