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Heading into the first-ever MLB All-Star Game, the Chicago White Sox pulled away from the rest of the majors. At 55-28, Chicago was seven wins ahead of any other team. Their pitching staff had allowed only 278 runs; the only team below 300, with a 2.91 team ERA, the only team below three. They also continued to get great hitting from RF Dennis Casey, who led all of MLB with 71 RBI and was tied for the home run lead at 23. Kansas City at 44-39 was a very distant second in the American League West despite Pud Galvin’s 5.5 WAR on the mound. Detroit had fallen to 42-41.

Washington emerged as the AL East leader at the midway point at 49-34. From June 14 onward, the Nationals went 18-3. New York was second at 44-39 with Baltimore third at 42-41. The Orioles had been in the mix until going 1-9 in their last ten games before the break. Cleveland was fourth at 41-42 with an 8-2 mark in their last ten.

Minnesota C Emil Goss was the AL’s Batter of the Month with 32 hits, 10 homers, 22 RBI, 19 runs, 11 walks, and a .467 OBP. New York’s Bert Dorr was the top pitcher with a 1.20 ERA in six starts, 52.2 innings, 44 Ks, 6 walks, and 5-0 record.

Chicago and Cincinnati remained the top squads in the National League and were keeping pace with each other in the NL West. The Cubs had first place at 49-34 with the Reds two back at 47-36. Chicago 1B Dave Orr had the best OPS (1.132) and WAR (5.6) in the majors. Indianapolis had inserted themselves into the conversation at 46-37. The Clowns had been 6.5 back entering June, but were now within three games.

In the NL East, no one team was able to separate themselves from the pack. Buffalo had the lead still at 44-39, but four other teams were within five games of the Bisons. Orr was also the Batter of the Month for June in the NL with a .454 average, 9 homers, 28 RBI, and 28 runs. Pittsburgh’s John Fischer was the best pitcher with a 2.53 ERA over seven starts with 48 strikeouts over 57 innings.

Detroit’s Billy Taylor saw his hitting streak end at 29 games on June 4 against Kansas City. This is the longest streak thus far in MLB’s brief history. New Orleans’ 2B Joe Werrick was the second player to hit for the cycle, doing it versus Louisville on June 3.

Milwaukee took a big blow with the loss of ace pitcher Lady Baldwin, who suffered a torn flexor tendon in his elbow on June 24. The 25-year old lefty had a 2.14 ERA over 126.1 innings and had posted 3.8 WAR on the season. He was the Brewers’ second round pick in the inaugural draft and is expected to be out for more than a full year.

Below are the league leaders at the midway point of the season.