New Britain herald., 1926-07-03
YANKEES STILL AT
 TOP OF THE HEAP
Lead In Hitting - Reds Head
 Others In National

Chicago, July up)-The Yankees have led all season and still lead the hitting in the American league, and for the majors generally so far as that goes, but several climbing clubs are beginning to make the league race for slugging honors anything but one-team affair.
 And this despite the valiant ef- forts of Babe Ruth, the veteran Joe Dugan and Meusel, each of whom lacked some points on their aver ages during the past week, and Gehrig. who slipped a bit. Other wise the Tanks have dropped out of sight among the leading hitters and the team batting percentage has dropped 10 .309
 The White Sox are worrying the Yankees more than anybody else, in tho matter of hitting. Eddie Col Inns crew has stuck closest 10 the league leaders in the pennant chase and it has been largely because of hitting, not so spectacular as that Of the New York Wrecking crew, but consistent.
 The Chicago club has been hitting at .297 and Bib Talk, Mostil and the veteran Eddie keep the SoI well represented among the leading slug gers.
 If the rest Of the Tigers were hit ting like three of Tvs outfit the Yankees would top the hitting only by a grim fight and Detroit even now has third place in the standing and is apparently moving upward. Fothergil, Heilman and Bassler are above $50 and Fothergill with his average of ,424 has become the leading hitter In the majors.
 Ruth was the feature in the past weeks slugginG, running his rating 10 .391 and nosinE out Gehrig with a new total Of A runs. He also col lected a trio of homers during the eleventh week Of the season to cut down the lead of his total at this lime in his championship year. Falk of the Sox and the Indain. Burns, passed the century mark in hits. Base stealing isn't the popular sport it was, Hunnefeld Of Chicago having been the chief feature of the past week by his approach to the total Of Meusel. leading the Amer ican with 14 thofts.
 Shaute of Cleveland became a leading pitcher by finishing the eleventh week with seven games won and one lost Pennock Of the Yanks had record of twelve-four, his teammate. Shocker. had one Of ton-four and Ted Lyons of Chicago had won twelve and lost six Of his games.
 In the National With the Reds driving along in the fore of the National flag race, the Hendricks players have increas- led their hitting pace and now lead the league with percentage of .o96. an increase Of eight points during the week ending Wednesday. Four iof the ten leading National league slugcers are Reds and Bressler. handy man of the club, leads the individual hitters, with .374.
 Pittsburgh's faltering in the cham pionship battle echoes and is ech- oed by the Pirates slugging. They have dropped 10 fifth in the club batting and would be farther down but for the work of Cuyler, Smith Traynor and Wright. Both Kiki and Traynor slipped badly. however.
 The Cubs have fared poorly in the flag chase but it doesn't show in their hitting. the McCarthymen still Icinging 10 .oS7 figure which they now share with the Phillies who have prospered while the Pirates Ifagged In batting.
 Cuyler's struggle 10 remain the Heading base stealer in the big time