The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-03
MUDDY" RUEL IS RISING M HITTING
 RACE IN AMERICAN
Eddie Collins Seems Set For One Of His Best Years
 In Baseball

CHICAGO, June 2. Harold c"Muddy") Ruel, catcher for tho Washington Senators, is challenginS Harry Heilmann. the Detroit veteran, for batting honors of the American league. Ruel gained 46 points dur ing the week and Is runner-up to the Tiger slugger with an average of 403. Heilmann suffered slight batting slump but still tops the play CTS who have participated in p or more games with a mark of .425. Dick Reichle of the Red SoX is third with .3S2. The figures include games of last Wednesday.
 Eddie Collins of the White Sox. it appears. is going to have one of his best years. He Is leading an major 16. Only four less than he pilfered all last season. He also is hob nobbing with the leading batters.
 It is predicted that Babe Ruth will pass the veteran Philadelphian, Cy Williams, in home run hitting before made IS and Ruth Ii. Ruth is lead ing in total bases with 95. his hits besides the circuit drives including 10 doubles and 1 triples. Ruth also leads as a run-getter, with SI.
 Other leading batters; Cobb. De E. Collins, Chicago. .349: Jamieson. Cleveland, .342; s. Rice, Washington, 339 Burns, Boston, .3S6: Welch, Philadelphia. 336; Ruth, New York, .933 Witt. New York, .329. Williams. St. Louis. .929.
 Mokan and Barnhart Rise.
 Johnny Mokan of the Phillies and Clyde Barnhart of the Pirates are making rapid strides toward the top among the batters of the National league. Far down in the list week ma I, iyr tc regularly. Mokan got 19 blows in his last 10 games and Barnhart poled 10 hits in games. Mokan's mark went from .S33 to .373. and Barnhart's rose from .311 to .359.
 Zack Wheat, Dodger outfielder, in- creased his lead among the regulars from AT to .424. He obtained 13 hits in his last 6 games His nearest rival is Carley Grimm of the Pirates, who has 400.
 Frankie Frisch of the Giants leads the run getters with SS, and Sammy Bohne of Cincinnati is showing the way to the base stea1ers with II.
 "Cy' Williams of the Phllies Is in front among the major league home run hitters with IS.
 Williams. besides leading in four baggers. has made nine doubles and three triples.
 Other leading batters:
 Southworth, Boston. .379; Bottom ley, St. Louis, S76; MolSan, Philadei- nhia, .3f3; Hornsby, St. Louis, .370; Frisch, New York, .376; Young, New York, .S76; Barnhart. Pittsburg, 1858 Williams, Philadelphia. .351 Neis, Brooklyn. .345; Flack, St. Louis, 545 Bagwe0, Boston, .345.
 O O O
 In the Southern.
 Haley of Nashville rose from six teenth to third place among the bat ters of the Southern association. He now has an average of .360. Rich | bourg, a team mate, increased his lead and now tops the sluggers with an average of .SSS. R. Williams oi Mobile has .372.
 Murray of Nashville, by scoring c4 times leads the run-getters. Neu1 | of Birmingham has taken the lead in base stealing from Moore of Atlanta Neun has pilfered Is sacks and Moore 12.
 Three players are tied for home run honors with four each. They are, Morrow, Chattanooga; D. Clark, Bir- mingham. and Herman. Atlanta Other leading batters:
 . smith. Little Rock, .356; Tucker New Orleans, .S46; Prothro, Memphis 544; Leonard, Chattanooga, 344; s Clark, Birmingham, .343; Huhn, Mo bile. .341; Foss. New Orleans, .3SS Taylor, Birmingham. .336 Miller, At. lanta, .336; Miller, Birmingham. .S31 Herman, Atlanta, .331.