19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT BACKWARD UP THE STREAM
Sirs:
Look at what my old friend Herblock, cartoonist of the Washington Post, has gone and done!

Either he thinks the Russians invented backward rowing or, judging by the backwash, they are rowing against the fiercest tide ever and have already outstripped the capitalistic shell, which would not fit the caption.

What does Herblock say?
FRANCIS BRENNAN
New York City

?Herblock says it was one of those days and no one caught the mistake before or after the cartoon got into print.—ED.

BASEBALL: SCOUTS ON THE CAMPUS
Sirs:
In the past, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED has always been willing to enter into a controversy when an abuse arose in the world of sports. We feel that such an abuse exists today in the relationship between collegiate and professional baseball, namely, the invasion of the college campus by professional scouts and the subsequent signing of student athletes before they finish their collegiate careers.

A case in point is our alma mater, Holy Cross, where good baseball teams have become a habit over the years. Last year Holy Cross finished third in the NCAA World Series at Omaha. Three of the starters on that team were seniors and graduated after the season. This left many returning veterans to form a nucleus for another good team. Four of these returnees were signed to professional contracts, which terminated their collegiate careers, and a fifth refused substantial offers.

Why should professional teams be allowed to capitalize unfairly on the work, training and efforts of talented college coaches and excellent athletic programs? If it is allowed to continue, the spirit of college baseball will be broken.

This problem no longer exists in college football or basketball. Why let it continue in college baseball?
JOSEPH W. MULLEN JR.
JAMES J. HAGGERTY
Washington, D.C.

BASEBALL: HOLD YOUR BREATH
Sirs:
I would like to congratulate Roy Terrell on his excellent column Down Went the Yankees (SI, May 11). The Indians' start may be, in reality, a false start and one that cannot be expected to continue the entire season. But many San Franciscans are holding their breath, and a slight tingle runs up their spines.

We remember Joe Gordon and his sensational San Francisco Seals team of 1957. In '56 the Seals finished deep down in the depths of second division. Then the master stepped into the San Francisco picture. No one will ever forget his 1957 Seals, and even though San Francisco is proud, very proud of her Giants, the Seals will always have a special place.