The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-18
SPORTING news.
Second Batch Of National
League Averages Discussed.
A Big Number ofChanges Takes
Place in Two Weeks.
MAGOON LEADS SECOND
Cincinnati Player Bright Fea-
ture at Bag Number 2.
Improvement All Along the
Line in the Batting.

Cincinnati, May 1s.-The Enquirer
says: The second installment of Ma
tional league averages proves conclu-
sively that many changes can take
place in the short space of two weeks.
Players who were driving many of the
pitchers to drink during the scramble
to get off in front have taken a de-
cided slump in the manufacture of
singles. AS a sample in this respect the
case of Bransfield of Pittsburg, can be
taken as criterion. The first batch of
averages showed the husky Pirate
smashing out all kinds Of licks which
entitled him to the figure of an even
400. The latest output puts quite diff
ferent aspect to his standing among the
sluggers with a nleasly .2S0.
As contrast to the above, those whs
have saved the Enquirer of Sunday.
May 3. viii note that Kelley. of Cncin-
natl, has jumped from .25S to .316. Jake
Beckley also seems to have brushed the
cinders from his eyes, swelling his aver
age from the disgraceful figures Of .195
to 80. DOnlin has advanced 20 points.
While Seymour is Slowly but surely
getting back into his 1902 form, Jump
ing into the big class with 1923 from
In all probability the work Of the
Reds second baseman. Masoon, has
been the bright feature Of the league
since that player Supplanted MOrrOsey
at bag No 2. Not only is AIagoon lead
ing the league for second baseman field
ing hOnors. but he has many of the
alleged sluggers beaten block with his
truStg hat.
Steinfeldt still leads the entire list OF
his colleagues in batting. Consistent
efforts with the stick have retained him
well up in the front
Mertes. of New York. has a double
Nelson hold on the top of the push.
with Bresnahan, Of the same team. en-
deavoiing to butt in. Dexter, of BOs~
ton, ranks third and Steinfeldt fourth.
/ All things considered there has been
a Dig Improvement all along the line in
regard to batting Thirty men are now
IN the society of the .3O0-of this num-
Der Cincinnati and New York claim six
/ each, Pittsburg and Chicago four each,
Brooklyn and Boston divide six between
themselves, while Philadelphia and St.
Louis do likewise with four
Sheckard, of Brooklyn. and McGann
of New York, are having a royal battle
for the base running honors. In p
games Mccain has copied Is bases,
/ While Sheckard has Dilfered the same
number In "A games. May Mccain
stole four bases in one game off Gather
Roth. of Philadelphia. Doyle, of Brook
/ lyn is leading the van of first basemen
/ one point above BranS6eld, sof Pitts
/ burg. Wolverton. of the Quakers. held
4 the honor among the third men. and
/ Dunn. of New York. is showing up as a
star shOrtstOp. There is cOnsiderab BILE
1 interesting facts in the pitchers record
| tables, which show that neither Nc
Ginnity. of New York. nor Jones. OF
Brooklyn, has lost game this season.
Mathewson. of New York. has struck
out 4S men in six games, a feat only
! equaled by Wadden of the Philadelphia
American League, team, who has struck
/ out go in seven games.
New York is still leading in club bat
Z ting, Brooklyn in club fielding Cincin-
natl ranks fourth in all departments,
batting, fielding and in long hits by
clubs.
Last season the Reds led the entire
I year in the matter of double plays, but
in the present race they are having
their troubles to keep up with the 9TH
ers. The record uD to compiling the
/ following figures was as follows: Pitts
burg, st. Louis and Chicsg 70 tie. with
19 each; Brooklyn 1S. Philadelphia 10,
Cincinnati Il, Boston 13 and New York