The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-28
IS
NEARSIXTH
RECORD
Present Total for Consecutive
League Batting Titles
Is Five

If Rogers Hornsby, who is now
setting a dizzy pace for the bat
tiers of the National League, is
successful in his attempt to lead
the circuit in hitting again this
season, it will be the sixth year IN
succession that he has won the
championship. This will establish
q new National League record, as
the present record for that CIRCUIT
for winning the batting title in
successive years is five, and IS
held by Hornsby
Prior to last season the record
for lesding the bassn1en OF the Ma
tfonal League in consecutive years
was four. This. was shared by
Hornsby and Hans Wagner. former
great shortstop of Tie Pirates. Wag.
ner established his record from 1906
to 1908. inclusive.
Hornsby won the batting cham
pionship for the first time In 1920,
and by taking it for the fourth
straight time in 1873 he equaled
Wagnsr's record. and last year. by
winning it again. he surpassed that
mark.
Having set a new record by
leading the National League in
batting for five consecutive sea-
sons. Hornsby IS now out after
several other records. III he leads
the batsmen of his circuit this
year for the sixth time he will be
only two years shy of the Ma
tiOnal League record held by
Wagner. who WON the title eight
times. not in succession. however.
If he wins the title for the sixth
time in succession this year, he will
be only three. years shy of the
major league record set by Ty Cobb
when he led the batsfnen of the
American League for nine years in
Q row. Hornsby would also be six
years shy of the major league rec
ord established by Cobb when the
latter led the American League bat
tiers for twelve different seasons.
When Hornsby first led the bats
men OF the National League in 1920
he finished the campaign with an
average of $40. In the following
year he boosted this mark to .397
In winning the title for the second
time
When he led the league again
In in 1922 he had the phenomenal
average of .401. This was the first
time that a National League batter
had finished a season with an aver
age over 400 since Delehanty Of
the Philadelphia club won the Ma
tional League title with a percent
Gag Of .408.
In 1923 when he won the cham
pionship for the fourth year in a
row Hornsby's mark fell to 1874.
Last year, however, when he cap
tured the laurels for the fifth year
in succession he finished the season
with the sensational average of
.425.
Hornsby's average last season
established a new modern major
league record. The former re-
cord was .42O, made by Cobb in
1911 and equaIed by George SiSler
Of the Browns In 1922. Cobb's
average carried to five places
was 1882. while Sisters was
slightly higher, being .41979. The
major league record for all time
is .438. This was made by
Hugh Duffy, Of the Boston Ma
tiOnal League Club in 1884.
II 1919. the year before he won
the batting championship OF the
National League for the first time,
Hornsby finished the season with
mark of only .318. However,
this was only three points below
the average made by Eddie Rousn
of the Reds in leading the league
that year.
Roush's mark Of .321 cor that
season was the lowest made by
the leading batsmen Of The Ma
ticnal League in the history of
the league, with one exception
That was Doyle's average of 1920
in winning the title in 1915.
During 1916. his first. full season
as a member Of the Cardinals, Horns
by played in 139 games and had a
abttine average Ut .S13. This was
only twenty-six. points below the
average made by Hal Chas,, Of the
Reds in winning the National
League batting crown that year.
In the following season Hornsby
played in 145 games and had a bit
ting average Of .527. This, too,
average made by Roush in leading
the league that season.
In 1913 Hornsby played in rs
games and his average fell off to
Isl, the lowest he ever had as a.
najtr Lacquer. win the exception
of 1915. when he PLAYED in only
eighteen games with the Cardinals
and batted .246. lack Wheat of
Robins won the National League
title in 1918 with an average Of 1875.