One would not be far off the mark to take a look at the standings and feel like it's 1905 all over again. That's right, those old juggernauts in New York and Washington are currently sitting in the catbird seats in their respective leagues once again. The Giants, winners of four straight National League pennants between 1902 and '05, sport a 65-43 record, good for a slim one-game lead on the '07 champs from St. Louis. Washington, the American League's titlists for their own four-year stretch running from 1903 thru '06, hold their own slim lead of a game and a half over Boston. Can these two clubs, both a couple of seasons removed from their dynastic runs, start new runs in 1908?
In other news, the St. Louis Cardinals got a no-hit effort from pitcher Jim Gendron. The 32-year-old right-hander doused the bats of the Cincinnati Reds at their home ballpark on August 12 in a 3-0 victory for the Redbirds. Gendron walked four and struck out four in tossing the first no-hitter of his career and the third of the 1908 season. Gendron's gem follows those of Washington's Dwight Lowdermilk (on June 20th vs the Red Sox) and the near-perfect effort of New York Giant hurler Ginger Robertson (on July 9th vs the Reds) who missed perfection due to a pair of errors by his team. Gendron's no-hitter is the 13th National League no-hitter since 1892. The American League has had four no-hitters since the league became a major league in 1901.
JIM GENDRON, ST. LOUIS (N)