Evening star., 1909-05-23
jim AUSTIN THE
GREAT SLUGGER
Cleveland Boy, With Yankees,
Nominal Leader in
American League.

Jimmy" Austin. the clever Cleveland
player with the New York Yankees has
the honor of being on top in the batting
averages Of the American League.
This is speaking mighty well for the
clever utility inielder OF the Highlanders.
who by the way, is bound to make good
IL given a chance. No wonder his friends
In The Forest city are roofing for the
former shortstop Of the Franklin Athletic
Club of that city.
In the nine games in which he has par
ticipated Jimmy has been to bat eight
cen times and made seven hits for an
average Of 1888. If he keeps up this clip
Manager Stallings is sure to give him
plenty Of work
Austin and "Dode'' Paskert left Cleve-
land togther for Dayton in 1904, where
Austin played two years, when Omaha
Of the Western League drafted him. Pas
kert was drafted by Atlanta and Is now
with the Cincinnati Reds. Both lads
played side by side in the famous old +.
A. G. days.
Iris Speaker Real Leader.
iris Speaker of the Bostons Is the real
leader Of the league, although standing
third in the averages. having participated
In twenty-one games and made twenty
eight hits. He is the candy lad with tho
long hits and leads the league In this re-
spect with six doubles and four triples
for a total of twenty-four extra bases. II
begins to look as though Sam Crawford
and Ty Cobb will have to hustle to be in
the race for this honor.
Speaker looks to be one Of the best men
who have broken into the American
League since the days OF Ty Cobb and
promises to be just as big sensation. he
is finished ball player, both at the bat
md in, fhp Hn1I md hn !,
present clip may give Cobb the tussle OF
his career to win the batting champion
ship. Speaker hit the Cleveland pitchers
with the same effect as the eastern twirl-
he will do against the other pitchers in
the western cities.
Sixteen Men Bat 800.
There are sixteen men In the 300 list
in the averages. OF this number Lajoie
is the only Naplet with an average OF
.SO2, a gain Of fourteen points. Birming-
ham has taken slump during the last
week. but has the honor of being second
heavy Cleveland hitter with an average
Of 10.
George Stone Of the Browns Is giving
Iris Speaker a tussle for the batting
honors with an average of .357 Stone is
| the one man who appears to have
chance for the batting honors among the
veterans. for Cobb has failed to strike
his stride and is hitting around :79
Matty Mcintyre Of the Tigers is the
leading hit-maker Of the league, having
y to his credit. with Speaker and Craw-
ford second, each having made u. while
Lajoie is the first Clevelander to pass the
20 mark.
Larry Among Sluggers.
Nap also took a step forward in the
| list of the first ten sluggers Of the league,
being sixth. with Speaker, Murphy and
Hoffman. as well as Mcintyre and Craw-
ford, ahead Of him. In doubles, Speaker
leads the league with six. and also In
| triples. but "Wahoo SAM has the honor
| Of being the only man to make two home
runs this season.
The Tigers lead the league in long hits
by clubs, Ahile Cleveland stands fourth
and the White Sox fifth. In fielding the
Chicagos have everything beaten. while
the Clevelands are sixth. In double plays
the Maps have safe lead. while tho
Athletic catchers have the greatest num-
ber OF passed balls. q total of seven.
"Ty'' Cobb and Billy Keller are hav-
ing a merry chase for the stolen base
honors. each having made eleven, while
| the New York outfielder also leads In
sacrifices, with ten.