Evening star., 1938-12-18
Loops Hitting Ebbs
To Lowest Mark
In 7 Decades
Mccormick, Leaders Pal
On Reds, Only One to
Get Above 200 Hits
BY JUDSON BAILEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer,


NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Just as
startling as disclosure that Christ
mas comes on Sunday this year was
an announcement today that Earn
est lombard of the Cincinnati Reds
was the National Leagues leading
bAtsnan in 1898.
The Official word from the leagues
statistical bureau confirmed reports
widespread at the close of the sea-
. son and at the same time revealed,
without saying so, that hitting in
the senior circuit ebbed to it's lowest
mark in two decades.
Lombardi's average of .342 was 20
points under the worst winning to-
tal since 1919 and was even a notch
Under his own batting mark in 1895.
The only player in the league who
collected more than 200 hits was
his rookie teammate, Frank Nc
Cormick, who had FOG safeties in
$40 times at bat.
Nevertheless Lombardi's perform
ance was notable If for no other
reason than that he was the first
catcher to lead the league in hit
ting since Eugene Hargrave, also of
Cincinnati, in 1926. The Big chnoz-
zola man went to bat 489 times in
129 games and raped out 167 hits,
including 10 home runs.
Hitting Honors Scattered.
Hitting honors were scattered this
year in contrast to the 1887 term,
when Joe Medwick perched head
and shoulders above the flood with a
.374 percentage, batted in the most
runs, scored the most runs, got the
most hits. the most two-base hits,
and tied for the most home runs.
The veteran Mel OFT of the New
York Giants, well down among the
kaders in the percentage, gained
clear claim to the home run crown
for the second time in his 14-year
career and scored the most runs.
His So homers brought him above
the 30mark for the seventh time
and gave him major league total
OF 342.
Johnny Mize of st. Louis batted
the most bases, 326, and the most
three-base' hits, l6. He also hit
three home runs in a game twice
during the season-July 13 against
Boston and July 20 against New
York.
Medwick's At doubles gave him
the lead in this department for the
third consecutive year. Del Young
of Philadelphia led in sacrifices with
Is and Stanley Hack of Chicago in
stolen bases, with Is.
Top 10 in League.
The leagues top 10 hitters and
their averages were: Lombardi. .342;
Mize, :337; Mccormick, 1926; Med
wick, 1920: Arky Vaughan, Pitts
burgh, .3216: Hack, 800; Debs Garms,
Btston, .3l5; Lloyd Waner, Pitts
burgh, .313; OFT, Bill; Phil Vein
traub, Philadelphia, .3lO5.
St. Louis led in team hitting with
.2789. three ten-thousandths of a
point better than Pittsburgh. The
Chicago Cubs, who won the pen
nant, with SO victories, to tie the
leagues record low for 154-game
schedule, finished fifth in team bat
ting, with .269.
As might be expected by this time,
nd hitting records were broken but
three were tied.
Gil Brack of the Phillies hit two
two-baggers in the fifth inning of |
the first game Of a double header
against Pittsburgh July 20 to equal |
. mark held by several other players.
Tony Cuccinello, Max West and |
Elbie Fletcher of Boston hit sue
cessive homers off Carl Hubbell of
the Giants in the fourth inning
July 8 to tie a record held by five
other trios.
Gene Moore and Hal Maggert of
Boston each hit a home run with
the bases full against Philadelphia
April 80 and Dick Bartell and Gus
Mancuso Of the Giants duplicated
the feat In the second half of July
1 double-header with Brooklyn.