19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

THAT LOVELY INTERLUDE
Sirs:
It's all over. The tumult and the shouting have died, the heroes are preening themselves in home-town celebrations and the little men who write the record books are sharpening their quills to enthrall future generations.

There were no villains; it was that kind of Series. SI called it on the head some days before the Big Push started by labeling its portraits of Brooklyn greats Series of Heroes (SI, Sept. 26). It was a Series of heroes—the great men living up to their great reputations; lesser lights playing like great men; the walking wounded holding the breach, grimacing in pain. The opening game was drama, successive games melodrama, and the turnstiles clicked like machine guns.

It was our national pastime (as the phrase goes) at its best. And the underdog, Brooklyn—beloved, bedraggled, un-glamorous Brooklyn, always the also-ran, the runner-up, the butt of jokes—emerging bloody, bowed, but victorious after so many long years.

I want to commend you for your courage (that's successful foolhardiness in retrospect) in coming out for Brooklyn in This Year the Dodgers? (SI, Sept. 26). I made use of the scouting cards, which also turned out to be miraculously prophetic (" Duke Snider...very dangerous in Ebbets Field...essentially low-ball hitter"). For me, the Series was a lovely interlude between a hot and exciting summer and a long, wet winter.
E. A. SHEARSON
New York

THE TIME IS NOW
Sirs:
Brooklyn: The Day:
"This is next year!"
BURT SAPERSTEIN
Brooklyn

INHERITANCE
Sirs:
Wait'll next year!
(An old Dodger excuse—but from now on—for a while at least—it will be the property of us Yankee fans.)
C. D. SCHICK
New London, Conn.

THEY DID IT
Sirs:
Looking at the fine color pictures of the World Series SPECTACLE (SI, Sept. 26), I feel that Hy Peskin and SI did a superb and colorful job.
ELMER BRUNK
Royersford, Pa.

INSIDE STORY
Sirs:
Very much enjoyed the scouting report on the Yankees and Dodgers of your Sept. 26 issue! It contributed a great deal to watching the game, even on television. Since I am not able to see more than about 10 games a year, it's difficult for me to accumulate the kind of information you put at my disposal in a neat, easy-to-check package.
FRANK J. WENDT
Chicago

BIG THREE
Sirs:
We are all happy that Brooklyn won the Series and still excited about that brilliant last game—the great pitching, that wonderful catch and the double play. SI's pre-Series analysis was sharp and clear!

I have spent a lifetime in the wonderful world of sport and have known many of its leading citizens. Years ago I watched another great contest (the '32 Olympics) with three friends who, between them, kept me reasonably well informed on what was happening on the field. The picture I took of them is a rather rare document, I think (see cut). Grantland Rice, Westbrook Pegler and Paul Gallico—three great sportswriters of our time—sitting cheek by jowl. Granny is gone, Pegler turned to other chores and Paul made his farewell to sports many years ago, though I am delighted you have managed to put him back in harness.
SPIDE RATHBUN
Battle Creek, Mich.