In the American League, the Senators continue to cling to a small, 1.5 game lead over the Cleveland Blues, who have overcome a slow start and are now right back on the heels of the three-time defending league champions. The Blues were 4-12 in April and 14-14 in May, but since then they are 42-12 and playing at a blistering pace that could lead them to their first American League pennant... if they can maintain that pace. The Blues feature the league's best overall team average at .270, which is 28 percentage points better than the league average. They also have the league's top pitching, with a 1.95 ERA.
The New York Giants continue to lead the National League, with their lead currently 6 games over the surprisingly strong Philadelphia Phillies. The St. Louis Cardinals, who were early challengers to the Giants' throne have dropped off the pace and are 11 games back and sitting in sixth place. The Giants are second in the league in pitching with a 2.23 ERA (St. Louis' 2.21 is tops in the circuit) and are also second in batting with a .259 mark - again behind the Cardinals .261 average. Interestingly (or frustratingly for St. Louis), their season is a mirror of Cleveland's: they have the top marks in their league and started off hot, but now have cooled off and seem to be enduring some extremely bad luck.
In the Eastern League, a very tight three-way pennant race has captivated fans all season long. The Rochester Bronchos are in first place with a 53-36 mark while the Baltimore Orioles and Newark Sailors are second with identical 52-37 marks, just one game behind. Buffalo (4.5) and Providence (8) also remain in the picture. Baltimore RF George Herr is tearing up the loop, batting .382 for the Orioles and teaming with the Orioles' other George: LF George Hearn to give the Baltimore club the most celebrated outfield in the Eastern League.
In the American Association, the big story continues to be the pitching of Louisville's Don Hunsacker, whose 0.99 ERA and 16-2 record are both tops in the league. Hunsacker anchors the Colonels pitching and has his team sitting in first place with a 63-28 record, 3.5 games ahead of the Indianapolis Indians. First baseman Paul Fairburn, also of Louisville, leads the league in batting with a .347 average.
Out west, the Portland Giants are running away with the Pacific Coast League pennant. They are 87-50 and 11 games ahead of Oakland. With Ned Wayman (20-5 and league-best 1.82 ERA) heading the pitching and 'Nervous' Ned Jones and his .334 average (2nd in the PCL) heading up the batting, the Giants have been too much for the rest of the league to handle.
GEORGE HERR, BALTIMORE