Evening star., 1940-12-27
.355Earns Title
As Loop Has No
Minimum Rule
Harder. Worked Hack
Has .3l7; Mize Tops
SIuggers Again
BY JUDSON BAILEY,

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-The dis
puted batting championship of the
National League became the irrefut-
able property of little Debs Garms
of the Pittsburgh Pirates today upon
announcement of the official aver
ages for 1910.
The dark, silent Texan reeled off a
1855 figure for 358 times at bat in lO3
games.
His average was the highest in the
senior circuit in three years. and
there wasn't any question about its
legitimacy.
The controversy that ragged at the
close of the season over the batting
leader centered solely on the fact he
had gone to bat less than 400 times,
the figure which fear years had been
considered the minimum qualifica-
ton for the championship in both
major leagues.
On this basis, the title would have
gone to Stanley Hack, the veteran
third baseman of the Chicago Cubs.
who batted .317 in SOB times at bat
in l49 games.
No Rule to Bar Garms.
But in the waning days of the 1910
campaign it was discovered that
while the American League had a
rule providing for the designation of
hitting champ each year on the
basis of 400 times at bat, the Ma
tional League had no rule of any kind
and its batting championship was
only semi -oficial. A league spokes-
man said then that the player who
participated in more than 100 games
and topped the list of official aver
ages compiled by the Elias Baseball
Bureau would ascend automatically
to the throne.
Garms did just that He was a
utility man for the Pirates. playing
the outfield and third base and
serving as left-handed pinch hit
ter. He never was a regular. and
right now Manager Frank Frisch
doesn't know where. he will use him
next year. But he got into more
than 100 games and led the hitters,
so the batting championship is his
as far as the National League is
concerned.
Others Outbat Hack.
Three other batters intervened be-
tween Garms and Hack in the rank
ings. but none had 400 times at bat
Virgil (Spud Davis of the Pirates
played in SO games and went to the
plate 285 times to get an average of
1926 Ernie Lombardi of the Gin
cinnati Reds. hurt at the end of the
season, batted .319 for 376 times in
100 games, and John COoney of the
Boston Bees had 318 for 1868 at bats
in 10S games
Based on appearance in 100 or
more games, the 10 leaders were
Garms, lombard, Cooney. Hack.
John Mize of ST. Louis, the 1889
champion, .3l4: Jim Gleeson, Chi
cago, .313; Frank Mccormick, Gin
cinnati .309: Fred Dixie Walker,
Brooklyn, 1908: Enos Slaughter, St.
Louis. 306, and Carvel Rowell, Bos-
ton, 305.
Hack and Mccormick tied for the
most hits, 1911, making the third
straight year that the husky Gin
cinnati first baseman had totaled
the most base hits. He also went TO
bat the most times, 618, and made
the most two-base hits. A.
Mize Sets Homer Mark.
Mize captured the lead in total
bases for the third consecutive year
with 1863, getting 43 home runs, 81
doubles and 13 triples. It was the
second straight year the hulking
slugger had led in home runs and,
by twice hitting three in one game
during the season, he became the
first National League player in his
tory to perform this feat four times
during his career.
Burgess Whitehead of New York
had the most singles, 141, and Floyd
| (Arky) Vaughan of Pittsburgh had
the most triples, Is, and scored the
most runs, 113.
Lonnie Frey of Cincinnati stole
the most bases, %.
Buddy Hassett of the Bees tied
record held by four other players by
making 10 consecutive hits over a
tWo-game stretch.
Pittsburgh nosed out the Car
dinals for the club batting cham
pionship with a group average of
276, one point better than the Red
birds. The Pirates scored the most
runs, gave up the most runs to their
opponents, had the most two-base
hits and the most one-base hits.
st. Louis for the fourth straight
year went to bat the most times and
for the second year had the most
hits and most total bases. The
Cards also led in home runs and
| stolen bases.