The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1919-10-08
Cobb Premier Batsmsh.
by The Associated Preys.)i

1byThe Associated SPreSs.)
Chicago, Oct. 8.---Tvrus Raymond
Cobb still is the, premier batter among
the regulars Of the American league,
according to complete but unofficial
averages made public today. TIE
Detroit outfielder during the past
season hung up 9 batting mark Of
-381 in 124 games, one point less than
his 1918 record and giving him the
league leadership Tor the eleventh
time in the last thirteen seasons. In
addition, the Georgia Peach" was
second n base stealing, second in
numberSof5h hits and 1lear the top in
total bases. The only years since
1907 that Cobb has not led the lea
que in hitting are 1908 when Crisis Of
st. Louis was supreme and 1916
when Speaker was champion.
In figures, Eddie Murphy, pinch
hitter for the champion Chicago White
,Sox, led with an average Of .457, but
he participated in only thirty-one
games and only a few times did he
play a full game. Following close
on Cobb's heels was Harris, the Cleve-
land Indian slugger, with a mark Of
1916. Harris made a valiant effort
during the last week Of play to over
come his rivals lead and at one time
was only a point behind. In the final
game of the season, however, the De-
troiter rallied and swatted three hits
in four attempts off White Sox pitch
ers, thus clinching the leadership,
Veach, Cobb's teammate, came next
in the averages, hitting 1856, while
Sisler of St. Louis and Flagstead, an
other Detroiter, followed with rec
ords of .344 and 1893 respectively, Tob-
in, St. Louis, 1925; Ruth, Boston, 1924;
jacobson, st. Louis, 1921 were other
leading sluggers.
The record of "Babe". Ruth, the ia
nous Boston pitcher and outfielder
was one Of the most remarkable ever
hung up in the American league. The
Red Sox player broke all records for
the greatest number of home runs in
q season by knocking out an even thir-
ty circuit drives, getting his last two
in a doubleheader September 81
against the White Sox. In addition he
showed the way to the other long dis
lance clouters by obtaining a total of
288 bases on his drives and also led
the run, getters, scoring 103 runs in
100 games, despite the fact that he
batted in the cleanup position and not
at the top, where the leading scorers
usually are found.
Eddie Collins, captain of the White
Sox, stole more bases than any 9TH
erst player, the opposing catchers fail
ing to get him in "a Of his efforts.
His record however, is far under that
of Sisler in 1918, the St. Louis first
sacker stealing forty-five times that
season. Sisler led in stealing this
year until the last two weeks of the
season when an injury handicapped
him. He finished third with % thefts
Cobb having a record of two more.
Chapman, of Cleveland, made the
most sacrifice hits, purposely ad-
vancing the runner fifty times, Witt
Of Boston and Collins, of Chicago,
were next with 48 each. In two-bag-
gers and three-baggers. Veach, De-
troit, was highest with 40 two base
blows and 16 three baggers. Veach
also led in the greatest number Of
hits with 1872, two more than Cobb
obtained.
In the club averages the Chicago
White Sox showed why they won the
pennant by making a club batting
average of .287, five points better
than Detroit which was second with
1882. Cleveland was third with a