19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

REMEMBRANCES
Sir:
In the article on Jack Lambert (A Living Legend Called Mean Smilin' Jack, July 12), Robert F. Jones mentions that Lambert made "a few small-college All-America teams."

During the time Lambert played at Kent State, I believe the university was in the MidAmerican Conference, which is classed as major-college competition. It would seem, therefore, that Lambert's All-America mention would be major, rather than small.
STEPHEN C. MORTON
Bowling Green, Ohio

Sir:
While serving as an assistant to the sports information director at Kent State, I watched Jack Lambert labor in anonymity for three years. But Jack's contribution far surpassed sports. He and a handful of other Golden Flashes who also made it to the pros reunited a campus with its community. Following dark years of controversy, Jack Lambert made people forget about what happened at Kent State. He gave us something to cheer about.
MARK DE MARINO
Sarasota, Fla.

Sir:
There was an interesting old fellow whom Robert F. Jones neglected to mention.

It was the guy Jerry Kramer called "the strongest 240 pounds in football." He was the gentleman with the reputation as the meanest and toughest son of a gun on the field and the player selected as the best middle linebacker of the NFL's first 50 years. No one scoffed when he titled his autobiography Mean on Sunday. He also wrote the book on world championship rings.

It's only been four years since No. 66 was worn by Raymond Nitschke. How soon we forget.
MARK B. RAFFLES
Highland Park, Ill.

DANDY RANDY
Sir:
I must congratulate Ron Fimrite on his superb article concerning San Diego's Randy Jones (Uncommon Success for a Common Man, July 12). I was exceptionally pleased to see that Randy was depicted as a "common man," one not seeking fame and fortune but a man just making a living for himself and his family. Randy Jones has done much more than win ball games, he has given kids who haven't been blessed with overpowering strength a hope that they, too, can use skill and finesse to conquer power.
NEAL LUSCOMB
Lemon Grove, Calif.

Sir:
If Mike Schmidt would be embarrassed to go out to the mound and pitch with the kind of stuff Randy Jones uses, how must he and his fellow Phillies feel going up to the plate after being shut out by that kind of stuff twice?
DENNIS TRAUTVETTER
Pittsburgh

Sir:
I sure hope Jones can win 30. In 1971 another threat to pull that nearly impossible trick was Vida Blue of the A's. Blue was 17-3 at the All-Star break but finished the season with a 24-8 record. Even if Jones should fail to win 30, he still tied a 63-year-old record by not giving up a base on balls in 68 innings.
JEFF TIGHE
Fond du Lac, Wis.

Sir:
The National League record for most victories at the All-Star break is 16 by Randy Jones this year. The major league record is 17 by Vida Blue in 1971. Yet Ron Fimrite said that Don Newcombe won 18 games before the 1956 All-Star Game.