The Cordova daily times., 1921-01-31
HOW PLAYERS HANDLED BALL
 IN AMERICAN

CHICAGO, Jan. 31 (by Associated Press) Tn giving the records of the American league for the 1920 season, liberty is taken herewith to direct the attention of the public to some of the more noteworthy performances of this most successful season.
 By the use of more perefect ball and the elimination of all forms of tricks pitching-except the use of the spitter-batting was increased over the 1919 average, fifteen points. This, naturally added to the uncertainty of tho result of any particular games or series, and increased the interest of the patrons in corresponding degree.
 For the second time in fourteeen years Tyrus Raymond Cobb was forced to yield first place to a rival in the contest for individual batting honors. The new leader, George Sis. Ter, the great first baseman of the St. Louis team, finished with a mark of .407, nineteen points ahead of Man. ager Iris Speaker of Cleveland (388) who in turn was six points in front of Joe Jackson (3S2) Chicago.
 ,Sisler's work during the past sea son stamps him as one of the great players of all times. Participating in every game his team played, 154, he led all in times at bat, 631; in safe hits, 257, a new American league rec ord, Cobbs PAS, made in 1911 being the high mark until now. He was also first in total bases, 399, 49 dou- bles, IS triples and 19 home runs supplementing his 172 singles. Tied with Manager Speaker for second place in runs scored with 137, first in three base hits, second in two base hits, tied with his team mate Jacob son, for second place in runs driven in, 122, second in stolen bases with AZ while he was thrown out in attempts to pilfer but seventeen times.
 Even more spectacular than Sis- ler's remarkable record-though not so valuable to his team-was the won derful work of George H. Ruth, the slugging outfielder of the New York team. Big Babe" poled 54 home runs, greater number than any entire team in either major league compiled. Ruth's wonderful performance was the most extraordinary because he was out of lineup in twelve games and in his 142 contests he was officially ''at bat" 173 times less than Sisler being obliged to accept 148 bases on balls from opposing pitchers while Sisler was passed but 46 times Ruth crossed the plate 158 times with need full tallies, leading Speaker and Sisler who were second by 21 runs He also led the league in driving in runs (137) being thus responsible for 241 of the 838 runs scored by the Yankees. Babe" tried hard for the strike out record, flaming on 80 occasions but was beaten out of first "honors" by his team mate Ward, who whiffed 84 times. Meusel, of the same team, also struck out 72 times, but Jimmy Dykes, of the Athletics, finished next to Ruth with 73.
 Edgar s. Rice, the fleet outfielder of the Washington team, stole sixty-two bases in ninety-two attempts, his near est competitor being Sisler as noted | above. Robert Roth also of Wash. ington was third in stolen bases with twenty-four out of thirty-six efforts. Manager Iris Speaker drove out | fifty two-baggers, one more than Sis Ter and eight ahead of Joe Jackson, who was third in the list of two-base sluggers.
 Joe Gedeon of the Browns was cred tied with forty-eight sacrifices as was also Owen Bush of Detroit. McInnis of Boston was third with forty-five.
 Iris Speaker with ninety-seven bases on balls and Harry Hooper with eighty-eight were nearest to Ruth in being awarded free passage to first base.
 The leading pitcher of the year was Robert Shawkey of New York who worked in 38 games, 267 innings, and allowed but 73 runs for an average of 2.46 for each full game of nine in. nings, Stanley Coveleskie, premier hurler of the champion Cleveland team was second with an earned run average of PAS. Coveleskie appeared in Al battles, worked 315 innings and allowed 87 runs. Urban Shocker, St. Louis, followed the Indian star with 2.71 average gained in 38 games, 246 innings in which opponents counted 1 "A times.
 | Edwin Rommel and David E. Keefe, 1 Al