Show F epee ki kiP P 1 I By By TOMMIE PORTER PORTER PORTER- 1 Major league baseball which apparently is approaching a saturation satur- satur r ration points in records nonetheless l less liss ss starts the 1941 season in antici- antici rp- rp tion of jotting at least a few more rore marks in the books I Many Many big league leaders have Expressed confidence that attend- attend ce figures of the past will be exceeded exceeded ex- ex this year and a few hope hopet t to see pitching marks soar The decline of record break in log ing is shown in statistics of the American league where 64 marks were set in 1938 but 46 in 1939 and only 37 last season The Nationals fell below that number J In many ways recent records point to steadily improved pitching pitchin pitch pitch- in ins ing as the last or better hitting a average v e era r a g e was in 1930 when Bill Terry of the New York Giants had a average The big biff league mark for runs batted batted bat bat- ted in was also set in 1930 at by Hack Wilson of Chicago Tops in home run hitting was Babe Ruths Ruth's 60 circuit blows in 1927 although Hank Greenberg of Detroit was only two below that mark three years ago Johnny Mize l of St. St Louis was short by 17 homers l i in the 1940 season Back in 27 27 too fans saw the seventh and eighth unassisted triple plays of b baseball history on successive days by b J. J E. E Cooney of Chicago and John H. H of Detroit There h have ve been none since The The all time best hitting in the National league was a average compiled by Hugh Duffy of Boston in ui in 1894 and since 1900 the top was Rogers Hornsby's in 1924 The American loops loop's best was averaged by Ty Cobb of Detroit in lii 1911 and G. G H. H of St. St ouis is in 1922 Joe DiMaggio's which topped the American last year ear was the third lowest mark of f a leader since Debs Garms batted to lead the National league eague for the second lowest leading leading lead- lead ing ng mark since 1931 I Again indicating the attack is faltering Cincinnati's It Reds Red e d s gained an time all-time world championship championship cham cham- defensive record last season by fielding with Harry Craft establishing an all- all time standard of perfection ap of 99 and 66 per cent On the pitchers' pitchers side of the ledger Bob Feller and Bucky Walters led their respective leagues in most effective hurling hurling hurl hurl- ing lug Bob starting the season with witha a no-hitter no and Bucky winning nine in a row roV Walters' Walters team team- mate Joe the Fireman Beggs also ilso chalked challed up nine in a row The earned run average on Walters Walters' Walters Walters' Walters Walters' Wal Wal- record was with for Feller And speaking of Clint Brown Chicago White Sox relief Belief specialist who specialist who made his latest start on August 18 18 1936 1936 last ast season ran his string of consecutive consecutive con- con games as a relief hurler to o Frank Cleveland c catcher atcher set one of records by y accepting chances without an error Connie Mack of Philadelphia Tuesday started a quest for another another another an an- other hike in his record for most I years served as manager He has served 43 including 40 consecUtive consecutive tive ive seasons with the Athletics |