19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

BY GEORGE!
Sir:
As a lifelong Yankee fan, I appreciated Steve Wulf's article This Time George Went Overboard (May 10). I became disillusioned with George in 1979 when he traded First Baseman Chris Chambliss. I feel that was the onset of his now infamous ax acts. How can Steinbrenner say his players are disloyal when he's the most traitorous Yankee of all?

We fans have lost our spirit and enthusiasm. Even an evening spent viewing our Yanks on TV and listening to our colorful announcer, Phil Rizzuto, seems dull and lifeless. Can this be 1966, when the Yankees finished last, all over again? Let's hope not!
JOAN JACOBSEN
Wayne, N.J.

Sir:
You may think I'm crazy, but I believe George Steinbrenner is the best owner-in baseball. He just has managerial problems. All George likes to do is win; you can't blame him for that.
ANDREW VALLILA
Lyndhurst, N.J.

Sir:
The Yanks have always been a team of personalities who generate great emotions. Colonel Ruppert put up with the off-field shenanigans of Babe Ruth, and Dan Topping and Del Webb with the midnight antics of the Mickey Mantle- Whitey Ford group, sometimes putting the interests of the team and the fans above their own values. But George pontificates on his values and how unappreciative his players are of his generosity. George speaks of Yankee tradition, and then asks us to settle for a different lineup every day, depending on his personal whims.

The question is: Do we Yankee fans want a winner at all costs? No! Sure, we want a team that's a contender, but, more important, we want one with personality, spirit and pride in tradition. That's what we were trying to tell you that night, George. Can you hear us?
BOB ADLER
New York City

Sir:
The Yankees are the best team in baseball. If George would just leave them alone, they would probably win the World Series easily.
WILLIE SOPPE
Great Lakes, Ill.

GEORGIA'S MAN
Sir:
Thanks for a splendid article on Bert Jones (L.A. Gets a New Leading Man, May 10). Bert has given this lifelong Baltimore Colt fan many thrills. It's a shame the Colts' poor record in recent years and the ignorance of Baltimore's front-runner fans—not to mention the team's owner—forced Jones to leave town under a cloud of controversy.

I wish Bert the best of luck in L.A. and can assure him that he will be greatly missed in Memorial Stadium. However, I dread the thought of seeing him in a Rams uniform for years to come. As the opening photograph on page 46 so eloquently showed, he was meant to wear Colt blue.
RYLAND BALDERSON
Kinsale, Va.

Sir:
Give it up, SI. Where were you in 1975, 1976 and 1977 when Bert Jones was in his prime and had the city of Baltimore in the palm of his hand? Problem was, he couldn't get past Terry Bradshaw or the first round of the playoffs!

Good luck to Bert with the Rams. Unfortunately, he won't be missed.
FRANK FLORENTINO
Baltimore