New Britain herald., 1917-12-03
.ROUSH LEADS OLD
LEAGUE IN BATTING
Reds Outhelder Clouts Way to
&t Average HornSby Is Next

al. NNoW AOTk' Zee. 3.-Edd1e ROuSh
former Giant and Federal Lacquer,
nad the honor of leading the National
league In batting last season. Accord
ing 70 the official averages issued yes
terday the Cincinnati outtielder batted
Isl IN 1876 games. Roush won his
batting crown in his second year in
the National league and in the first
year that he was used as n regular
through an entire season. Roush is
one OF the youngest men to win =
major league batting championship,
being only "a years old. He is the
youngest man to win a batting cham
pionship since Ty Cobb won his first
American league title in 1907 at the
are OF 20.
The runner up in the National
league was another "kid," the plump,
rosy checked Roger Hornsby of the
y 81. Louis Cardinals. Hornsby is only
81 years old. Hornsby, who has been
playing big league ball two full sea-
4 sons and q fraction of another, hit
:e&7, q gain Of fourteen points over
HIS great showing in 1916.
Third place goes to the veteran
lack Wheat of Brooklyn, who hit
1912, while Benny Kauff of the Giants
won fourth honors with an average
OF .3OS. which was a vast improve
ment over his performance in 1915.
The remaining 800 hitters were
Hetne Groh of the Reds. hitting ,3O4,
and George Burns of the Giants, who
hit 1902. OF the six 800 hitters in the
National league two are Giants two
are former Giants and third has
In Brooklyn.
Only Six 300 Hitters.
A group of only six 300 batters-
the smallest colony of 800 hitters the
National league ever has had, seems
to be conclusive proof that something
should be done to stimulate batting.
Year by year the 800 class has
dwindled, and this year there are only
two men above .315.
Burns, the Giants lead off man, had
a clear lead in scoring runs, carrying
los markers over the plate He had
no close rivals. Heinie Groh of the
Reds being second with 81 runs Groh
also cracked out the greatest number
OF hits, 1872, though he took part in
156 games.
Groh had plenty of honors, as he
also displayed the most prowess in
knocking out two baggers, getting 80.
Hornsby drove out the most three
zee hits, It, while Robertson of the
Giants and Cravath of the Phillies
ed for home run honors, with IL
aerh. Though Cravath is slipping. he
"a ~ain led in extra bases, his extra
ase total being 81. Roush and Groh
tied for the greatest number Of singles
each driving out 141 one base slams.
Max Carey Of the Pirates led the
league in stealing Bases Scoop" hav-
Ing 46 to his credit. Burns was sec
ond with 40>and Kauff was third with
80. Charley Deal Of the Cubs laid
down the most sacrifice hits-20.
Reds Leading Batters.
The mauling ability of Matty's Reds
was ably shown In the records, Gin
cinnau having the highest team bat
ting average, the greatest number Of
extra bases and the most triples. The
Reds had a team batting average Of
1854, which was three points better
than the one compiled by the cham
pion Giants, who were second, with
an average of .261. Brooklyn finished
fifth in team batting with an average
Of .247.
The Giants scored the greatest num-
Der Of runs, stole the most bases and
had the greatest number Of singles
and home runs. It is interesting to
note that of their thirty-nine home
runs eighteen were made on the road
which shows the Giants could crack
out homers without the aid of the
easy Polo Grounds fences.
Two hundred and fortv-four play
ers took part In the 1917 National
league campaign, but of these only
40 got into the fifteen games neces-
sary to get a rating in the averages
Fred Luderus, captain of the Phillies
was the only player who took part ir
every game played by his club-164
Groh of the Reds played In Sc games
but his club played 1877. while Care,
Of Pittsburgh took part in 1856 of the
1877 games played by the Pirates.