19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

Sirs:
Bob Ottum certainly provided us with a baseball fantasy full of laughs and a modicum of suspense, and a happy "all's well that ends well" finis! I would like to see more of these creations by Mr. Ottum and wish to suggest one Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates with his All-Pro fried chicken parlor for a background as a possible future subject.
WILLIAM F. O'BRIEN
Cincinnati

Sirs:
Tennessee Williams couldn't have written a better play and Hal David couldn't have written better lyrics. I am looking forward to a big hockey, a big basketball and a big football musical, too.
HUGH LEWIS
Teaneck, N.J.

Sirs:
You forgot to include Boog's national song, Baby Elephant Walk.
KEITH DIPPRE
Alhambra, Calif.

Sirs:
It was not purely fictitious. Indeed, it does appear as though the mad scientist succeeded in his search for those mechanized pitching robots, for Baltimore's Big Four will undoubtedly win 80 games, might possibly capture 90 games and could conceivably gain a grand and amazing total of 100 games before the everlasting season draws to a close this fall.
JOHN R. HESTER
Lincoln, Mass.

Sirs:
Now there are just two questions. Who's Boog Powell, and was it truth or fiction?
BOB FISCHER
Knoxville, Tenn.

PUNT RETURNS
Sirs:
In SCORECARD (July 19) you say that "football never has been played at Candlestick." Not so. The Oakland Raiders played there for at least one season. In the fall of 1961 I was one of 7,000 fans who saw the Dallas Texans play the Raiders at Candlestick Park.

One would have concluded from that game that there was little hope for the Oakland team or for football at Candlestick. Now, 10 years later, it looks like great success for both ventures.
BILL CONLIN
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Sirs:
There's been at least one East-West Shrine game played in Candlestick Park—as recently as 1968, I believe. Consequently, I can't see what 49er Ticket Manager Pete Giannini's problems are, other than possibly he hasn't been on the job very long.
ROBERT COMPTON
Hermosa Beach, Calif.

SPEAK NO EVIL
Sirs:
Evel Knievel is the most unique sport story of all time (I'm Going to Jump a Mile Anyway, July 5). He may well be a crazy man to some people, but to me he is simply a man among men. After his performances at Madison Square Garden recently, Knievel did not sneak out any back doors to hide from his fans, but instead walked out the exit with kind words and autographs for all. How often have you been thanked for asking for an autograph? It is indeed an experience, after being turned down by some so-called sport stars. Answering all questions and practically ignoring the police bodyguards, Knievel won the hearts of all the people outside the Garden night after night. I asked the man standing next to Knievel, who seemed a bit impatient, if he was Evel Knievel's manager. His reply, with a wry smile, "At times I wonder who manages who."

I hope Evel Knievel makes that jump over Snake River Canyon. I hope he lives to be 103. You see, Evel Knievel is unique.
VIC MIZZONE
Totowa, N.J.