PENNANT RACES TIGHTEN AS SUMMER HEAT BEARS DOWN
Cleveland and Chicago Lead the Way as July Opens Across the Major Leagues
By Samuel T. Kingsley, Sporting Times
July 1st, 1907
As the summer sun bears down and the season nears its midpoint, the battles for supremacy in both major leagues are heating up to match the weather. The month of June has clarified little — if anything, it has only served to compress the standings and heighten the tension as every club eyes the pennant.
In the American League, the Cleveland Naps continue to set the pace, maintaining a two-game advantage over both the Boston Americans and the Philadelphia Athletics. The Naps’ consistency, led by strong pitching and timely hitting, has them sitting atop the standings as July begins. Yet, with both Boston and Philadelphia in pursuit, the race remains far from settled.
At the opposite end of the table, last year’s champions, the Chicago White Sox, find themselves mired near the bottom alongside the St. Louis Browns. The Browns are currently in last place, though only a half game separates the two struggling sides — a far cry from the lofty heights of a season ago for Chicago’s South Side club.
In the National League, the Chicago Cubs have overtaken the New York Giants to seize a narrow one-game lead. Their recent stretch of fine form has given them the edge, though the Giants remain a formidable threat. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Reds have shown signs of life, now sitting six and a half games back and inching into contention. Down at the bottom, the Brooklyn Superbas continue to languish, four games adrift of the nearest club and staring down another difficult campaign.
The month of June produced its share of standouts across both leagues, with several players turning in performances worthy of note.
Monthly Awards – American League
Top Batter: Harry Davis, Philadelphia Athletics – The veteran first baseman turned in a masterful month, batting .368 with one home run, 23 runs batted in, and 24 runs scored, helping keep Philadelphia within striking distance of the top.
Top Pitcher: George Mullin, Washington Senators – Mullin has been nothing short of dominant, posting a perfect 6–0 record with a 1.74 earned run average.
Top Rookie: Nap Rucker, Philadelphia Athletics – The young left-hander continues to impress, finishing the month 4–2 with a 1.53 ERA, giving the A’s another weapon on the mound.
Monthly Awards – National League
Top Batter: Ed Konetchy, St. Louis Cardinals – A bright spot for the Cardinals, Konetchy batted a scorching .382 with 17 RBI and 13 runs scored over the month.
Top Pitcher: Fred Glade, Cincinnati Reds – Glade led all National League hurlers with a 7–2 record and a 1.55 ERA, proving himself one of the most dependable arms in the circuit.
Top Rookie: José Méndez, Chicago Cubs – The Cuban right-hander continues to shine in his debut season, recording a 4–2 mark with a 1.66 ERA, further bolstering an already formidable Chicago staff.
With summer now in full swing, the races are shaping up for what promises to be a dramatic second half of the season. If June was a month of movement, July looks set to be one of separation — or, perhaps, of even tighter competition.
