San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-24
HITTING
REFLECTED IN
AVERAGES

CHICAGO, April "a Up The
major league pcnnant races are under
way with all the fcrvor Of other
years except in the hitting.
Whether the light hitting is tenn
porary and due to the irregular train
ing Of the spring or the result Of
slower" ball in use in the two big
time circuits TO be reflected through
out the year, will be shown only as
the season progresses.
The fact stands, borne out by cold
figures, that the batting so far has
been phenomcnally light. Some few
major leaSuers have piled up unusu-
ally high early season averages in
the stick work, but the teams, as
teams, are sitting pretty well down
in the column as averages go for this
stage Of the race.
PILLS TOP HEAP
Records of the first week of the
season, issued today, show the Phil
lies leading the National clubs with
an average of .297 and the Yankees
at the top of the American League
standing with a .32S percentage.
The Giants show team batting
average of .266 TO place second and
Cincinnati comes third with .262. The
world champion Pittsburgh Pirates
trail them all with the extremely low
team percentage Of .1S7.
In virtually a direct reversal o.
their final 1925 pennant standings,
are the American league clubs. Next
to the Yankees come the Cleveland
Indians with a team average of .29G
and Boston third with 272. The cham
pion Washington Senators are last
with a rating of .2l7.
HORNSBY on TOP
One OF the few veteran leading
batters near the top of the individual
standing at this time is Rogers Horns
by OF the st. Louis Cardinals, who
holds his old post at the top of tch
National players with an average of
.43S. Next is Zack Wheat of the
Brooklyn Robins, with All, made in
six games, and Hca thcote, Chicago
outfieldcr. is third with .391. Bot
tomlcy, st. Louis Cardinal who fin
ished second among the hitters in his
league last season, is down to 32nd
place.
Strangers TO their posts held the
ranking places in the American indi-
vidual standings after the first week.
Bennett Of st. Louis had q rating
Of 600 out of five times at bat and
Flagstead of Boston one Of .516. as
an active player. Dykes OF Philadpl.
phia being third with 49,. Babe
Ruth stands twelfth and at that well
above others Of the veterans, Speaker
of Cleveland, Simmons of Piiladcl-
phia, Heilman of Detroit and George
Sisler of st. Louis placing well down.
The battle-worn Ty Cobb didn't figure
having appeared only as a pinch hit
ter.
NOT SO FAR EITHER
So far there has been an evident
absence of extra base hits and three
circuit clOutS stood as the home-rup
record. Three national hitters made
two each, Leach of Philadelphia, vii.
iiams Of the Pbillies and Bottomley of
st. Louis, while in the American, Pat
Collins has three and Meusel and
Ruth OF the Yankees two apiece.
Leading National hitters in six o.
more games:
Hornsby, st. Louis. .4SS; Wheat,
Brooklyn, III; Heathcote, Chicago,
;39l -; Johnston, Boston, $50; Sand,
Philadelphia, 3S7; Bressler. Cincin.
natl, $50; Leach, Philadelphia. $40 :;
Erich, New York. 1854; Fourier
Brooklyn. .564; Felix. Brooklyn. 500
Leading American hitters in six OF
more games:
Bennett. st. Louis, 600: Flagstead.
Boston. .526; Dykes. PhiIadeIphie
49, Spurgeon, Cleveland. .4S4: Col.
Inns, New York. 400; Tavener, De-
troit, 400; Fothergill. Detroit. .4O7
Summa. Cleveland. 100; Dugan. New
York, 800: Burns. Cleveland. 500