The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-12-14

81 Games at Second
Bluege'S longest tenure was at
second base, where he played So
games turning in one of the finest
performances Of the year. He
played shortstop for % games and
did right well there. Red Kress had
a slight percentage edge on the
Old Master at second base, but
Bluege handled 101 chances more
than KreSS, and was in IS more
double plays.
Bluege played in 80 games around
the infield of the Griffs, taking
care of 440 chances at a cost of
five errors. His average for the
80 games, therefore, was 1888.
BlIege added in setting a field.
ing lyle for the American League.
The year of 1886 was above the
ordinary In defensive baseball.
The American League average as
a unit, was .971, which is only
two percentage points below the
all-time record for the circuit.
Sunny Jim Bottomley hung up
a record when he made eight un-
assisted double plays at first. base.
Incidentally, BottomIey was a co.
holder of the major league record
for unasSisted double plays, with
seven to his credit.
"a Score 100 Runs
Sam West, of the Browns, made
46O putoutS, and so for the fourth
time he went beyond the 400
mark in a season.
Lou Gehrig, needless to say, was
one Of the outstanding figures in
the race for batting honors. Lou
was one of the leading half-dozen
in percentage, but he went far
out in front Of the field as
specialist.
Twenty-four players scored 100
or more runs, Is drove in 100 or
more runs, nine made more than
200 hits, nine hit for more than
300 total bases, nine made 20 or
more home runs and three made
40 or more four-baSe drives. There,
too, are a bunch of records, for
the scoring, runs-batted-in and
home run tabulation all equal or
better former marks. So, too, does
the league total Of 758 home runs.
Includes Gehrig
Each Of the above groups IN
cluded Gehrig, who ran his bril-.
liant "iron-man" string to 1908
consecutive games. It was the
eleventh successive year in which
Lou has bettered 100 in runs
scored, the fifth time in his career
that he has topped 400 total bases,
the sixth time he has driven in
over $50 runs, the fifth time he
has hit over 40 homerS in a season
and the third time he has led the
league n homers, his figure of 40
being his own peak to date. LOUIS
scoring, total base and runS-batted-
in totals are also records for an
individual.
In the distance" field, a May
spree by the Yanks is notable for
having crashed seven records.
Tony Lazzeri led the barrage
which opened May 81, ran through
a doubleheader on May %, and
wound up May "a. The team hit
for the circuit II times in the May
% nightcap and the single game
Of May "a for one mark. Lazzer1
hit seven homers in the four
games, six in the last three and
five in the last two for three
others, and he accounted for
fifth by lashing out four-baggers
twice with the bases full on the
oath. In that latter game the
YankS batted in Is runs and
amassed q extra bases on long
hits for Nos. 6 and 7.
Other Outbursts
Other record-setting outbursts
were staged by the Yanks again!
on July II, Washington on Au'
gust % and Cleveland on July 9.
each team hitting three home runs
during the course of a single IN.
ming. Joe DiMaggio. sensational
Yankee rookie, who made 206 hits
to become the twelfth major
Lacquer to top the 200-mark in
his first season, went the team
totals one better by contributing
two homers himself in a single
inning on June "a, that feat also
tying mark.
The batting championship went
to Luke Appling, who hit 1888. The
entire American League b at ed
.269, as compared to $50 In 1888