New Britain herald., 1923-12-05
Season Just Closed Also Is Remarkable in Number of Pitchers Used in Various Games-Johns0n Strike out King.
Compiled by Irwin NJ. Howe, Chicago

Compiled by Irwin M. Howe, Chicago.
 The pitching in the American league during the season of 1923 was not up to the standard of former years. Earned run averages were the highest in the history of the league even though the leader this year was slightly below Urban Fahers record Of last year. In 1922 there were five regular pitchers below the S-run mark. This year Stanley Coyeleskie of Cleveland, with an earned run record of 2.76, is the only one to finish below three.
 In analyZing the records it is ap- parent that the pitchers did not get into their real stride until the season was well advanced. The records es- tablished. practically all came late in the season. Guy Morton Of Cleveland pitched a two-hit game against Wash ington on July IS,
 Better as season Ends
 Apparently the pitchers had warm cd up 10 their work in September us most Of the unusual marks were set in this month. Howard 2hmke Of Boston shut out the Athletics wlthOu a hit, although he walked one mat, September [. Prior to this, September {, Sam Jones also shut out the Ath- letics without hit After the no-hit game against Philadelphia, Ehmke came back four days later and allow ed New York only one hit.
 Sam Jones figured in two-hit per formance against Boston on Septcm- Iat Ila pf pl. lowed Boston the same number on September 9?. while Earl Whitehill of Detroit, in his major league debut, l set down Cleveland with only two safe ! blows on September %.
 Herb Pennock of New York finished | with tho best percentage in games | won and lost, being victorious in 19 1 and losing only 6. pennock was, how ever, seventh in runs earned off his | delivery. Next to Ponnock came his ! teammatc Jones with 2t and but | hts earned run record shows an aver. age of 3.63.
 Johnson strike Out King
 The strilkcout record goes to Inc [ veteran Walter Johnson of Washing | ton with 12B. who also attained tho l distinction of striking out the great est number in one game, is Boston f battors being turned back October !. Elam NsnGilder Of st. Louis was the iftcst with passes walking % battrrs. Stanley Coyclcskie was the most economical in bases on balls taking into consideration inc number of inc nngs pitched. George Uhle Of Cicyc- land. pitching in more innings than any other pitcher in the league, 35S. allowed the most earned runs as well as total runs. although Howard Ehmke was not far behind in tho lat ter department. r
 Many Pitchers Jsed
 The season was remarkable in the number Of pitchers used by the differ ent clubs. Probably never before had so many figured. The number uf pitch CTS relieved, who started gaines, is beyond all records of the league The number of relief pitchers taken out is also unprecedented. The record for pitchers used goes to Detroit with SIS. New York has the lowest mark with 22O. Cleveland used 295, Washington 2se: Chicago and Philadelphia. 2S4 each; st. Louis. 27s and Boston 259
 Many writers blamed the lively" ball for the poor work Of the twirlers but when orders were issued by Pres idcnt Johnson to the umpircs that greater discretion should be used in throwing out new balls, it was mo- Ii ticosble that the work Of the pitch CTS improved.
 Whatever was the cause of the mediocre work in the box. the game was not. however. without it's com pcnsation. No records were set. in strikcouts. neither were any new marks hung up in bases on bails, al- though Grier Friday Of Washington issued 1i bases to Chicago battcrs June f7 in ii innings. There wrrc many new pitchers 10 come into the league who made good. Among t1e most prominent young tairlcrs were Ferguson Of Boston. Cvengr0s and Thurston or Chicago. Holloway White , hill and Cole Of Detroit. Edwards and shaute Of Cleveland and Friday. Mitchell and Zahniser of Washington.
 II has been found expedient to di- vide the pitchers into four groups. . To the first group arc those who '1Bri- cd ten or moro complete games. In the second group arc those who work cd 45 or more innings. but less than 10 complete games. Both of thcsr groups arc rated according 10 The lowest number of earned runs allowed per minc-inning ramf. The third sroup contains aii those not included in either of the first or second list but who are credited with winning or charged with losing one or morH z gsfass. The fourth division includes au others who pitched any portion Of @ championship game.
 Isitchers who worked fen or more complete games. rated afcorIiuz to lowest number of earned runs per ntne-inning game follow.
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