| Team | W/L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis Red Sox | 25-13 | .658 | — |
| New York Black Yankees | 23-15 | .605 | 2 |
| Detroit Wolverines | 14-23 | .378 | 10.5 |
| Cleveland Spiders | 13-22 | .371 | 10.5 |
| Baltimore Black Sox | 11-26 | .297 | 13.5 |
#Baltimore Black Sox
Bryce Harper launched 2 homeruns in a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Stars.
Gavvy Cravath did the same, but his 2 shots were in vain, coming in an 18-9 loss to Memphis. It wasn’t pretty: Dennis Martínez gave up 8 runs in under an inning, and John Tudor gave up 7 runs while getting exactly 1 batter out. That left the Black Sox down 17-3 after 2 innings.
There was a slight bright spot: Frank Robinson, hitting .208 at the time, hit his first homerun of the year, and added another the following day. Robinson returning to his all-star form would go a long way to salvaging the year in Baltimore.
#Cleveland Spiders
Lance Berkman hit 2 homeruns in what turned into an 11-10 loss against the New York Gothams.
Cy Young, who continues, year over year, to show flashes of potential, struck out 10 without a walk over 7 innings in a 12-5 win over San Francisco.
#Detroit Wolverines
Hal Newhouser improved to 3-2 with 13 strikeouts over 7.1 innings in a 6-4 win over the Houston Colt .45’s.
Jack Wilson began a rehab assignment, although whether he returns to the WBL or not at its end is up in the air.
#Memphis Red Sox
Len Barker began a rehab assignment.
Red Ruffing, Jon Lester, and Bucky Walters combined on a 3-hit shutout in an 8-0 win over the Indianapolis ABC’s. Memphis was powered by David Ortiz‘s 2 homeruns and 5 RBI.
Don Drysdale struck out 10 in 5.2 innings and Ted Williams hit 2 homeruns in a 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Stars. Then he did it again: 2 more homeruns the next day (his 19th and 20th), as the Red Sox topped the Stars, 9-1.
Memphis scored 8 in the 1st and 9 more in the 2nd in an 18-9 drubbing of Baltimore. John Briggs hit 2 homeruns and drove in 4 in the blowout, which finally saw Memphis give in to Williams‘ nagging to pitch, with the WBL’s best hitter tossing 2 innings, giving up 1 run and 3 walks.
Red Ruffing struck out 11 over 7 innings and drove in 2 of Memphis’s 3 runs himself, with a double and his 1st homerun of the year. But he also took the loss, as the Black Sox prevailed, 4-3.
#New York Black Yankees
Derek Jeter was (finally, according to some) sent down to AAA, with Josh Harrison recalled. Harrison gives the Black Yankees versatility across the infield, and Joe Sewell (319/429/553) looks to become the everyday SS.
Mickey Mantle hit 2 homeruns in a 10-9 loss at Birmingham. Mike Schmidt did the same: 2 homeruns in a losing effort, as Detroit topped the Black Yankees, 8-7.