The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-05
Baseball World Attracted
 to Major League Rag Races
Giants and Tanks in Midst of Fight for Leadership in Respective Leagues-Red SOx Attain Stride-Sena- tors Slump-Pirates Are Advancing

The breaking of the New York Ma tionals' long winning streak last week after they had won 17 consecutive games, has diverted the attention of the baseball world to the remarkably close pennant races in both the Ma tiOnal and American leagues. For the first time in years the New York Giants and the Yankees running neck and neck for the leadership in their respective leagues, both teams being in second place, less than a game below the leaders. In the National league 1t Is anybOdy's race, only q half dozen games separating Brooklyn at the top from St. Louis at the bottom.
 The record breaking road trip of the Giants, who returned to their home Friday after winning 19 out of 21 games, still, however, remains the sensation of the season. On this first swing around the circuit, the Giants established reputation as scoring machine, making 115 runs and PIP hits in their 21 games, an average of more than five runs ana 10 hits a game.
 The western teams of the National league showed up more favorably the past week. This was especially true of Pittsburg, which jumped from last
 
 seven games, and of Cincinnati, which displaced Chicago from the leadership of the second division. The Cincinnati team, on it's first trip east this sea- son, displayed we'll balanced organ ization which it is believed will be favored pennant race.
 The only western team which failed to make a good showing was St. Louis, which lost five out of eight games and dropped into last place. Phil adelphia, although losing four out of seven games, remains in third position, while the Boston Braves split even in eight games and clung to the end of the first division
 SENATORS SUFFER SLUMP
 In the American league, Clark Grif- fith's Washington team had a very poor week, failing to win a game, and fell from the league leadership into third position, while Cleveland, al- though losing a majority of its games, came back into first position, with the Yankees immediately at their heels. Washington's hold on third place, more over, is threatened seriously by the worlds champion Boston team, which in the week ending Saturday. lost only one game out of six. The Red SoX pitching staff seemingly is returning to world series form and the outfield. minus the services of Iris Speaker, is rounding into shape. In the last week the champions made a total of only five errors less than that of any other team in either league. Clarence wal ker, the young outfialder who has succeeded Speaker, gave evidence of hitting ability, making two doubles and triple in Wednesdays game.
 Detroit's hitters, who have been slow in rounding into form, showed last week, notably in the case of Cobb and the team increased a little further on the leaders by di- viding eight games, while Chicago held it's position by winning five out of seven St. Louis pulled out of last place by heavy hitting and Connie Mack's reorganized Athletics, although displaying good pitching, fell back into their familiar position at the bottom of the list.
 WEEKS RECORD
 The weeks record in each league Of games played, won and lost with runs, hits, errors, including the game Satur-