The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-31
TY COBB TAKES
BATTING HONORS
OF AMERICAN
Detroit Star Has Average of
.377 When He Leaves Base
ball to Enter Army.

CHICAGO, Aug. 31.-Capt Tyrus
Raymond Cobb, who this week stepped
from the spotlight of baseball into the
chemical division of the army, took
with him the 1918 batting honors of
the American league.
AS the Detroit star stood bowling
before the falling curtain Of the game,
fandom realized that he had taken
these first honors every year since
1912 with the exception of one season,
when In 1916, iris Speaker nosed him
out. Cobb's average, according to fig
ures released today, is 81 Burns,
of Philadelphia is second with .346,
and George Sisler, the st. Louis first
baseman, third, with 1877.
Cobb, however, did not excel In
base stealing. for Siser, with total of
forty. leads by six over the Georgian.
Chapman of Cleveland, is sandwiched
between them with thirty-six. Chap
man Is leading in sacrifice hitting with
thirty-four while Shean of Boston, is
close up with thirty-three, and McIn-
mis-. Shean's teammate, next, with
thirty.
Babe" Ruth, the Boston star, and
Walker. of Philadelphia, remain tied
FOR honors in home run hitting with
eleven each. Boston, 1918 champion,
leads the league in club fielding with
an average of 81, but is sixth in bat
ting with .246. Cleveland, the runner
up in the race, tops the league In bat
ting with .260.
Leading batters: Cobb. Detroit. .377;
Burns, Philadelphia. .346; Sisler, st.
Louis, .337; Speaker. Cleveland .321;
Pipp. New York, .304: Wood, Cleve-
land. 1908; Baker, New York, .3O1;
Walker. Philadelphia, .29S: Ruth, Bos-
ton, .297; Demitt, ST. Louis, .296.
Batting honors in the National league
race probably will not be decided until
the final games of the season Monday,
Eddie Roush, the Cincinnati star. is
pressing "Zack" Wheat, the Brooklyn
veteran, for the lead, according to to-
days average, which includes games
of Wednesday. Wheat's mark is Sal
Roush is three points behind him.
There are only two members Of the
Chicago club, champions Of the league,
in the select group of 300 hitters.
They are oollocher, the youthful short
stop. and Merkle, who considers his
playing record of the season will for
ever silence those who dubbed him
"bonehead." Hollocher, with an ave
age of 800, dropped into fourth place,
relinquishing third to Heinie Groh, of
Cincinnati.
Max Carey of Pitsburg is certain to
finish the race with theiving honors.
He has stolen fifty-zve bases, while
George Burns of New York, next in the
list, has thirty-nine. Roush is the lead
ing sacrifice hitter his total of thirty
three giving him lead OF five over
Mellwitz, of Pittsburg.
In home run hitting, Cravath of Phil
adelpha, tops the list with seven. Gin
cinnati is in first place in team batting
with an average of .21S, while Chicago
is second with .216 Chicago also is
second in team fielding, New York
leading with OIL.
Leading batters: z. Wheat Brook
lyn. 3i1; Roush. Cincinnati. 3SS; Groh,
Cincinnati. 1888: Hollocher, Chicago,
800; J. C. Smith, Boston, .313; Daub
ert. Brooklyn. .313; Merkle, Chicago,
.304: Burns, New York, .296; Young,
New York, .2S4 Hornsby, st. Louis,
292.