[Big Six]

June 1, 1939

The cream began to rise to the top in May, as the leader in each of the four divisions opened up some ground on their pursuers.

• The American League leaders, the Sacramento Solons and the Seattle Rainiers, were the hottest teams in baseball, winning 22 and 21 games respectively. The Solons rode the league's best pitching staff, headed by May's AL Outstanding Pitcher, Marius Russo (9-1, 1.14 ERA). Three Sac-town hitters boast averages of .300 or better, and AL Outstanding Hitter Joe DiMaggio smacked 12 homers and drove in 44 runs during May to raise his totals to 22 and 60, respectively.
  
  
• Seattle's roster might not boast a lot of household names, but they're getting the job done. Johnny Allen, who's tied for the MLB lead with nine wins, is the biggest name on a team full of useful, but uncelebrated players who have pulled five games ahead of the tough Portland Beavers.
  
  
• The Chicago White Sox' Oscar "Ox" Eckhardt is now the all-time leader in hits, with a total of 3475. The Ox's formidable bat is slowing somewhat, but he recaptured some of his old magic on May 5, when he ripped four singles and a solo home run in a 13-8 victory over their crosstown rivals, the Cubs.
  
  
• The Detroit Tigers keep rolling in the National League Mid-East, and their biggest star last month was 3B Harlond Clift. On the strength of 10 homers, 26 RBI, and a .371 average, Clift took home his league's Outstanding Hitter Award for May.
  
  
• New York Giants' righthander Bob Feller leads both leagues in strikeouts with 104, and he punched out 45 batters in 51 innings en route to an NL Outstanding Pitcher Award in May. He went 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA during the month. His Giants are three games behind the Red Sox in the NL Northern.