[legendsport]

(NOTE: Instead of just basic facts, I'm going to jazz things up with bits about players and other things of note, particularly in the minors, which I've been giving scant attention to and would like to highlight more)

MAJOR MATTERS, JUNE 1 EDITION:

Well, May has proven one thing: it will be no cake walk in the National League. No fewer than five teams are in solid contention for the pennant, and three of them are all knotted up atop the standings. With identical 24-18 records, Boston, Cincinnati and St. Louis all have staked a claim on first place. Three-time defending champion New York is 22-19 while even the perennial doormats from Chicago at 21-20 are in the mix. One would have to believe that the New Yorkers would have the edge based on experience and the simple fact that aside from the retired Squirrel Downs, the club is the same as the one which thoroughly dominated the circuit for the past three seasons.

Over in the American League, things look eerily familiar. The Washington club is, as usual, sitting atop the standings. And just as in the early stages of the 1904 season, both Cleveland and Boston are not far behind. But as the season winds toward summer, can those two put the heat on the defending pennant holders, or will they wilt themselves?

One interesting possibility: what if Cincinnati were to win the National League pennant and Boston the American? That would set up a return to the Queen City for prodigal Red Leg Sean McGonigle. The Mighty Mick, now known as the best hitter in all the land, was at one time employed by Cincinnati. He jumped his contract in 1901 to play in the newly minted American League with Boston. Since then he has amassed a lot of hits and acclaim, especially from the supporters of the Boston Americans. It would be an entertaining spectacle to see McGonigle have to step onto the field in Cincinnati again. For his part, the Mighty Mick is unconcerned, noting that he and his mates are mainly striving simply to win the pennant. And to his credit, he's doing his part: McGonigle currently leads all of base ball with a .402 average.

BEATING THE BUSHES, JUNE 1 EDITION:

The Providence club leads the Eastern League with a 28-8 record and much of the credit can be handed to right-handed picher Nat Davis. Davis is 13-0 this season, and the 26-year-old has adjusted quite well to a regular turn in the rotation in this, his fourth year of professional ball. That 13-0 record will certainly draw attention from the contenders for the American and National pennants over the next few weeks.

Dandy Dave Payne would like to send a telegram from his hotel in Toledo to the offices of the Cincinnati Reds. It would read: Am ready. Stop. Nothing else need be said from the 21-year-old infielder who leads the American Association in hitting with a .373 mark. He believes he's ready and is waiting for the Reds to summon him to help them in their quest for the pennant.

When 24-year-old Otis Chesterfield was signed off the Live Oak, California town team by Tacoma, no one in the Pacific Coast League raised an eyebrow. After 60-some-odd games with the Tigers though, Chesterfield is garnering plenty of attention. A cheerful man with a quick and ready laugh and a lethal batting stroke, Chesterfield leads the PCL in hitting with a tidy .412 average. Asked about the rumors of his contract being purchased by one of the "major" clubs, Chesterfield shrugs. "I'm just here to play ball. If someone wants to pay Mr. Gray (Edward Gray, Tacoma owner) for me, that's their business. I reckon I can hit anywhere."


OTIS CHESTERFIELD

[legendsport]

Mid-month update....

With the season about a third complete, the National League's pennant race remains a five-team affair, though the groupings aren't quite as tight as they were a mere two weeks ago. The Cincinnati Reds continue to surprise and lead the race by a game and a half over the New York Giants after going 8-5 during the first fortnight of June. New York also went 8-5 while fellow contenders St. Louis (6-7), Boston (4-9) and Chicago (6-6) struggled, but remain in the race.

In the American League, Washington is still in the top spot, with a 37-19 record after going 10-3 to start June. Cleveland, at 36-22, is showing no signs of faltering as they keep the pressure on the Senators. The Blues posted a solid 9-5 mark this fortnight. Boston, perhaps missing star outfielder Sean McGonigle, took it on the chin, going 5-8 and falling nine games behind Washington. With the Mighty Mick's back still bothering him, it remains to be seen whether the Americans can get back into the race without his bat, and whether it will be too late for them when he does get back.

With McGonigle's injury, his crown as the American League batting leader has been taken by Philadelphia's Slim Jim Larson. Larson's .330 mark is far below the .402 McGonigle has put together, but with Mick having played only 34 games, he does not qualify as the leader. In the National League, Pittsburgh's Junius Wood is the batting leader, with a .382 mark for the Pirates. After hitting .404 in May, "Cowpoke" Wood is hitting a nice round .400 for June.

