PENNANT RACES TIGHTEN AS SEPTEMBER DAWNS
Athletics and White Sox Deadlocked in the American; Giants Edge Ahead in the National
By Charles H. Wentworth, Sporting Times
September 1, 1906
With summer drawing to a close, baseball’s faithful now turn their eyes toward the home stretch and the thrilling pennant chases unfolding across both major leagues.
In the American League, the fight at the top has grown fierce once again as the Philadelphia Athletics have pulled level with the Chicago White Sox. The two clubs now share first place, though Chicago still holds the slight advantage of two games in hand, making the battle for supremacy far from decided.
Further down the table, the Cleveland Naps have shown faint signs of revival. Though they sit 26˝ games behind the leaders and remain long shots in the pennant race, their recent improvement has at least given their supporters reason to cheer in what has otherwise been a disappointing campaign.
Meanwhile, over in the National League, the New York Giants have regained their footing, widening their advantage to four games over the Chicago Cubs. With many contests yet to be played, the race remains open, but New York’s steady form has once again established them as the favorites. At the bottom of the standings, the Brooklyn Superbas continue to languish, now 28 games adrift, their hopes reduced to pride and the promise of next year.
September also ushers in the traditional expansion of rosters, as clubs bring up fresh faces to bolster their ranks. For those at the top, a key addition could make all the difference in a tight race, while those near the bottom will use the opportunity to test untried talent and begin building toward the future.
Monthly Awards
American League
Top Batter: Chick Stahl, Boston Americans – .312, 1 HR, 22 RBIs, 16 runs
Top Pitcher: Wiley Piatt, Philadelphia Athletics – 5–1, 1.16 ERA
Rookie: Lew Richie, Cleveland Naps – 5–2, 2.63 ERA
National League
Top Batter: Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates – .383, 22 RBIs, 23 runs
Top Pitcher: Roy Patterson, Cincinnati Reds – 6–1, 2.14 ERA
Rookie: Jack Coombs, Chicago Cubs – 3–3, 2.21 ERA
With both leagues finely poised and new faces ready to take the field, the coming month promises to deliver all the tension and excitement that baseball’s closing weeks so often bring.
