[FuzzyRussianHat]

At the end of May, Milwaukee holds the best record all of Major League Baseball. They lead the American League West Division at 34-18, ending the month going 9-1 in their final ten games. Defending AL champ Chicago sits four games back at 30-22, followed by 28-23 St. Louis and 28-24 Minnesota. Kansas City and Detroit are tied for the worst record in the majors at 17-35. Boston holds a five game lead in the AL East Division at 32-20. Both New York and Cleveland at 27-25 with Washington at 26-26.

Reigning AL MVP Denny Lyons led the way in May for the Brewers and was the league’s Batter of the Month, hitting .404 with 8 home runs, 25 RBI, and 26 runs. Minnesota’s Toad Ramsey was Pitcher of the Month with a 2.40 ERA over 56.1 innings, a 5-0 record, and 51 strikeouts. Browns CF Hugh Duffy was Rookie of the Month as the #2 draft pick hit .313 with 10 homers, 26 RBI, and 21 runs.

The Twins got some very bad news with the loss of last year’s ERA title winner Charlie Buffinton. The 24-year old righty requires surgery to remove bone chips with a 4-5 month recovery time, meaning an absolute best case would be a postseason return if Minnesota made it that far. Elsewhere in the AL, Boston LF Pete Hotaling saw a 20-game hitting streak snapped on May 12 facing New York.

The second no-hitter of the year came on May 16 by Cleveland’s Frank Nash with six strikeouts and three walks facing St. Louis. On May 27, White Sox pitcher John Clarkson had a 15 K game facing Baltimore.



Both National League divisions have a tight race two months into the season. In the NL East, Buffalo went 2-8 to end the month which erased their lead. The Bisons and Pirates are tied for first at 27-25, but Boston (25-27) and Philadelphia (24-27) are right in striking distance. Despite 22-30 and 21-31 marks, both Brooklyn and New York could still jump back into the fight.

Over in the West, St. Louis at 31-21 holds the lead by a half-game over defending champ Indianapolis (30-21) and a full game over New Orleans (30-22). Louisville is fourth at 26-26.

Once more, Giants 1B Dan Brouthers was NL Batter of the Month, hitting .386 in May with 7 homers, 25 RBI, and 20 runs. Clowns ace Perry Werden was Pitcher of the Month with a 7-0 record and 1.78 ERA over 55.2 innings with 28 Ks. At 11-1, Werden leads the majors in wins. Pittsburgh’s Matt Kilroy again was the top rookie, this time with a 3.47 ERA over 46.2 innings with 35 Ks and a 4-2 record.

Elsewhere in the world: In Atlanta, a pharmacist named John Pemberton developed a carbonated beverage that would soon be branded ‘Coca-Cola.’