EARLY SEASON SHAPING UP AS TIGHT RACE IN BOTH LEAGUES
By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times
May 1st, 1907
As the month of April gives way to May, the early contests of the new baseball season have begun to reveal some early surprises and shifting fortunes across both circuits. Though it remains too soon to draw firm conclusions, the standings already suggest that this year’s races could prove among the most closely fought in recent memory.
In the American League, the Cleveland Naps have emerged as the early leaders, holding a one-game edge over the Washington Senators. Cleveland’s fine start has caught the attention of many observers, though it must be noted that the margin among the top clubs remains razor thin — six of the eight teams lie within two and a half games of first place. The St. Louis Browns, meanwhile, have struggled to find their footing and occupy the cellar, six games adrift of the top spot.
Over in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies hold the slimmest of advantages — half a game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates — but the standings remain tightly packed. Four clubs sit within two and a half games of the Phillies, suggesting a long summer of fierce competition ahead. The Cincinnati Reds, still searching for consistency, find themselves already six games behind the leaders.
Monthly Honors — April 1907
American League
Top Batter: Otis Clymer, Washington Senators — batting .397 with 7 runs batted in and 12 runs scored. Clymer’s hot bat has been instrumental in the Senators’ early push toward the top of the table.
Top Pitcher: Nick Altrock, Washington Senators — a sterling 4–0 record with a 1.88 earned run average, providing Washington with dependable leadership on the mound.
Rookie of the Month: Smokey Joe Williams, Washington Senators — though his record stands at 2–4, his impressive 1.19 ERA marks him as a pitcher of rare promise and poise.
National League
Top Batter: Topsy Hartsel, Chicago Cubs — hitting .371 with 1 home run, 7 RBI, and 14 runs scored, Hartsel has been a spark at the top of the Cubs’ lineup.
Top Pitcher: Mordecai Brown, Pittsburgh Pirates — a perfect 4–0 start accompanied by a minuscule 0.75 ERA underscores why the Pirates are expected to contend once again.
Rookie of the Month: Walter Johnson, Brooklyn Superbas — the young hurler has shown flashes of greatness, posting a 2–2 record with a 1.91 ERA in his first month in the big leagues.
With both leagues still in their infancy for the 1907 campaign, the picture remains wide open. But if April’s play is any indication, baseball followers can look forward to a summer rich in drama, competition, and no shortage of rising stars.