Cleveland's Larry Singer has been having an immortal season thus far. Not only is Singer sporting a 15-3 won-lost record, but he has an unbelievably slim 0.70 ERA! Singer's dominance is a prime reason why the Blues are stalking the Senators in the AL pennant race, even overshadowing the outstanding season being posted by Washington ace Harlan Holladay (14-3, 1.01 ERA). In the National League, New York's Fred McDonnell has a 1.43 ERA but just a 7-6 mark as his mates have not hit for him.


LARRY SINGER, CLEVELAND

[legendsport]

MAJOR MATTERS, JULY 1 EDITION

The June performance of the St. Louis Cardinals has - perhaps - proven that the National League race will remain a tight one throughout the season. The Cardinals have somewhat quietly been in the mix all season, with most attention being directed at the surprisingly strong Cincinnati club and the perennial powers in New York and Boston. Yet it is the Cardinals who enter July atop the standings in the Senior Circuit. St. Louis (40-28 on the season) was 16-10 in June, not an overpowering record, but the apparent parity in the loop was evident in the June records of the other contending clubs:

Cincinnati: 14-10 in June, 39-29 overall
New York: 15-11, 37-30 overall
Boston: 12-14, 36-32 overall

So the race really is that close and as the mercury rises in the thermometer, the question on the minds of all interested parties is which club will be able to stand the heat?

Lest we forget, the American League has itself a nice little pennant race going as well. It may be easy to overlook the race in the so-called Junior Circuit since it really is looking like a two-horse competition. The favorite has to be the Washingtons. They've won the last two pennants and sport a 45-25 mark this season, the best in all of base ball. But right there with them is Cleveland. With Larry Singer (he of the 18-3 record and 0.61 ERA) leading the way, the Blues are very much for real and this season's pennant chase is shaping up to be a humdinger. Singer leads both leagues in victories, earned run average and strikeouts (Washington's Harlan Holladay remains in 2nd place in both victories and earned run average).

The Boston Americans continue to miss Sean McGonigle. Without the big-hitting Irishman in the lineup, Boston posted a subpar 10-16 record in June. The good news is that Mick is ready to return to action and his bat should be a real aid in Boston's hopes of getting back into the pennant chase.

Pittsburgh's Junius Wood continues to lead the National League in batting with a .358 average, while Slim Jim Larson of Philadelphia leads the American with a .329 mark. While Singer & Holladay dominate the American League pitching leaderboards, the National is being led by Pittsburgh's Ralph Jeffers (14 wins) and New York's Fred McDonnell (1.48 ERA).

BEATING THE BUSHES, JULY 1 EDITION

Nat Davis' days in the Eastern League may be numbered. With a 19-3 mark and 1.51 ERA for Providence, the Chief is the subject of rumors. These rumors seem to indicate that the Pittsburgh Pirates have negotiated a deal with the Grays for Davis' services. When (or if) Davis is hopping a train for Pittsburgh is the main question around Providence these days. An even bigger one might be who will fill the very large hole Davis will leave in the Providence pitching corps. This is key for the Grays who are 43-20 and tied with Newark for the Eastern circuit's top spot.

Another hurler rumored to be heading for the big time is Los Angeles pitcher Silas Songer. The powerhouse Senators have supposedly reached a deal to purchase the promising pitcher from the Coast to help them in their push for a third-straight American title. Songer is a middling 11-10 this season, but he does toil for a team which is in fifth-place out of six clubs.

An interesting character out West is Seattle's Chuck Flinn. The big right-hander is rumored to be quite the character, entertaining his team mates with practical jokes. Flinn is also a talented pitcher, being tied for the league lead in victories with 16 and currently placing fourth in earned run average at 2.90. Even better, his Seattle Siwashes currently lead the PCL with a 63-44 record.

In the midwest, Dave Payne continues to hit away at Toledo while watching southern Ohio in hopes of a call from Cincinnati. Meanwhile, his Mud Hens are struggling with a 27-38 record, good for just a sixth-place tie with Milwaukee. Louisville continues to be the class of the American Association with a 42-23 mark and the loop's top pitcher in Don Hunsacker. The 31-year-old has never gotten a sniff from any of the National or American league clubs, but currently has a 13-2 record and 0.84 earned run average.



CHUCK FLINN, SEATTLE (PCL)

[legendsport]

The bigs news this fortnight was the no-hitter thrown by Chicago's Ray Nester against the New York Giants on July 15. Nester was faced 31 batters, and none was able to get a base hit. The lefty thrilled the crowd at West Side Park with his five-walk, five-strikeout performance in a 3-0 win for the Cubs.

