BOSTON AND PITTSBURGH CONTINUE TO RULE THE DIAMOND — AMERICANS AND PIRATES WIDEN THEIR LEADS
By Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times
July 1st, 1902
As the long days of summer take firm hold, so too does the rhythm of the baseball campaign, and already the pennant chases appear to be settling into familiar patterns. The month of June has passed, and both the Boston Americans in the American League and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League have begun to stride clear of their rivals, each looking every inch a champion in waiting.
In the American League, the Boston nine are nothing short of dominant. With a record of 46 victories against but 16 defeats, they have fashioned a commanding 12½ game lead over the field. Their nearest pursuers, the Philadelphia Athletics, are a distant second at 33–28, while the once-hopeful St. Louis Browns, after an encouraging start, have faltered badly and now reside in the cellar at 23–38.
The tale is much the same in the National League, where the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates continue to hold sway. Their ledger stands at 44–20, giving them a comfortable 10½ game cushion over the resurgent St. Louis Cardinals, who stand at 34–31. Meanwhile, the Boston Beaneaters, once the pride of the circuit, languish at the bottom with a mark of 25–39.
While the standings show separation, the individual feats of June give the faithful plenty to cheer. The player awards for the month are as follows:
American League:
Batter of the Month: Chick Stahl, of the Boston Americans, whose .456 batting average, with 13 runs batted in and 25 tallies scored, was a tonic for the champions.
Pitcher of the Month: Rube Foster, the sensational rookie of the Chicago White Sox, who compiled a 6–2 record with a sparkling 1.50 ERA.
Rookie of the Month: Again, Foster takes the honor, making his emergence one of the most striking stories of the young season.
National League:
Batter of the Month: Ed Delahanty, the powerful first baseman of the Philadelphia Phillies, who struck at a .396 clip, adding 2 home runs, 20 RBI’s and 20 runs scored to his impressive tally.
Pitcher of the Month: Ed Siever, of the Chicago Orphans, whose 5–2 record and 1.84 ERA provided rare stability to the Chicago staff.
Rookie of the Month: Jim St. Vrain, of the St. Louis Cardinals, for the second month running. His 4–3 record with a 2.07 ERA underscores his value to the rising Cardinals.
As July dawns, the races appear lopsided, yet the long season is notorious for sudden reversals. A fortnight of ill fortune for the leaders or a burst of inspired play from a challenger can alter the complexion of the tables in a hurry. For now, however, it seems that Boston and Pittsburgh are marching steadily toward an autumn collision that all of baseball would welcome with keen anticipation.
