New Britain herald., 1926-07-31
BATTING AVERAGES
 BOOSTED IN WEEK
Leading Clubs Climb Back to Marks They Lost Recently

Chicago, July 31 L9 - The lead. ing teams in both major leagues boosted their batting averages this week while their nearest contend CTS slipped a pit The New York Yankees wrecsing crew boosted the team average s-ck 10 an even 300 in official figures issued today, while Pittsburgh gained three per centage points on the slipping Reds.
 Traynor seems to be responsible for most of the Pittsburgh Pirates gain in batting. as he got 13 hits in the last seven games, and moved from seventh to fifth place in the leading ten hitters of the National league. Lester Bell Of St. Louis kept a step ahead of him. with IA hits in seven games, to win fourth place. Seven of Bells hits were for extra bases, two being home runs.
 Hargrave. Cincinnati catcher, easily held his leadership of the league in batting. gaining four points to reach .3S2. Stephenson. the new Chicago Cubs outfiedler, hoped in between Hargrave and his Red teammate. Bressler, to take second place, as Bressler had an off week
 Kik Cuyler of Pittsburgh drop ped out of the first ten hitters but stole three bases this week leaving his rivals well behind with total of 22. Bottomley of St. Louis failed 10 get the ball over the fence this week, but his total of 14 home runs still leads the National league slug gers. Bells two this week gave him II and Southworth, sent to the Giants by St. Louis, also got two. to make eleven. Hack Wilson, the Chicago sugger. tied with Jim Bot. tomley. also failed to connect for a circuit drive this week.
 Ed Brown, Boston outfelder. Is the new face in the leading ten hitters this week. taking Cuyler's place. Leading hitters in the na- tional are: Hargrave, Cincinnati, .5s2; Stephenson. Chicago. .S76: Bressler, Cincinnati, ,35S; L. Bell. St. Louis, .357; Traynor. Pitts burgh, .35S; Grantham. Pittsburgh, $50; Herman, Brooklyn, .34S; Brown, Boston, 342: E. Smith, Pittsburgh. .347; Christensen, Gin cinnati, 1885.
 The leading fence busters of the American League fattened their ae- erags this week in double figure scores, except Fothergill of Detroit, whose mark of well over 400 is slowly crumbling. Bib Falk Of the Chicago White Sox, who made such a spurt two weeks ago to pass Babe Ruth. was the only one of the lead- ing 10 hitters to slump this week. To remedy this, Manager Eddie Col Iins of the Sox edged into the first 10.
 Ruth got two more home runs, a triple and a double this week be- sides numerous singles, his home run total in games including We'd nesday being 31. Simmons of Phil adelphia and Tony Lazzeri of New York. have 13 home runs apiece, and Ken Williams of St. Louis. once Ruth's rival. has broken double fig Ires In circuit smashes.
 E. Rice Of Washington caught Hunnefleld. the speedy Chicago out fielder. in the stolen base compeu- lion, each now having Is, with Mos til, also of the White Sox. just one behind. Rice and Mostil got two apiece this week.
 Another successful week like the past one and Ruth will cross the century mark in tallics. He made eight sthis week. to reach 93, going into tie with Gehrig of New York who has been leading the Babe all season.
 George Uhle of Cleveland went in- 10 a tie with Herb Pennock of New York in victories on the mound each having sixteen. Pennock is charged with six defeats and Chle with eight. Pete Donohue of the Reds is the nearest to this mark ir the National League, with IS vic tories, to nine defeats. Pate Of the Athletics retained his clean slate oi eight victories, by finishing out one game this week without affecting his record.
 Leading American League hitters; Fothergill, Detroit, .49; Ruth, New York. SIT; Manush. Detroit, .367; Meusel, New York. .36G; Burns Cleveland, .362: Falk. Chicago .S5s: Heilmann. Detroit. ,S5S Mos iii, Chicago, .S54: Goslin. Washing.