The Giants remain in third place in the standings with Boston sitting in the top spot and Cincinnati in second. Only two games separates the first place Beaneaters from the fourth-place St. Louis Cardinals as the National League's tight pennant race has now reached, and passed, the half-way point of the season, with no club asserting itself over the others.

In the American League, the big news is that the Washington Senators are not currently in first-place. The Cleveland Blues have been stalking the defending AL champs all season and have passed them, albeit by just one game, to take the lead with a 55-28 record. Washington added Silas Songer from the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles club. Songer made one start for the Senators, and was roughly treated by Cleveland in a 7-5 win for the Blues, allowing 10 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) in eight innings of work on July 4th.


RAY NESTER, CHICAGO (NL)

[legendsport]

MAJOR MATTERS - AUGUST 1, 1905 EDITION

The story of the 1905 season continues to be the tight race for the National League pennant. In what will surely be remembered as a pennant chase for the ages, four team continue to vie for the right to face the American League's champions in this October's World's Championship Series.

As the calendar flips to August, the Boston Beaneaters and Cincinnati Reds are locked at the top in a tie with identical 54-41 records. Right there with them is the New York Giants at 53-41 and the St. Louis Cardinals are also in the fight, with their record currently 51-44. The teams are an interesting mix: the Reds and Cardinals feature the top two batting averages in either league at .267 and .260 respectively. The Giants are easily the top pitching team in the circuit, with a 2.05 ERA collectively. The Beaneaters are somewhat surprising - though their average (.238) is nothing special, they're second in the league in runs scored with 408 and though their pitching is above average, it's not stellar like that of the Giants. So which formula will ultimately equal success? That remains to be seen.

The American League race - and yes, it does have one - is not as crowded as that of the National League, but it is still a compelling story. The Washington Senators are the cream of the crop, having won the last two pennants while the Cleveland Blues are the upstarts, seeking to bring the first title to the city on the shores of Lake Erie. Cleveland's playing-manager, the all-time hit king Tom Ewart, is not playing much anymore (22 games, 32 at-bats and a ridiculously poor .094 average), but his charges are proving to have serious staying power. Washington and Cleveland a 1-2 in the league in both batting average and runs scored and those positions are reversed in pitching where Cleveland's 1.79 ERA is the best in all of base ball and Washington's 1.88 is second-best. The race is tight - Washington currently has a three-game edge - and is likely to remain so for the balance of the season.


BEATING THE BUSHES, AUGUST 1, 1905 EDITION

EASTERN LEAGUE: Like the two "major" leagues, the Eastern League has a great pennant race going on with the Montreal Royals currently holding a one-game edge on both the Newark Sailors and Providence Grays. The Grays have been hot, winning eight of their last ten, and with Nat Davis apparently sticking around, they have the pitching to win the pennant. Former Cleveland Blues first baseman Charlie Worley is leading the Newark attack - and the league - in hitting with a .371 mark while Montreal's success rides on the arms of former Cincinnati pitcher Caden Black (22-7, 2.32) and young Bob Thiele (18-10, 2.16).

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: The Louisville Colonels still appear to be the class of the AA, though the Indianapolis club remains in shouting distance four games behind. Don Hunsacker has been a big reason for the Colonels' success - the 31-year-old right hander leads the Association in wins (19) and ERA (1.03). Dave Payne of Toledo continues to lead the league in hitting, but is rumored to be on the verge of joining the National League's Cincinnati Reds, and with second-place belonging to Gaylord Robinson of Minneapolis (who is also rumored to be heading up to the major leagues), the batting race will be wide open.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: Seattle (76-60) heads up the PCL standings, currently two games ahead of Portland. Whether Seattle can hold that lead remains to be seen as they sold pitcher Silas Songer to the American League's Washington club and recently lost star third sacker Calvin Lords to injury. With Portland's powerful club featuring outfielder Tim Armstrong (.376) and pitcher Ned Wayman (15-8, 2.38) will Seattle's remaining star players Chuck Flinn (20-9, 2.88) and keystone Floyd Volpe (.345) have enough to keep the Siwashes on top?


