Evening star., 1938-12-20
Lee Dominates
National Loop
Moundsmen
Cubs Star Shows Best
Won and Lost, Lowest
Earned Run Marks
BY JUDSON BAILEY,
Associated Press Sports Writer,


NEW YORK, Dec. 20.-William
Crutcher Lee, jr, strong man of the
Chicago Cubs, was the leading pitch
er of the National League last season,
official figures released today showed.
The big right-hander led both in
percentages, with ITO, and in
earned runs, with an average of 266
per nine-inning game, to dominate
the circuits mound corps as COM
pletely as Carl Hubbell of the New
York Giants formerly had done.
Lee turned in the most victories,
%, against defeats; had the most
shutouts, 9, and tied for starting
the most games, 81.
Four of his shutouts came in sue
cession between September and %,
equaling venerable league record
held by Ed Reulbach of Chicago
and Grover Cleveland Alexander Of
Philadelphia.
Lee appeared in a relief role seven
times and pitched total of 29l in
nings, second biggest load of any
pitcher. OF the 1.194 batters he faced
only 281 made hits, IA received bases
on balls and 10 sacrificed.
Lee Is "Pennant Hurler."
Worth noting, too, was the fact
that Lee led the league in games
won and lost in 1885, and the Cubs
won the pennant, just as they did
last season, when he reached the
top again.
Although we'll down the list on
the basis of performance over the
entire season, Johnny Wander Nicer
OF the Cincinnati Reds carved class
for himself in midsummer, with two
consecutive no-hit no-run games,
and had the longest winning streak,
nine games.
The double no-hit feat. first in
the history of the National League.
was accomplished at the expense of
Boston, June II, and Brooklyn
in a night game. June Is.
This enabled the 23-year -old
southpaw to set another record for
consecutive hitless innings, with
212s.
However. Wander Nicer skidded
after this spectacular string and
finished the year with Is victories
against 10 defeats, in percentage
tie with his veteran teammate, Paul
Derringer They ranked eighth in
this rating, but Wander Nicer was
ninth in earned runs, contrasted
to Derringers second place with
2.93.
Derringer was the leagues work
horse. In winning 81 games and
losing IA, he was the only pitcher
except Lee to get 20 or more VIC
tories. He started 81 games and
made four relief appearances. He
pitched the most innings, 3O7; faced
the most batters, 1868; allowed the
most hits, 307, and through it all
lasted the most complete games, Is.
The second best pitcher in games
won and lost, among those who
worked 10 or more complete games,
was Rookie Bob Klinger of the Pitts
burgh Pirates, who won IL and lost
5, despite sore arm during the
August drive
Mace Brown of the Pirates and
Dick Coffman of the Giants tied
1o1 ldhlIlS pdll Ill tIle IuOSL games,
81, principally in relief. This was
one more than Browns National
League record set last year.
Hugh Mulcahy of the Phillies,
much sought after by other clubs
right now. had the dubious honor
of losing the most games. 20; al
lowing the most runs, 162, and
the most earned runs, 1877.
Ranking of Pitchers.
The 10 leading pitchers ranked
by their earned-run average were:
Lee, Derringer, Dan MacFayden,
Boston, 2.e5; Klinger, 800; Fred
Fitzsimmons. Brooklyn, 301; HUB
bell, 3067; Russ Bauers, Pittsburgh,
3.074; Clay Bryant, Chicago, $40;
Wander Nicer, 3.12, and Lou Fette,
Boston, 315.
Ranked according to won and lost
percentages, the 10 best were:
Lee, Klinger, Bryant, 1911: Hal
Schumacher, New York, 1873; Lon
WarneSe, st. Louis, 1873: Cy Blan.
ton, Pittsburgh, III; MacFayden,
1919; Derringer, Wander Nicer and
Bob Weiland, st. Louis, 16-1l.