Evening star., 1940-12-17
Greenberg McCosky,
C|outing $40, and
York Big Guns
Di Mag, Leader Through
Late Spurt With .352,
Not Enough for Yunks

The full measure of blame for
the New York Yankees failure to
win fifth straight American League
pennant officially was fixed upon
shoulders other than Joe Di Mag
gios today.
With an average % points under
his 1889 performance, but, wlthal
better than all the rest, Di Maggie
retained his batting title this year,
American League averages reveal
by spectacular Septembei squirt
which raised his mark to 1852 and
carried him past Runnerup Luke
Appling of the White Sox and Rip
Radcliff of the Browns.
The new averages did nothing to
disturb the theory that the last
thing a good hitter loses is his bat
ting eve and that winning team
is the club with one or more long
hitters who drive across runs. ID
Maggios Yankees only finished
third, but this mainly was because
Jolting Joe was outnumbered by vet
eran sluggers of the Detroit Tigers
Clouting Trio Brings Flag.
With Barney McCosky and Hank
Greenberg finishing in a flfth-place
tie with $40 apiece and with Rudy
York hitting .316 and contributing
80 home runs to Greenberg's league
leading total of Al, Detroit won the
closest American League race IN
modern history. The Cleveland In
dams had the brilliant Bob Feller
to pitch but lacked the punch that
proved decisive.
Lacking both a Feller and a hitter
even remotely resembling Di Mag
gio, Greenberg, Appllng, led
Williams or Radcliff, Washington
finished seventh despite a team
batting average which was fourth
best and higher than New York
and Clevelands. Only two Of the
Mats, Third Baseman Cecil Travis
and Right Fielder Buddy Lewis hit
over 300 for Washington, Travis
winding up with fine .322 mark
and Lewis with BIT. But neither
was a power hitter.
Mats Lead in Thieving.
Only in one department dld the
Nationals lead the league and that
was in base stealing. While not
as ambitious as he was during the
1889 campaign, when he stole ol
bases in 1913 games, George Case
again topped the majors with 80
thefts In l54 games and. with Gerry
Walker adding 81 and Lewis lo'
Washington totaled "a stolen oaseS
to spreadeagle the field.
The one notable exception to the
rule that the hitting team Is
winner was the case OF the Boston
Red Sox. With 286 team average
the Sox tieo the Tigers for the
batting lead and easily topped the
circuit to total bases, but the SoX
power, profaned by perhaps the
worst pitching staff, went lor
naught as Boston collapsed after
a strong start and finished nth IN
the race. For fellow who sup
posedly spent the season sulklns
and yearning to be San Diego
fireman. Williams did all rlght at
hat for Boston as he finished tnlro
with a 1874 average, led IN runs
scored with 1874, and was thlro IN
total bases with 1888. Theodore con-
nected for % home runs, IA Triples
and 43 doubles.
Di Mag Makes Great Finish
Di Maggie needed a story-oook
finish to retain his title. ON SLOWLY
the big outfelder applied the pres
sure when his team needed it most
IN the drive down the stretch
LARGELY due to his efforts. the
Yankees were in the fight until the
next to last day OF the season.
Anpline was 4 points behind Dl Mag
with a .348 average and Williams
slipped ahead of Radcllf1 at the
finish with .344 to Rips .342. ID
Maggie also had the longest hitting
streak of the year, going through rs
games without being held hltless.
Greenberg, who was voted the
most valuable player in the league
despite playing the outfield Tor the
first time, was the home-run leader
ana, ike III MdSSio'
figure in the stretch. BY way OF
driving the Tigers to the flag, Hank
hanged is of his Al home runs in
the final month and led in total
bases with 384. His teammate. York,
was second in total bases and In
home runs.
Cramer Ties for Most Hits.
The newest National, Centerhelder
Roger Cramer, came in for a measure
of attention when he finished in
three-way tie with Radclift and
McCosky for most hits-200.
Cramer, however, did his sWattlng
for the Red Sox, who last week
traded him to Washington In deal
which involved the passing of Walker
from the Capital after single season
IN which he batted .294. F. E. S.