BROWNS AND PIRATES SET THE PACE AS PENNANT RACES WARM WITH THE WEATHER
May’s Close Finds Both Leagues in Spirited Contest — Monthly Honors Announced
By Arthur H. Leland, Sporting Times
June 1st 1918
With May consigned to the record books and the freshness of spring yielding to the first warmth of summer, both major circuits are providing the public with pennant races of genuine vigor and uncertainty.
In the American League, the St. Louis Browns continue to hold command of the field. The Browns maintain a slender advantage of one and one-half games over the determined Philadelphia Athletics, who press them closely with consistent play. The Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators remain within striking distance, each standing three games off the pace.
Meanwhile, in Cleveland, any lingering glow from last year’s triumph has dimmed considerably. The Cleveland Indians find themselves anchored to the foot of the table, nine full games behind the leaders and searching for steadier fortunes.
The National League has witnessed a change in leadership, as the Pittsburgh Pirates have ascended to the top rung. They hold a margin of one game over both the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals, making for a tightly-bunched trio at the summit. For the erstwhile leaders, the Brooklyn Robins, the past month has proven unkind; they have slipped to fourth place, two and one-half games off the lead. At the opposite extreme, the Boston Braves bear the unenviable distinction of holding the poorest record in all of base ball, resting ten games behind the front-running Pirates.
Monthly Honors
In the American League, the batting laurels for May belong to Sherry Magee of the St. Louis Browns, whose vigorous stick-work produced a .371 average, accompanied by 12 runs batted in and 18 runs scored. Pitching honors were secured by Dave Danforth of the Chicago White Sox, who compiled a 6–1 record with a splendid 1.41 earned run average. Rookie distinction falls to Rudy Kallio of the Browns, his 3–3 mark and 3.50 ERA marking him as a newcomer of promise.
In the National League, Babe Ruth of the Pittsburgh club claims top batting honors, having struck at a .312 clip with 3 home runs, 20 runs batted in, and 18 runs scored. On the mound, Bullet Joe Bush of the St. Louis Cardinals delivered masterful work, fashioning a 5–1 record and a 1.62 ERA. Among the first-year men, Eric Erickson of the Cincinnati Reds distinguished himself with a 7–5 ledger and a 3.87 earned run average.
Thus stands the state of affairs as June begins — the races tight, the honors earned, and the promise of a stirring summer before us.
