The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
BRAVES GIVE FANS
LOTS TO CONSIDER
AS SEASON AGES

Boston is giving the experts a lot
of problems to solve as the race in
the National league grinds on. If
figures did not occasionally lie, the
Braves should be at the bottom OF
the heap. They are not far removed
1t is true, and yet their showing is
above the average.
The Braves are last in team bat
ting and next to last in team fielding.
They have no pitchers to speak of
and there are only two regulars,
Southworth and McInnis. who ARE
leaning heavily on the stick. Yet
there are two clubs below them in
lost 16. not a bad record considering
how the teams are punched. Here is
chance to hand it to Manager Fred
Mitchell. He must be a miracle man.
That Wheat of Brooklyn should
head the list among the hitters may
also be considered an anomoly, but
no one so far has been able to side
track the veteran. Grimm of Pitts
burg takes squirt now and then
arated by two points. Bottomley of
st. Louis is continuing his good
work and is third. Southworth of
the Braves ranks fourth. Frisch and
Hornsby are neck and neck.
Cy Far Ahead.
No one is anywhere near Cy Will
liams of Philadelphia in home runs.
Cy is setting record probably never
before eXcelled. Taking the same
time when Ruth was king in that
department and Cy has a big edge on
Babe. He has now Il, with almost
daily diet of a circuit clout. The
rest of the long distance hitters are
far behind and scattering.
The work on the bases has not
improved There is phenomenal
slowness all around. Few can I'M
track themselves for decent record
and Bohne of Cincinnati still hangs
On to his seven pilfered sacks for
the highest in the league. Sacri-
flee hitting has also come to a stand
still.
Frisch of New York and Williams
Of Philadelphia have been the best
run getters. with 80 apiece.
In team batting St. Louis has the
edge over the others, as has the
Giants in fielding
McQuillan of New York easily
heads the pitchers in effective work.
Dickerman of Brooklyn and Nehf of
New York also have good records.
Collins Going Good.
Eddie Collins of Chicago is caus
ing the greatest commotion in the
American league at present. He has
climbed up to second place among
the regulars in hitting, leads the
league in stolen bases by big mar
tri, M iC tt-ith i,, re nri-
flee hit mark. Even though the hit
ting behind him has been light, he
has crossed the plate Is times.
The lead in batting, held by He'll
mann of Detroit has not been threat
ened, although Harry has fallen down
several pegs during the past week.
He now has 40, SO points ahead of
retically second, but the ex-collegian
has been out of the lineup a great
deal of late.
Babe Ruth of New York is crowd
ing Ken Williams of st. Louis for the
home run lead. Babe now having
eight to the Browns slugger's nine.
AS the teams are going it is a safe
no distant day. He will now be
home for while. AS for the rest.
they are apparently laying EN- down
as the circuit clouts in the junior
circuit are comparatively few.
The pitching that Yankees have
been getting of late show impress
sively In the records. Pennock, Mays
and Hoyt are among the first five,
Pennock being tied with Naylor of
Philadelphia for the lead.
Despite its slump, Detroit 'collec-
lively is still hitting the ball. lead
Ing with a percentage of .2S4. New
York Is next best. The Yankees
have the edge In fielding.