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Milwaukee continued their dominance in the American League throughout July. The Brewers had the best month of any team in the majors at 21-6, giving them the best overall record at 75-33. They’re now 15 games ahead of Kansas City (60-48) in the AL West after a losing month for the Royals. KC ended the month on a seven-game losing streak. Minnesota had an 18-9 month, but they’re still 17 games away at 58-50.

In the AL East, New York had a strong 19-7 to finally build some distance. The Yankees are 62-45 with Baltimore 6.5 back at 56-52. Cleveland had a strong month to move to a distant third at 51-57, 11.5 games away. Both Washington and Boston had abysmal months to fall double-digits behind. The Red Sox in particular went 5-22, the worst July of any team in MLB. Part of their collapse came down to a ruptured UCL for former MVP Charlie Ferguson.

Cleveland LF/P George Van Haltren was AL Batter of the Month in July with a .383 average, 36 hits, 8 home runs, 29 RBI, and 25 runs. Brewers righty Brickyard Kennedy was Pitcher of the Month with a 4-0 record, 0.68 ERA, 52.2 innings, and 29 strikeouts. The Spiders also had Rookie of the Month SP Buttons Briggs as the #10 pick had a 3.31 ERA, 37 Ks, and 4-1 record in 51.2 innings.

Buffalo was 17-10 in July to take the National League’s best record outright at 72-36. The Bisons swept Philadelphia in four games to end the month, putting the Phillies 12 games back in the NL East at 60-48. Indianapolis was middling in July but still hold a hefty 11 game lead in the NL West at 69-39. St. Louis is second at 58-50, 11 games back. Cincinnati struggled to 9-18 in the month, falling to third at 52-56.

Indianapolis CF Bill Lange was NL Batter of the Month on a .419 average, 6 home runs, 22 RBI, and 19 runs. St. Louis veteran righty Mickey Welch was Pitcher of the Month on a 5-2 record, 2.21 ERA, and 28 Ks in 61 innings. New Orleans reliever David Willis was Rookie of the Month with a 1.80 ERA over 10 innings with 6 Ks and an active 3-1 record.

In contract news, the Phillies extended CF Charlie Duffee with a six-year, $200,000 extension. In his debut season for Cincinnati, veteran SS Frank Fennelly suffered a broken bone in his elbow to end his season.

It was a relatively quiet trade deadline with the most notable being SP Jouett Meekin on the move from Washington. He was the strikeout leader two years ago, but struggled to a 5.03 ERA in 1896. In the final year of his deal, the Nationals sent him to Indianapolis for two minor leaguers. Eight-time all-star SP Ed Morris was also moved by Washington after one year, as they were clearly sellers. They sent him to Minnesota with both teams also getting a minor leaguer.

In milestones, Baltimore’s Dan Brouthers became the first player to 2500 career hits on July 5. Cleveland’s Dave Orr joined him in the club on July 15. Brouthers (590) is close to the 600 double club, which no one has reached yet. St. Louis’s Roger Connor is poised to beat him there with 598 doubles through July. Brouthers and Connor in July became the first players to 2000 career games played.

The Spiders’ King Kelly also became the 16th to 2000 hits. Buffalo’s Charlie Sweeney became the eighth pitcher with 200 wins. The 300 home run club grew to 10 members with Louisville’s Joe Flynn and Cleveland’s Bob Pettit joining. In other milestones, Buffalo’s Fred Carroll reached 1000 RBI. His teammate Skyrocket Smith and Louisville’s Mike Griffin got to 1000 runs scored. Dick Johnston and Tommy Tucker both earned their 600th stolen base in July.