Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-04
Years Changes in Batting in
the Big Leagues.
INTERESTING STATISTICS
More Stick Artists Fell OFF Than Ad-
vanced.
SEVERAL STARS WHO BACKsLID
Tommy Burns to Fight Jack john
son-National Board OF Re-
view-New Orleans Races.

IN both the National and American
leagues this year more batsmen fell on IN
their averages from the year before than
gained In the National League forty
four batters fell of and f1fty-six gained,
and in the American fifty-one gained and
sixty-two retrograded. The topmost bat
Ter in each league improved on his 13Od
figures. Wagner, the National League
leader, who also held that position In
1906, gained eleven points in 1907, while
Cobb, the American League leader, gained
thirty-two points in 1907, and rose from
sixth to first place.
A remarkable thing in connection with
the up-and down shifts of the different
batters is that not one OF the men on the
Washington pay roll but that improved
over last years figures. There is no line
on Clymer. the best sticker of the Ma
tionals as he didn't play last year on &C
count of broken or sprained ankle and
Jim Delehanty shifted so often that no
trace could be kept OF his work. but there
IS hardly a question but that both these
men hit harder than they did in 1906.
The old vet" Jack Warner. whom a
few of the fans want to get rid OF. bat
ted against the fine American League
pitchers in both years and went up 29
points over his 1906 record. Ganley and
1906 than they did this year. but both
managed to advance. which demonstrates
that both are getting better. Look over
Charley Jones record He went or q
great deal toward the end of the past
season, but notwithstanding did "a points
better than in 1907. These comparisons
are not only interesting but valuable, and
1t is TO be regretted that it is impossible
to work out the detail work OF every man
in both leagues.
Stars Fell Back.
Two noted performers with the ash in
the American League who fell foul of a
diminishing average were Lajoie and
Keller. Lajoie was reduced six numbers
In rank and was fifty-six points poorer in
average than in 1906. Keller fell from
eleventh 10 seventy-third place and fell
off sixty-eight points. The biggest gain
was made by Bill Donovan, who climbed
from 14Sth to thirty-ninth place and i'm
proved his average by 14o points. The
biggest loss is charged to Wakefield, the
Cleveland catcher, who dropped from
twenty-ffth to Hath place and sliced l4o
points off his 1906 percentage. Griffith s
new innelder. Harry Niles. took big
dump forward, as did Al Ortiz
The first seven batters in the National
League all gained this year.
Riches Big Increase.
The biggest increase in the National
League was made by Richie. the Philadel-
phia pitcher. He advanced 113 points
The biggest decrease was experienced by
ferguson, the New York pitcher. He
shot from second to 149th place and made
the tremendous backside of "1S points.
Lumley and Steinfeldt. two first-class hit
tiers, fell off materially.
A notable gain was made by Pitcher
Killian of Detroit. He scared from 123d
to sixth place and bettered his batting
average $50 points. The way the players
ranked in 1906 and 1907 and the gains or
losses in points are shown by the follow
ing tables: