United League of American Base Ball Clubs          est. 1951
 
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Races Tighten
Brooklyn Overtakes Monuments
BROOKLYN (July 31) -- The Brooklyn Superbas , caught and overtook the Washington Monuments.  The Superbas went on a 15-2 run from July 6-23, including six of seven against their archrivals and a seven-game winning streak that included a four-game sweep of West-leading Louisville.  The Brooks were 17-6 in the the month of July, while the Monuments were 9-16.  The nine-game turnaround erased the Bas' 6.5-game deficit and built a 2.5 game lead going into the season's final third.
   The undisputed hero is ace Gene Conley, who parleyed an excellent June into a phenomenal July.  Conley (18-1, 2.03) is putting together what is arguably the finest pitching season in the seven-year history of the United League.  The 26-year old righthander has lost just once in 25 starts, has not one, but two, nine-game win streaks, and has won an incredible 20 consecutive decisions on the road, dwarfing the records of Carl Erskine (14) and Billy Pierce (13).  Incidentally, Hal 'Skinny' Brown of San Francisco and Cliff 'Lefty' Chambers of Los Angeles share the record for longest away losing streak (10 decisions).
   Brooklyn boasts the top-rated offense and the #1 defense.  The Bas have scored 531, or 5.31 per game.  Their attack is led by the dynamic duo of Granny Hamner and Minnie Minoso, #1 and #2 in league batting.  Hamner's 71 RBIs shatters his previous careeer high (59), and ranks second in the league only to Ralph Kiner.  The hot bats in July belonged to Richie Ashburn (.455-0-13, 1.168 OPS in 22 games) and Bobby Brown (.435-0-7, .962 OPS in 18 games).  Ashburn's awakening has been particularly helpful.  Richie is finally living up to his potential, batting .365 on the year with a .397 on-base percentage, 32 points above his career high.
   What Brooklyn lacks in power (72 home runs, dead last), it makes up for in walks (306, 1st), and doubles (218, 1st), key components in the league's best team on-base and slugging averages.  If the offense maintains its .783 OPS, it will be the third highest in league history, behind only the Jackie Robinson-Ted Williams New York Gothams of 1951-52.

   BEST TEAM OPS
1951 New York      .795
1952 New York      .795
1957 Brooklyn       .783
1955 Brooklyn       .781
1953 St. Louis        .779
1951 Washington  .779
1952 Brooklyn       .776
1954 St. Louis        .774
1953 Boston           .773

Pierce Fires One-Hit Shutout
SAN FRANCISCO (July 17) -- Maroon ace Billy Pierce got his first shutout of the year today, blanking the hosting Spiders on a single hit and three walks, striking out eight.  It was only the second one-hitter in the UL this season (the other by Stu Miller on April 30).  "Hey, that's my job!  Every time I take the mound I give the best I can.  And my best stuff was too much for them today," Pierce said.  Pierce also homered in the game, belting a three-run shot off Bobby Shantz in the fifth inning for his fourth career circuit clout.  Pierce has gradually improved as the season progresses, trimming a 1.24 April WHIP to 0.92 in July.  He ranks second to Brooklyn's Gene Conely in ERA (2.86) and Ratio (10.0).

Wehmeier Blanks Boston on Two Hits
BOSTON (July 23) -- In the latest of an uncanny string of no-hit and low hit games, Fenway Park again played host to another dominant opposing pitcher, as Louisville's Herm Wehmeier shut out the Beacons with a two-hit gem.  The Colonels won the game 8-0.  Hank Aaron homered and drove in four runs.  Wehmeier had struggles in recent outings.  Before today he was 0-3, 6.67 in his last four starts.  Louisville's lead in the West has been whittled to a half-game, and for a spell both St. Louis and Chicago were within a game of first place.

Brewer Blanks Colts, 1st Career Shutout
CHICAGO (July 28) -- Detroit's Tom Brewer tossed a two-hit complete game for his first shutout of the year.  Brewer (6-11, 5.51) has struggled as season, but what's news is that he is just about the only Detroit pitcher having a bad year.  Ace Pedro Ramos is 15-6 with a 3.35 ERA, and Johnny Podres is having a good year, trimming his ERA to 4.13 and compiling a 7-9 record in 26 games.  Brewer was 0-5, 6.10 in June, but turned things around this month with a 3-2 record and 4.61 ERA.

Campy Joins 1,000-Hit Club
LOS ANGELES (July 29) -- Los Angeles catcher Roy Campanella became the fourth player to reach 1,000 hit milestone today.  The historic hit came off Dave Koslo in the fifth inning of an 11-3 drubbing of Washington.  Bill Mazeroski hit a grand slam in the game, and the Outlaws amassed 16 hits as Erv Palica cruised to his fourth win in five decisions.  Campy joins three former teammates in the elite company of the 1,000 hit club.  Roy played with Stan Musial from 1951 to 1954.  Prior to that, the 1955 MVP played a half-season with Brooklyn alongside fellow 1,000-hitsters Minnie Minoso and Gene Woodling, both of whom collected their 1,000th hits earlier this season.