Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-27


leagues was remarkable for the disap-
pointing showing of some of the most
favored clubs. The New York Giants
generally were regarded as the class"
of the National League early in the
year and We're selected to win fifth
straight championship. but after run
ming to form in the first half of the
campaign they faded in July and, after
an exciting series at the Polo Grounds
late in August, when the Pirates won
four games of a series Of five, they
slipped still further back and never
really threatened again.
The Cincinnati Reds a. various times
appeared to have mathematical
chance, but they also sappointed.
though having probably the greatest
pitching staff in the league. The other
clubs never threatened for the pen
nant. hut the Boston and St. Louis
clubs showed great Improvement and
the league a q a whole showed increa sed
attendance figures.
Yankees In Collapse.
The American League race was
marked by the collapse Of the New
1921, 1922 and 1928. and the disappoint-
ing showing Of the Detroit Tigers.
favored in many quarters as penna mt
winners. II showed the Philadelphia
Athletics. a young and improving
team. making a close race with Wash.
ington, the 1924 champions. for Two
/ thirds Of the year, only to slip in late
August and September and leave the
lead of the Griffmen almost uncon-
/ tested in the last month.
! The st. Louis Browns showed i'm
/ provement, and so did the Chicago
/ White SoN for half of the season, but
the easy victory Of the Nationals and
the disappointments in New York and
Detroit and Boston had its effect and
the American League did not play to
as many fans as in 1924
Part of the i'll fortune Of the
Yankees can be traced to the serious
/ illness of their smuggling star. Babe
! Ruth, who was stricken as he was
/ returning from the Southern training
( trip and was in n hospital for almost
/ two months When he did return to
the game he was not his usual self and
/ had had year-for him-although he
/ ma de - home runs and stood second
/ in his league.
The weakening of Everett Scott. star
shortstop. whose string of consecutive
! games was broken after he had car.
ried il over the 400 mark. also was A
/ factor in the downfall OF the Yanks
Hornsby Individual Star
| There were many individual featS OF
! brilliance and excellence. BY long
odds the outstanding player of the
year was Roger HornSby, the new
manager of the ST. Louis Carolina Is,
who Won the batting championship for
/ the sixth consecutive time in his
! league, and carried off the home-run
| hitting championship of both leagues
with AZ. He closed with an average Of
.403, for the third time in his career,
| tying the old record of Tyrus Ray
mond Cobb of the Detroit Tigers.
| HornSby also was a success as a man
ager, taking a last-place club in June
and bringing it home in the first di-
vision. Hornsby also received the
award as the most yalua BILE player i'll
/ the National League. winning a prize
/ of 81 900 cash and bronze medal.
1 Harry Heilmann of the Detroit team
! won the batting honors in the Amer
/ lean Lea que while Robert McuSel of
! the Yankees was the leader in home
/ runs. Roger Peckinpaugh was voted
! the most. valuable American League
/ player. and then made eight errors in
/ the world series games, record for
! misplays in the Fall fixture.
! Stanley CoveleSkie of ashington
| carried off the pitching honors. both in
| effectiveness and In games won and
| lost. and the great Walter Johnson
was a close second-a truly remark
| able showing for a man playing his
nineteenth season in the fastest of
! base ball company
! The star pitcher of the season. all
! things considered. was Dazzy Vance Of
/ the Brooklyn Robins. who repeated his
! great work of 1924 by winning -
| games and losing only nine with
team which finished far down in the