The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-11
Heilmann Leading American League
 at Bat; Cobb Next

Chicago, SeptemDer M Vith ''iS' than three weeks of the 1921 major league season remaining Babe Ruth has eaualed his 1920 home-run record, having scored six in the past ID days and bids fair to set a new worlds record for circuit drives Ruth's fifty fourth homer was scored off Naylor of the Athletics yesterday with one man on base. His last three homers in 1920 were also off Phiia- delphia pitchers, the fifty-fourth or last season coming on September 29. The big southpaw slugser also in creased his total base record to 39S. the result of 176 hits. Besides his homers he has made 3s doubles and 12 triples. A quartet of American league slusgers are staging one of the greatest batting races since that years ago wher Napoleon Lajoie ot Cleveland and Ty Cobb of the Tigers fought 1t out for the league leader ship with only fraction of a point separating them at the end or the season.
 Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb, the Detroit stars, are holding first and second positions as the final stretch is started with George Sisler, the St. Louis idol and last years cham pion. putting on an attack which has carried him into fourth place ahead of Iris Speaker, leader of the worlds champions, and which threatens to carry him to the top again.
 Durtpo naat two Wpeky SiSler has hit for an average of just below 800, having cracked out 32 hits In 69 times at bat. He Is Just four points behind Babe Ruth of the Yankees who Is in third place. He'll mann's average is .4o3 with Cobb trailing with .390. Ruth is smashing the ball fer a mark of 1883 while Sisler is hitting ,37s. Speaker, who was tied with the St. Louis star a week ago, is fifth with .Sss.
 $. Harris of Washington, by steal ing one base has brought his record for the season to 25 thefts. Other leading batters: Tobin, St. Louis, .8s1; :; Jacobson, St. Louis, .344; Veach, De- troit, .343.
 Rogers Hornsby, the St. Louis star, who last year led the National league in batting with an average of .370
 
 season. He is the only regular in the league hitting above the 400 mark, his latest average showing him travelling at a .406 clip.
 George Cutshaw, the veteran second sacker of the Pirates, is Honrsby's closest rival with an av- craze of 1850, while Walton Cruise of Boston is points behind the Pitts bug star with an average of .34s. Jack Fournier, another Cardinal paced Ed Rousch of Cincinnati, who topped the National batters in 1918 and ls1s. They are hitting .347 Hornsby is safely out in front in to- tai bases, his 2l0 hits giving him a total of S33 bases, his hits including 20 homers, the latter being just two behind George Kelly of the Giants, who is leading with 22.
 Frank Frisch of the Giants added four bases to his string .lof stolen bases and Is showing the way to the base stealers with 47 thefts.
 Other leading batters: McHenry, St. Louis, .344; Mann, St. Louis, .s41; Frisch, New York, .333; E. Smith, .329; c. Wildams,9 Philadelphia. 1928 Johnston.- Brooklyn. 1924; Griffith, Brooklyn, .s24; Rigoee. Pittsburg, .S23. nss | J. Kirke of Louisville dethroned Art Butler of Kansas-City for the leader | ship of the American association and ! Is topping the bstters with an aver afe of .348. Butler Is the runner-ur with SCI. Bunny Brief of Kansas City, leads with 35 home runs. Baird of Indianapolis by pilfering five bases during the week, is show ing the way to the base steaiers witt, | 61 thefts. F..
 | Other leading batters: Good, Kansas City, ..sss: Fisher, Minneapolis, .35s l ThornA T0ledn aS7