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Defending World Series champ Boston was the American League’s top team in April at 15-7 atop the East Division. Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New York were each at 12-10. In the AL West, Minnesota and Detroit were tied for first at 12-10. St. Louis had a rough start at 6-16. Louisville was by far the top team in the majors in April at 19-3. That gave them a five game National League West Division lead over 14-8 St. Louis. Boston and Buffalo at 14-8 were tied for the NL East lead.

AL Batter of the Month went to Nationals LF Scott Stratton with a .367 average, 5 home runs, 22 RBI, and 15 runs. Reigning MVP Mike Tiernan of the Braves took the NL honor on a .303 average, 8 homers, 25 RBI, and 20 runs. The Red Sox’s Charlie Ferguson was AL Pitcher of the Month on a 4-1 record, 3.51 ERA, and 31 strikeouts in 41 innings. Buffalo’s Jack Sharrott was the NL’s best pitcher and rookie on a 5-0 record, 1.91 ERA, and 27 Ks in 47 innings. AL Rookie of the Month was Yankees pitcher Billy Rhines with a 2.13 ERA, 2-2 record, and 13 Ks in 38 innings.

The bad injury luck continued for Brooklyn two-way star Bob Caruthers, who suffered a torn flexor tendon in mid-April with a nine month recovery time. It is the third straight year that the 26-year old lefty will miss well over half of the season. “Parisian Bob” had shoulder inflammation in 1888 and a partially torn labrum in 1889.

Tiernan and Buffalo’s Fred Carroll both had 20-game hitting streaks ended in April that carried over from 1889. White Sox C Jocko Milligan also had a 20-game hit streak. Giants star Dan Brouthers and Cubs 2B John Grim both hit for the cycle.
In bad news for Cleveland, 2B Lou Bierbauer, an all-star last year, is out five months on a ruptured foot tendon. The Phillies lost their all-star 2B Chick Fulmer for the season to a torn ACL.