Letters

How incredible it is to think that as three bodies lay shrouded in the stands, the race continued.
—Ann Schach, West Burlington, Iowa

Babe Could Pitch
Although everybody talks about his home runs, I'm still impressed with Ruth's pitching stats. In 1916 he led the American League in earned run average (1.75) and shutouts (nine).
Tom Grill, Philadelphia

Babe Ruth
William Nack's article about Babe Ruth's historic home, run chase was a reminder of why baseball is our national pastime (The Colossus, Aug. 24). In an age in which money and greed rule baseball, it was nice to be reminded that there was a man who just tried to hit homers.
Nick Malinowski, Dodgeville, Wis.

In more than 30 years of visiting Gate of Heaven cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y., I have never seen Ruth's grave without decorations, often Little League hats, balls or scorecards. It's touching.
Lucille Hornby, Stockton, N.J.

Your claim that "no other athlete has gripped the nation the way Babe Ruth did in 1927" is belied by the fact that on the day that he was to clout his record-tying home run, there were fewer than 8,000 people in the stands.
Richard Perkins, Stamford, Conn.

I'm tired of hearing about Ruth. What kind of role model was he? He was a drunk and a womanizer.
Dustin Coleman, Southville, Ky.

The Bull's Bum Rap
The mention of Greg Luzinski in your SCORECARD (Aug. 24) item about hiding weak glovemen in left or rightfield was misguided. The Bull led National League outfielders with a .993 fielding percentage in 1973 (two errors in 262 chances). Yes, he probably shouldn't have been in leftfield in the ninth inning of Game 3 of the '77 National League Championship Series to have Manny Mota's drive bounce off his glove, but he probably also should have had it. As for Luzinski's stance with his back to the plate, I recall its being with his back more towards centerfield, as if to tell his teammate, the fleet-footed Garry (Secretary of Defense) Maddox, "you take care of everything back there."
Bob Vetrone Jr., Cherry Hill, N.J.

? Luzinski's back sometimes faced centerfield and sometimes home, depending on the game situation and the batter.—ED.

Champions for Christ
While you will get many letters critical of the skepticism exhibited in your article on Curtis Enis and Champions for Christ (Leap of Faith, Aug. 24), one has to be suspicious of a group that devotes itself to that oft-neglected flock, athletes in the top tax bracket. If CFC succeeds, and with 10% tithes I'd bet on it, it could be the forebear for an array of new ministries: Supermodels for Christ, Game Show Hosts for Christ and, the ultimate, Bill Gates for Christ.
Mike Bennett, Chicago

After reading the article on Enis and Champions for Christ, I was reminded of advice from my grandfather many years ago: "The louder the Glory! Hallelujah! the tighter you should hold on to your wallet."
Bob Flater, Baltimore