DON HUNSACKER, LOUISVILLE (AA)

[legendsport]

The first-place carousel in the National League has a new favorite as the New York Giants climbed into the top spot - albeit by a slim half-game over the Boston Beaneaters. Lest we forget, both the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals are also in the mix, both sitting 2.5 games out. Boston's task may have gotten just a tad more difficult: star outfielder Heinie Staudenmaier is out for three weeks with a fractured rib on a hard slide into third base in the first inning of a 2-1 loss to Brooklyn on August 15.

The Cleveland Blues had a horrid fortnight, falling 8.5 games back of the Washington Senators after going 5-9 between August 1st and the 15th. The twice-defending champion Senators, on the other hand, went 10-3 and now appear to be well on their way to a third-straight pennant. Cleveland's Herman Bruce also saw his 33-game hitting streak come to an end on the 14th in a 3-2 loss to Chicago. The Alabama Slammer's streak was halted just two games short of the American League record of 35 set by Washington's Harvey Cart in 1902.


HEINIE STAUDENMAIER, BOSTON (N)

[legendsport]

MAJOR MATTERS, SEPTEMBER 1, 1905 EDITION:

As the calendar page turns to the final full month of the 1905 season, the New York Giants and Washington Senators are back in their accustomed positions atop their respective circuits. The Senators enjoy a comfortable lead of 9.5 games and look to sew things up with relative ease after spending the first four months of the season in a tight battle with Cleveland. The Blues faltered in August, while the Senators powered to a 20-7 month, giving them an 85-39 mark for the season and that nice cushion in the standings.

The National League continues to be a tight race. The Giants lost the lead twice in the last two weeks of August, but finished strong and end the month 19-8 and with a 1.5 game lead on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals who were 19-7 themselves and are riding high on the strength of star centerfielder Paddy Murphy's resurgence. Murphy, an established star player, got off to a slow start, and hit just .206 in June. But he followed that with a .406 mark in July and a .389 August. As his hitting improved, so did the Cardinals in the standings. A red-hot Murphy will be key to St. Louis' hopes of dethroning the Giants in September. Also in the mix is Boston, which faltered a bit after briefly taking the lead in the third week of August and is now four games back. Cincinnati struggled in August with a 12-15 mark for the month and is now 6.5 behind the Giants.

BEATING THE BUSHES, SEPTEMBER 1, 1905 EDITION:

EASTERN LEAGUE: Newark surged in August, and now holds a five-game lead on the Montreal Royals. Charlie Worley and his .374 average continue to lead the way for the Sailors at the bat, while hurler Roger Stewart has been an ace with a 24-6 record and 1.94 ERA. First-year pitcher Ray Vanover is drawing some attention in an otherwise lackluster year for Rochester. The 26-year-old right hander is 22-8 and has a league-best 1.50 ERA.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: Dandy Dave Payne may be gone to Cincinnati, but the former Toledo star is still atop the leader board in batting in the Association. Don Hunsacker continues to be the big story as the Louisville ace is tops in both wins (21-7) and ERA (1.24). He may be 31 years old, but one has to wonder if he couldn't be helping a team like St. Louis in their chase for the pennant.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: The biggest news out on the coast was the purchase of the contract of Tacoma's Otis Chesterfield by the St. Louis club of the American League. The terms have not been disclosed, but the rumors are rampant that the price was very high for young Mr. Chesterfield. For now, he and his league-best .386 batting average are staying in Tacoma as the Browns are out of the pennant picture and would like to see Otis get a little more seasoning before joining them for the 1906 campaign. In the mundane matter of the pennant race, the Portland club currently holds a two-game edge on Seattle.


PADDY MURPHY, ST. LOUIS (N)

[legendsport]

Well, with less than 20 games left to play in the 1905 season, it appears the drama is just about over. The New York Giants posted a 12-2 record to blow open a 7.5-game lead on the second-place Boston Beaneaters. St. Louis, who started the month just two back of New York, is now 8.5 games back.

Washington has an 8.5 game lead over the second-place club in the American League (Cleveland).

[legendsport]

The 1905 season came to a close with several eye-popping performances and a couple of familiar foes getting ready to do battle in the second-ever World's Championship Series.

The Washington Senators were the big story of 1905. Not only did they demolish their American League competition in winning a third-straight pennant, they did so by winning 110 games and enter the World's Series with not one, but two 30-game winners ready to take the mound. The Senators faced a game challenger in Cleveland. The Blues posted a 94-60 record - identical to that of the National League's champions this season - but still finished 16 games behind the Capital City's powerhouse. And with Harlan Holladay, whose 33 victories led both leagues (his 1.28 ERA was second-best) and Wes Luttier (31 victories - 2nd - and 1.66 ERA - 4th), they simply throttled opposing lineups. The team's ERA was 1.81 and they allowed just 380 runs - a full 46 fewer than the best mark in the National League.

