19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

RUFFIAN
Sir:
The owner, trainers and veterinarians who handled the injured Ruffian must have been barbarians. We don't kill humans when they break a leg; why kill such a beautiful animal? The excuse was that she was suffering horribly, but so do humans when they break a leg and must be operated upon. Hadn't they ever heard of pain-killing drugs?
L. TED FRIGARD
Stockton, Calif.

?For an account of the problems encountered by those who sought to save Ruffian, see page 22.—ED.

Sir:
Here is an epitaph for Ruffian, in the manner of the ancient Greeks:

Unvanquished beauty,
How swift your race!
GERTRUDE M. WHITE
Franklin, Mich.

UP IN FENWAY
Sir:
Fred Lynn (It Was Like Old Times, July 7) has charmed Boston, not only with his bat but with heads-up base running (something that the Red Sox have never really had) and with his defense. Lynn plays with the coolness of a veteran. He has a .339 batting average and leads the league in RBIs. If he is not the Rookie of the Year and does not start in the All-Star Game, that will clearly show the injustice that's in baseball today.
BETSY BILLARD
Westwood, Mass.

Sir:
Because Fred Lynn leads the league in RBIs, slugging percentage, total bases, is fourth in HRs, third in hitting and is the best defensive centerfielder in the majors, Rookie of the Year may not be the only award he'll get. With his stats, MVP and the Triple Crown are possibilities. Look out, T. Williams, J. DiMaggio, M. Mantle, H. Aaron and B. Ruth, here comes F. Lynn.
MARK WHITE
Pittsfield, Mass.

Sir:
Ron Fimrite's article on the Yankees-Red Sox series was good. But he forgot to add that the Red Sox will go all the way in the AL East. What else can you say of a team that has the two best rookies in the league ( Lynn and Jim Rice), the best catcher (when Carlton Fisk is healthy), a reserve outfielder ( Bernie Carbo) who is second in the league in slugging percentage, an old man who is beginning to look like his old hitting self ( Carl Yastrzemski) and two pitchers, one flaky ( Bill Lee) and one who talks in broken English ( Luis Tiant)? With a little luck and no swoon it will be like old times, the old times of '67 and the impossible dream.
SAM MOFFIE
Boardman, Ohio

Sir:
We Red Sox fans appreciate your article on the Bosox vs. Yanks, but aren't too pleased that you put Lynn's picture on the cover. After the article, Fred went 0 for 12, made two errors that cost us a game and then missed a few games with an injured hand. Please, no more Bosox cover shots, but how about a team picture of the Yankees?
FRED SEPANEK
Albany, N.Y.

Sir:
Compare Munson to Fisk? Hogwash! We Yankee fans like to compare Munson to Johnny Bench!
LEONARD LASKER
Hillside, N.J.

THE WEAVER'S TRADE
Sir:
A commendable story on Baltimore's manager, Earl Weaver (The Earl of Rasp, July 7). He is without a doubt baseball's greatest active manager because of his ability to adapt his lineup to fit each situation. Here are the totals for Weaver's 6�-year management of the Birds (including 1975 games through July 2): 1,117 Games, 670 W, 447 L, .5998209 Pct.