Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-09-28
Two REDS IN A
NECK AND NECK
BATTING RACE

CHICAGO, Sept. % (AP)-The clos
ing games of the majors season find
two Cincinnati Reds in neck and
neck race for the 1926 individual bat
ting championship of the National
league.
Sundays final efforts may juggle
the official figures somewhat but
well out in front are Bubbles Har-
grave veteran catcher, and Walter
Christensen, ST. Paul association out
fielder who found a regular place in
the Reds lineup when Bressler had
to retire.
Christensen has had an excellent
first year as a majors regular and is
in fair way to finish with an
average around $50, where he wound
up the 1925 association season with
a 1926 percentage. Hargrave is well
ahead of his last years perform
ance, crowding 1850 where he finish
ed the previous season at an even
800.
Two Pirates are ahead at the run
getting, averages released today and
including Wednesdays games snow
ing Cuyler and Waner to be the only
two league players over the century
mark in tallies. The veteran Cuyler
has also unofficially captured the
base stealing crown worn off last
year by Max Carey.
Hack Wilson of the Cubs leads in
home run slugging, with Bottomley
Of the Cardinals his nearest rival
Waner is ahead in triples and Boz
tomIey leads the list Of two-pagger
specialists.
Kremer of Pittsburgh, shown by
today's averages with 20 victories ana
five games lost, and Rhem credited
with 81 games won for ST. Louis !
and seven defeats, lead the mounds |
men. Root of Chicago and Dazzy |
Vance of Brooklyn are fighting for
the years 'strike-out record.
Cincinnati tops the teams in bat
ting, with .291 average, the Cards
are hitting four points behind and
is third with a .2S6 aver
age. I#"lssr ~ %IMsM.
Leading hitters in more than hair
the years games: Christensen, Gin
cinnati, 1853; Bressler, Cincinnati, .S51;
Hargraye. Cincinnati, $50; E. Smith,
pittsburgh 346; Stephenson, Chicago
.338: Waner Pittsburgh S34; Brown
Boston. 334: Williams, Philadelphia
S33: Z. Bell, st. Louis, 329; Leach
Philadelphia, 329.
The squirt under the Wire in the
American league leaves Manush
awaiting only the approval OF 1lnal
official figures to move the Amerl-
cans individual batting crown from
Harry HeiImann's locker N the De-
troit club house to his own.
DESPITE current faltering in ms
stride. the Tiger outfielder bids to
wind ND the year with slugg1ng
average around. 975, as is well IN
the lead. Heilmann, who carried OF
the honors in 1925, ranks fourth
amond the regulars.
Babe Ruth, striving with virtually
no chance of success to equal ms
worlds record of SO home runs, places
inst below Manush in hitting and IS
we'll out in front in run getting.
Avera ges including Wednesdays
games and released today credit MIN
with 1874 scores, but also show Cos
lin of the Senators, Mostil of Chi
cago. Gehrig of the Yankees, Coomps
If New york and McManus of st.
Louis as having reached or passeo
the century mark.
Johnny Mostil of the White SoX
has considerably better than chance
of retaining the league base stealing
title. Ruth, of course, leads in home
runs Burns of Cleveland is safe with
a new all-time doubles total ana
Gehrig leads in three-base cloutlng.
Among the pitchers, today's aver
ages show George Uhle with 26 games
won and ten lost for Cleveland
His nearest rival is Herb pennocK
of the Yankees, with a 21-12 record
for the year Lefty Grove of the
Athletics is crowding a 2OO-strike-outs