The National League had a thrilling pennant chase for about two-thirds of the season. But in the end, the veteran New York Giants crossed the finish line five games ahead of the Boston Beaneaters with their fourth-straight pennant. The Gotham nine were 94-60, a less impressive record than some of their recent performances, but still tops in their league. The pitching, as usual, was dominant with a 1.98 ERA. The team's Achilles heel (if a four-time champ can be said to have one) is their somewhat lackluster hitting: their .237 average was tied for sixth in the National League. Still with Fred McDonnell (26-9, 1.33 ERA) and Aidan O'Day (25-9, 1.92) hurling, the Giants didn't need to score many runs.

This sets up an interesting World Series between two clubs with absolutely dominating pitching. The big question to consider when thinking back to the 1903 Series between these teams: how much better are the 110-44 Senators now?


HARLAN HOLLADAY, WASHINGTON

[legendsport]

WORLD SERIES EDITION:

The best teams in their respective leagues squared off for the rights to claim the title of World's Champions in a best-of-seven series at the conclusion of their leagues' championship seasons. The Washington Senators entered the series as three-time defending American League pennant-winners and boasting a 110-44 record in 1905. Their opponents brought credentials equally impressive: the Giants entered the series on the heels of their fourth-straight National League pennant and defeated these same Senators in the first of these "World's Series" in 1903.

With both teams boasting incredibly talented pitching, it was no surprise that both the first two games saw one team go scoreless. In the first game, the Senators' Harlan Holladay baffled the Giants just as he had the American League all season long in his 33-victory campaign and Washington won a 4-0 decision. In game two, it was the Giants' Aidan O'Day's time to shine - and shine he did - in a showdown with 31-game winner Wes Luttier. O'Day allowed just one hit in a 1-0 shutout.

The series moved to New York for games three, four and five. Game three went to the Senators, 5-4, with catcher Garrett Terry driving in a pair of runs for the Senators on a 2-for-4 day in a game in which both lineups celebrated not facing terrific pitching and combined for 17 hits. Game four went to the Giants, in a 14-inning nail-biter that the home team won 6-5. The big news for New York, which would play a role later on, was that ace Fred McDonnell struggled in his nine and a third innings. Game Five saw the Senators bounce back behind Harlan Holladay who was again masterful in outdueling Aidan O'Day by a 2-1 margin.

For game six, the Giants would have liked to start McDonnell for the third time, but he was tired from his extra-inning effort in game four and unable to start. With Wes Luttier starting for the Senators, the Giants were forced to counter with Clive Hines. In the end, that would prove costly as Washington took the game 7-2 and won the Series, 4 games to 2, gaining revenge for their loss in 1903.


HARLAN HOLLADAY, WASHINGTON

[legendsport]

The 1905 season featured the best pennant race in the 30-year history of the National League. Not just two, but four clubs were in the chase for the championship flag right up until the final month of the season. The Cincinnati Reds, Boston Beaneaters, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals swapped the lead back and forth between themselves for four months before the battle-tested Giants edged ahead and captured their fourth straight National League title.

The American League's race was also tight, but was a two-team affair between the Washington Senators and Cleveland Blues. In the end the Senators were simply too powerful, as they won 110 games and marched into a rematch of the 1903 World's Series with the New York Giants. The Senators featured two 30-game winners in Harlan Holladay and Wes Luttier, and were a well-balanced team which operated like a machine in dominating the American League.

But the Blues chased them heartily for more than half the season and finished with 94 victories - the same number of wins posted by the National League champion Giants. Cleveland was not as well-rounded as the Washington club, but did feature the best pitcher in all of base ball in 1905. Larry Singer, who grew up in nearby Mentor, Ohio, thrilled the Cleveland fans with the most dominating pitching performance in living memory. Singer's earned run average was below one run for more than half the season. His April ERA was 0.55. In May it was 0.69 and in June it was 0.61 as he dominated opposing lineups. Though it rose to human levels in the summer months (1.43, 1.82, 1.67 in July, August and September respectively), he still finished with a 1.13 mark, one which many expect to remain the benchmark for a long time to come. In the end, Singer won 29 games and lost 13 and almost single-handedly kept his club in the pennant race.

