1905 was a down year for Milt Cumberledge - Cumby will be the first to admit that - but he's back with a vengeance in 1906. Cumberledge, the sweet swinging right fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, is tops in batting average with a .379 average. Cumby has a .325 lifetime mark and 1905's .302 was a disappointment (he hit .341 in 1904). Obviously he's re-found his stroke.
Despite the hitting heroics of Cumby and team mate Hugh Harris (.362), the Cardinals remain four behind the New York Giants in the National League pennant race. The Cardinals also boast the two pitchers with the lowest ERA in either league: Al Jones (1.13) and Terrible Tommy Powell (1.23). The Cardinals' being four games back may be simple luck: New York's average (.262) and ERA (2.39) are worse than those of St. Louis (.269 and 2.29 respectively). St. Louis has both outscored, and allowed fewer runs than the Giants. Go figure.
In the American League, the Washington Senators continue to roll along like the efficient machine they have been the past three seasons. They hold a tidy 3.5 game lead over Boston in the pennant race and have (by far) the best pitching in either league with a 1.74 ERA. That kind of pitching will offset the mediocre hitting performances by Washington's lineup: their .229 mark is 6th-best in the league. The Boston club, with a league-best .261 can only wish they had the pitching that Washington possesses.
Minor league update next time.
MILT CUMBERLEDGE, ST. LOUIS (N)