LEAGUE RACES BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE AS MAY CLOSES
By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times
June 1st, 1903
Tigers Prowl Ahead in the American; Pirates Hold Slim Edge in the National
With the month of May consigned to the record books, the contests in both major leagues are beginning to assume definite form.
In the National League, the clubs remain tightly bunched, with the entire circuit separated by but six and a half games. The Pittsburgh Pirates, at present, enjoy the narrowest of margins, holding a half-game advantage over the spirited Boston Beaneaters. The New York Giants follow close behind, just another game adrift. At the other end of the table, the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Superbas find themselves in the lower reaches, though their deficit is by no means insurmountable should a change of fortune arrive.
The American League, by contrast, shows a clearer division. The Detroit Tigers, roaring into form, stand at 25–14, their strong showing granting them a two-and-a-half game lead over the Philadelphia Athletics, with the Boston Americans a game further back. At the other extreme, the Washington Senators are already ten and a half games behind, staring down what may prove to be a grueling summer’s work.
Monthly Honors Bestowed
The leagues, in their wisdom, have announced their customary awards for the month just passed:
American League
Top Batter: Napoleon Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics — .409 average, 3 home runs, 17 runs batted in, and 24 runs scored.
Top Pitcher: Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown, Detroit Tigers — a rookie sensation, unbeaten at 6–0 with a 2.91 earned run average.
Rookie of the Month: Mordecai Brown, Detroit Tigers — the honors doubly his, a testament to his brilliance in his inaugural campaign.
National League
Top Batter: Sam Crawford, Cincinnati Reds — a blistering .412 at the plate, with 1 home run, 9 runs batted in, and 27 runs tallied.
Top Pitcher: Rube Waddell, Pittsburgh Pirates — 6 victories without a blemish and a 2.76 earned run average, the mainstay of the Pirate staff.
Rookie of the Month: Chappie McFarland, Philadelphia Phillies — 3–2 with a 2.96 earned run average, showing promise as a dependable hand.
As the season stretches into summer, the pennant chases promise to grow fiercer by the day. In the National League, every club remains alive with hope, while in the American, the Tigers look to defend their lead against the surging Athletics and Americans.