Another pitcher made big news as well: Boston's Stanley Sweetwater, the man who threw the first perfect game in history back in 1901, made 55 starts for the Beaneaters, compiling a 30-23 record to run his career victory total to 295. The workload may have proven too much for Sweets however, as he decided not to return to Boston in 1906, instead choosing to open a tavern in his hometown of Framingham, Massachusetts. He will be sorely missed.

The best teams in their respective leagues squared off for the rights to claim the title of World's Champions in a best-of-seven series at the conclusion of their leagues' championship seasons. The Washington Senators entered the series as three-time defending American League pennant-winners and boasting a 110-44 record in 1905. Their opponents brought credentials equally impressive: the Giants entered the series on the heels of their fourth-straight National League pennant and defeated these same Senators in the first of these "World's Series" in 1903.

With both teams boasting incredibly talented pitching, it was no surprise that both the first two games saw one team go scoreless. In the first game, the Senators' Harlan Holladay baffled the Giants just as he had the American League all season long in his 33-victory campaign and Washington won a 4-0 decision. In game two, it was the Giants' Aidan O'Day's time to shine - and shine he did - in a showdown with 31-game winner Wes Luttier. O'Day allowed just one hit in a 1-0 shutout.

The series moved to New York for games three, four and five. Game three went to the Senators, 5-4, with catcher Garrett Terry driving in a pair of runs for the Senators on a 2-for-4 day in a game in which both lineups celebrated not facing terrific pitching and combined for 17 hits. Game four went to the Giants, in a 14-inning nail-biter that the home team won 6-5. The big news for New York, which would play a role later on, was that ace Fred McDonnell struggled in his nine and a third innings. Game Five saw the Senators bounce back behind Harlan Holladay who was again masterful in outdueling Aidan O'Day by a 2-1 margin.

For game six, the Giants would have liked to start McDonnell for the third time, but he was tired from his extra-inning effort in game four and unable to start. With Wes Luttier starting for the Senators, the Giants were forced to counter with Clive Hines. In the end, that would prove costly as Washington took the game 7-2 and won the Series, 4 games to 2, gaining revenge for their loss in 1903.

In the so-called "minor" leagues, the Newark Sailors repeated as champions of the Eastern League. Newark was led by first baseman Charlie Worley and his league-best .381 average and the strong pitching of Roger Stewart who was 27-7 with a 1.73 ERA (both second in the league). In the midwest, the American Association pennant was again won by the Louisville Colonels. The Kentucky club featured both the league's top hitter (23-year-old Randolph Vaughan) and top pitcher (Don Hunsacker who posted a 1.26 ERA). And out west, the Pacific Coast League was won by the Seattle Siwashes, behind a pair of dominating pitchers: Frank Coil and Chuck Flinn. Coil is headed for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1906, while Flinn is presumably staying out west.


LARRY SINGER

[legendsport]

The 1906 season is underway! It was an interesting few weeks too. A few of the early storylines:

- The Giants got off to their usual slow start, going 8-7 over their first 15 games to place fifth in the current standings. And even though the roster got an overhaul this winter, you can safely bank on the New Yorkers being in the thick of things come September.

- The Cleveland Blues, following on the heels of a very strong 1905 campaign, may have found a gem in new third baseman Henry Lazarus. "Holy Hank" is leading the world in batting average with a .458 average. Purchased from the Memphis Egyptians of the Southern League this winter, Lazarus looks like a good one, and at just 22 years of age, could be around for quite a while. Even with Lazarus' hitting though, the Blues stumbled out of the gate and are last in the American League with a 4-12 mark.

- The Washington Senators are 13-4 and off to a fast start again. But their hopes for that fourth straight American League title may have hit a snag. Top pitcher Harlan Holladay suffered a leg injury on April 30 against Cleveland and may be out until August. Luckily for the defending World's Champions that Pat Krieger (4-0, 0.73 ERA) and Wes Luttier (3-1, 1.29 ERA) are pretty good too.

- The Cincinnati Reds, who battled most of the season in '05 for the pennant, also took it on the chin this April, finishing with a dismal 2-12 record for the month. There are a few bright spots: Ozark Ike Bunker's .389 average, Jasper Hinkley's .375 to name a couple, but the team's pitching has been dismal (aside from Jasper Ellis and his 2.09 ERA). Cincinnati's scored 37 runs, but allowed 74 and that's going to equate to a lot of losses.

- Brooklyn's Ed Mays was the top National League batter for April, hitting .326 and helping the Superbas to a second-place standing just a half-game behind the front-running St. Louis Cardinals.

