The Washington herald., 1920-12-14
SISLER STANDS
AMONG GREATEST,
2ORECORDS SHOW
Led League in Batting
And Hits, Official Fig
ures Show.
By JACK NYE.


Babe Ruth, the big noise in the
American League last season was
George Sisler, first sacker of the st.
Louis Browns.
Fans are familiar with the won-
derful work of the st. Louis star.
While they turned out in droves to
see Ruth hammer one over the fence,
the also packed the stands to marvel
at the speed, fielding ability and bat
ting prowess of Sisler. to whom has
been accorded the crown once held
by Ty Cobb.
Batting records just issued by Ir-
win NJ. Howe, Official statistician of
the American League, differ little
from the final averages issued just
after the close of the season. They
do, however, again impress upon the
public the greatness of Sisler, who
has taken his place abong the great
est players of all time.
Some of Sisters Records.
Here are just few of the ac-
complishments of the Brown star
last season:
He led the league in batting with
an average of .407, forcing Ty Cobb
TO yield first place to a rival for in
diyidual clubbing honors for the
second time in fourteen years.
He led all in safe hits with 257,
n new American League record,
Cobb's PAS, made in 1911 being the
high water mark until now.
He was also first in total bases
with 3ss.
He was tied with Iris Speaker for
second place in runs scored with 1877,
was first in three-base hits, second
in two-base hits and tied with his
teAmmate Jacobson for second place
in runs batted in with 1872. In ad-
dition he was second in stolen bases
with AZ. while he was thrown out in
attempts to pilfer but seventeen
times. He made 40 doubles. Is
triples and 19 home runs during the
season.
Still a young man in the game,
Sisler should carve a notable niche
for himself in>the baseball hall of
fame before his playing days are
numbered. Already among the
greatest. there is no limit to the
heights that he may achieve.
Don't Overlook Babe.
MOTE SpcCtdCbAdI lha.i oiSA'h =
record is that of Babe Ruth, though
the king of home run hitters was
not as valuable a man to his team.
Babe made history when he poled
81 home runs, which was a greater
number than that compiled by any
entire team in either major league.
One of the remarkable things
about Ruth's record was the fact
that he was out Of the lineup In
twelve games, and was officially "at
bat" 173 times less than Sisler. He
was obliged to accept 14S bases on
balls. while Sisler was passed but
46 times.
Ruth was also the leading scorer,
crossing the plate 15S times. lead
ing Sisler and Speaker, who were
second, by 81 runs. Bambino also
led the league in driving in runs
with a total of 1877.
1t was not a rare sight to see Babe
strike out. In fact that was one of
the best things he did. He tried
hard for a record in that department.
whiting on eighty occasions. But
he was forced to yield the palm to
his team mate, Ward, who famed
the breezes eighty-four times.
hice nest bnsc StcAler.
Sam Rice, our own center fielder,
who appears in the official records
under his nearly extinct title of Ed
gar s., topped the base stealers. He
stole sixty-two bases in ninety-two
attempts, which is pretty fast foot
work. Sisler was his nearest COM
petitor and Bobby Roth was third.
iris Speaker, who was second in
batting with a mark of 1888, also led
in two-base hits, with a total of
fifty, one more than Sisler and eight
ahead of Joe Jackson.
One notable thing about the past
season was that the batting in the
league was increased over the 1919
average by fifteen points. This is
attributed to the use of a more per-
feet ball and the elimination of all
forms of trick pitching except the
use of the splitter.