The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-15
OFFICIAL RECORDS
 SHOW SURPRISES Batting Averages Show COnSid-
 erable Falling Off PIGGY WARD HEADS LIST Base Running Is Also Below Average of Last Year-Fieldins as a
 Whole Was Even and
 Sharp.
 
PIGGY WARD HEADS LIST

Little Rock. December 14.-Compared with the official records of 1903 the offi- eial figures just compiled by Secretary Clark Miller of the Southern league for the season ended in September show marked changes in many particulars. Some surprises appear, too. To begin with. the first thing to strike the eye is the falling off in the batting of players. The official figures for 1903 showed that thirty-two players hit for more than .SOO' and of this number twenty-five partici- pated in more than fifteen games In the season of 1904 only ten players are within the charmed circle, and of this number but four were really regular players" The veteran Piggy" Ward, who finished the season with Birming- ham. heads the list with a mark of .945 for IS games. Next comes Blake of Lit tie Rock, who in ten games hit for .393. As these two participated in so few games their marks can scarcely be ac- cepted as criterions. Jack Gilbert, how ever made a more consistent record, as in 132 games he hit for .327. Fourth on the list is Harry Bussey, whose record was made in 31 games Pug Bennett hit for the same average as did the veteran, and his mark should be regarded as nor mal as 1t covered Al games Molesworth, as usual got over the 300 mark, as did Joe Stanley, who played in 100 games. Mckay, Atlanta's invaluable all-round man. came in for .314 in 90 games, and would deem to be about his speed. partic- ularly in view of the fact that Mckay in these 95 games played practically eV- cry position on the diamond including pitcher.
 Dungan Injured Early.
 Having gone through the 300 hitters, surprises begin to turn up. For instance, Dungan who has seldom before fallen below .3O0 hit but .2sS, but this may be attributed to his injury early in the sea sen.
 Just what is the cause for the slump in hitting this year is rather difficult t. state. Some blame the foul-strike rule others say 1t is due to the improved quality of the pitchers, while still others assign the light stick work to the infe- rior or punk" ball used in tr league. No matter what the cause, nevertheless the effect is plain-less hitting than ever before.
 The official averages also prove con eusively that the Southern league class Is far from brush talent" alleged by some of the cock-sure authorities in the north As a proof of this, it is noticed that a number of players who had no trouble In hitting heavy in the American assoeiation--whch shares with the East ern the honor of being supposedly the fastest minor league in the country came south fozzled dreadfuly, many of them showing even mediocre quality when compared to their Southern con freres
 Base Running of.
 Base running. too, was slightly less than last year-on paper, but as a mat ter of fact there was less of the hog mad" work on the paths. Joe Rickert was the star base stsaler with " to his credit. Jimmy Smith and Frank Nor cum of Shreveport started out to steal bases in a manner that led to the sup position 1t would be between these two for the pilfering honors, but Smith lost interest in the game and Norcum re- ceived an injury which impaired his speed and ability to slide daringly.
 The fielding. on the whole, was even and sharp. Among the shortstops Jake Atz and Jimmy Smi,h once more stand ia front but one point separating them. This year however, the positions are re- versed Smith being number one
 Pop Welkart is the real leader or the first basemen and Gene DeMontreville made the best showing at the initial sack, with Schaub displaying the best form at third, according to the number of games played, he having not been out O. any game during the year.
 Fox and Hurlburt obtained the best marks among the catchers, and Jack Ely would seem to have been the best fielding pitcher.
 As 10 won and lost games Charley Smith of Atlanta lead, but Goodwin, Wiggs and Mcintyre made most excel lent records.
 The official averages in full are as