- Is it time for Otis Chesterfield to make his mark in St. Louis? The best player in the Pacific Coast League last season, Chesterfield's contract was purchased for a large (and undisclosed) sum by the St. Louis Browns, but thus far in 1906, Otis has only played five games. Still, with his .308 average (in limited play), it won't be long before he is an everyday player, especially considered the lackluster play of the incumbents in left and right field.

The minor leagues - with the exception of the Pacific Coast League - are just getting underway and an update on their doings will be in the next edition.


HENRY LAZARUS

[legendsport]

While the races in both leagues somewhat resemble those of 1905, there are two big differences: the team which was battling the eventual champions (Cincinnati in the NL and Cleveland in the AL) are both in the basement in 1906. Brooklyn has taken the Reds' spot as the National League Cinderella team and currently boasts both a 19-7 record and a 2.5-game edge on the St. Louis Cardinals atop the standings. In the American League, the Senators are in their accustomed spot at the top, with Boston dogging their heels at 3.5 games back.

Washington's task in repeating is already facing the obstacle of Harlan Holladay's injured leg, but is also facing the real possibility that star third baseman Harvey Cart may be reaching the end of his career. Cart, who topped the .390 mark in batting average twice in his career and has a .332 mark for his career, has had a dismal May after starting April strong. His average currently sits at .240, but in May he is hitting .058 - yes, that's .058 - on a 3-for-52 performance for the month. Is it time for the Senators to consider replacing the team's cornerstone?

How is Brooklyn doing it? Aside from Ed Mays (.307), the lineup doesn't boast a regular with an average within twenty-points of .300, yet the team is 19-7 and in first place in the National League. The answer may be the pitching. Though none of the pitchers is dominant, they are all respectable. Erve Manning (6-2, 2.16), William Redd (6-0, 2.29), Bucky O'Connell (4-2, 2.79) and Leo Rosen (3-3, 2.94) are not setting the world on fire, but are doing enough to win games. Whether it will last remains to be seen. Fans in Brooklyn remember well the team's outstanding run in 1904 before falling apart in the second half of the season.

In the Eastern League, the Newark Sailors sit atop the standings - as usual - but their spot looks far from secure. Baltimore and Toronto are both just one game back and Buffalo is a mere two back. It is very early - none of the teams have played more than 20 games, so there is time to separate the wheat from the chaff. Jersey City right fielder "Tupelo" Terry Shatley may draw some interest from the National and American League teams. He's posted averages of .353 and .315 the last two seasons and is hitting a nice round .400 so far in '06. At 28 years old, the Mississippian can no doubt help somewhere.

American Association fans have grown accustomed to opening their morning papers to see the Louisville Colonels atop the standings. Well, in 1906, they're seeing a different team in the top spot - the Indianapolis Indians. The Indians feature both a top hitter in Goody Edwards (.337) and top pitcher in Joe Hahn (4-0, 0.71) and should be at or near the top of the standings throughout the summer.

Out on the West Coast, the Pacific Coast League is in full swing. Oakland is currently the top dog with a 43-21 mark, and is closely followed by Portland (41-23). Last year's dominant club, Seattle, is 32-32 and looking decidedly average. A pair of Los Angeles Angels (or Looloos as some of the locals are calling them) are both hitting .340 to top the batting charts (that'd be Rabbit Mills and Little Ben Benson), but the Angels do not appear to have the pitching to compete with Oakland and Portland.


"TUPELO" TERRY SHATLEY

[legendsport]

MAJOR MATTERS

The Washington Senators, despite the loss of Harlan Holladay to injury and with Harvey Cart enduring a month-long slump in which he hit just 9-for-82 in May, finished the month with a 33-14 record and a 3.5 game lead over Boston in their quest for a fourth straight American League pennant. Their success is probably attributable in large part to the .355 average of shortstop Ransom Miller and the steady pitching of Wes Luttier (8-3, 1.43 ERA), Pat Krieger (8-4, 2.06) and Silas Songer (9-2, 2.08 ERA).

The Boston Americans (or Pilgrims as they've come to be known) feature a pitcher who is 11-0 with a 1.83 ERA (Gus Merritt) and several hitters with high averages (Frank Dorsey - .369, Michael Swallow - .352, and Sean McGonigle - .331) but must feel snakebitten to still be 3.5 games off the pace set by Washington.

