September 1, 1906 Update
The National League race continued to get more interesting while the American League is beginning to look like same-old, same-old once again. In the so-called Senior Circuit, the New York Giants were knocked off their pedestal at the top of the loop by the Pittsburgh Pirates who cooled off from their torrid start to August, but nevertheless went 7-0 in their head-to-head meetings with the Giants. The Pirates have pilfered first-place and currently hold a 2.5-game edge on New York. Boston has also taken advantage of the battling at the top to climb into the race, sitting 5.5 back of Pittsburgh.
In the American League the Washington Senators appear to have their fourth-straight pennant all but sewn up. Washington was 19-7 in August to put a little extra space between themselves and Cleveland, who posted a 13-14 mark and now are eight games behind the front-runners from the capital city. Time may be running out for Cleveland who have just 29 games left in which to catch the Senators.
In the individual races, St. Louis Cardinals first-sacker Ezekial Curl has suddenly established himself as one of the game's best. Curl, who played sparingly in 1905 and batted just .259, has this season blossomed in a full-time role and leads both leagues in hitting with a .352 mark. Washington shortstop Ransom Miller is the top hitter in the American League, with a .348 average. Like Curl, Miller is showing vast improvement over his past performances - in 1905 he hit a career-best .301 after a 1904 campaign which saw him hit .263 for Washington.
On the pitcher's side of the ledger, the Big Horse in Boston is the big name in victories this season. Pilgrims' pitcher Gus Merritt has 26 victories to top the wins chart against just 8 losses. Across town, Beaneater pitcher Stanton Kilgore tops the National loop with 22 victories against 15 defeats. Cardinals star Al 'The Hangman' Jones is the tops in ERA with a 1.36 mark while the American League leader is Cleveland's Ray Dishman with a 1.40 ERA.
In the Eastern League, the Newark Sailors continue to ride the waves of victory with a 73-45 mark and seven-game lead on the Rochester Bronchos. George Herr is the top hitter in the league with a .360 mark for Baltimore. Bad Bill Moran has posted 20 victories (against 10 defeats) for Rochester to lead the league in wins.
In the midwest, the American Association powerhouse in Louisville has a 14-game lead as they run away from the pack towards another pennant. Paul Fairburn's league-leading .343 average and the pitching of top pitcher Don Hunsacker (19 wins - 1st and 1.01 ERA - also 1st) are prime reasons the Colonels have an 84-36 mark this season.
And out on the shores of the Pacific, the PCL's Portland Giants sport a 103-63 record and 12-game lead on Oakland. Will "Little Ben" Benson of Los Angeles is the current hitting leader with a .343 average, good for a sizable lead on his brother Bert "Big Ben" Benson, who is hitting .326 this season. Rumor has it the brothers will not join any team unless said club takes both of them. Portland's Forrest Tucker leads the circuit in ERA (1.99) and is second in victories (24) to Oakland's Dan Walsh (28).
The Benson Brothers, Will (L) and Bert (R), Los Angeles (PCL)