Over in the National League, the 29-14 New York Giants have claimed the top spot again - and much earlier than usual. That's not good news for this year's batch of challengers for the Gotham nine's throne. Chasing the Giants are the St. Louis Cardinals (4.5 back), the surprising Chicago Cubs (5 back) and Brooklyn (5.5 back). Those Cardinals currently feature the top hitter in the league in Hugh "The Little Giant" Harris, whose .374 not only tops the National League but is better than the best in the American (Dorsey's .369) as well. The Cardinals also have the top pitcher in Al Jones who has a 0.88 ERA but just a 6-5 won-loss record.

BEATING THE BUSHES

EASTERN LEAGUE: Buffalo, Baltimore and Newark have a tight three-way race going for the Eastern League pennant. Buffalo is on top, with Baltimore 1 back and Newark 2 behind. "The Rushin' Prussian" Hans Schaefer is continuing the career resuscitation he began a few years ago after losing his spot with the Cardinals. Schaefer, generally considered the fastest man in all of baseball, Schaefer has hit .331 in the Pacific Coast League with Tacoma (with 90 steals) in 1905 and now is hitting .361 for Baltimore in the Eastern League and has swiped 26 bases in 35 games.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: In the Association, the Indianapolis club has a 5-game edge on Toledo in the pennant race. The big news in the circuit is the emergence of 21-year-old Steve Kamp. The Columbus left fielder is leading the loop in batting with a .357 average - a very large improvement over his .221 average of a year ago. Kamp is from Novi, Michigan and has expressed a desire to play for Detroit (but we'd wager he'd accept a job with any of the other 15 teams at the game's top level).

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: Oakland retains a 3-game league over Portland with Los Angeles sitting six back. Will Benson of the Angels continues to lead the loop in hitting with a .355 average. Dave Drone is second in the league in hitting (.339) as he continues to try to make his way back to the top, playing for San Francisco.


Steve Kamp, Columbus

[legendsport]

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)

[legendsport]

We might have a race in the American League after all. The Boston Americans continue to dog the heels of the Washington Senators, ending June just 2.5 games behind the perennial front-runners in the AL. Boston is doing it on the basis of the strength of their batting, as they have the second-best average in the loop at .250 while Washington's .238 is slightly below the league average (.239). Washington is winning on the strength of its pitching (as usual) with a 1.89 team ERA that is the best - by far - in either league.

The National race is slightly wider, with the Giants maintaining a tidy 5.5 game lead on the Brooklyn Superbas.

[legendsport]

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

[legendsport]

The National League race has tightened up as August reaches its midpoint.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have charged into the fray, winning all 13 of their
games so far this month, including a four-game sweep of the first-place
Giants and gaining six games on the front-runners to sit just two back. The
Phillies have dropped back to nine behind the Giants and need to get back
on track to remain in the chase.

The American League champion Senators got their ace pitcher back in the
fold this month. After missing three months, Harlan Holladay returned to
the mound in August and has posted a 2-1 record and 1.80 ERA so far this
month. Overall, Washington is 8-3 thus far and now has a 5.5 game edge on
the Cleveland Blues.

[legendsport]

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)

[legendsport]

Is this the end for the Giants' dynasty? The National League juggernaut has fallen 5.5 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in their quest to record a fifth-straight pennant. With just three weeks left in the season, time is running out for the Giants to capture the flag. The Pirates, who roared through the first fortnight of August, have slowed since then, but are still playing good, solid base ball and seem to have a hold on what would be their first pennant. With Harry Francis (20-14, 2.24) leading the pitching and Jeremiah Thiel (.315, 17 triples) pacing the offense, the Pirates will be tough to catch. One thing working against them: Fred Brown, their third baseman and second-leading hitter (.282) will miss the remainder of the season with an injury.

Joining the Giants in the race to catch Pittsburgh is the Boston Beaneater club. Boston is also 5.5 games back and split six games with New York so far this month. A big series at the end of September looms between the Boston and Pittsburgh clubs, while the Giants get their chance with the Pirates in a three-game series starting on the 17th of September. That series will go a long way towards determining the 1906 National League pennant.

In the American League, things may be getting interesting. The Cleveland club has showed some resilience, climbing back into contention after looking to be all but dead at the beginning of September. Cleveland posted an 8-4 mark to start the month while front-running Washington posted a 5-7 mark, cutting three games off their Senators' lead, which now stands at five games. Unfortunately, Cleveland will need to take care of business and hope for the best from other clubs because the teams do not meet until the last day of the season for a one-game matchup. Whether that game will mean anything remains to be seen.


FRED BROWN, PITTSBURGH