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Author Angry at Reviewer Who Called Him a 'White Man'

EDITOR, Iwould like first to thank you for devoting absess; he played inonly one-third of the games in 1934, and was such a generous amount ofspace to a review of more doing the managing. mybiography of Kenny Clarke ("Keeping Time: Page 77: Left-center field at is more properly Klook Remembers Jazz Drummer's Place in determined tohave been 406 feet from home plate, not 457. Then, DEARHistory," by Philip Daquila, Spring 1995, 46-48). the author says the Pirates played the Yankees inthe 1925 World But Ifind the reference to my skin color inthe review to be Series, but the Pirates played Washington that year inthe series not only totallyirrelevant but offensive and racist. IfIwere to and the Yankees in1927. So, itis also untrue that Ruth two [turn the tables and] write, "Itis downright funny to picture a home runs inthe '25 series against the Yankees. Also,itis said that black manbeing accepted by a clique of whitemusicians," Iwould Ruth hit two singles off Guy Bush inthe 1932 series, but he be, quite properly, charged withracial prejudice. actually onlyhit one. To say that mybook "suffers most for failing to reflect what It is also a mischaracterization at best that Ruth hit a home the bebop culture held most dear" is arrant nonsense. Itotally run atForbes Field 430 feet overan irongate into the right field reject the absurd proposition that one of the most important stands, for there were no grandstands directly over that irongate things inbebop culture was the jargon used by musicians. But, and the distance to the gate was less than 430 feet. It is also even ifthat were so, itwas not mypurpose to write a book on the impossible that his last landed on the roof of a house at lingo ofbebop. Andifmy language is "decidedly unhip," Itake 318 Bouquet Street. Ifone were tolook at the site even today, at that as a compliment. where the address is, itwould be physically impossible for a ball to Your reviewer complains that the fact that my biography is go over the right field roof and windup there unless itsuddenly not objective is an "error." Why? The book was not intended tobe turned 90 degress inmid-air. This is a story which has propagated objective. Itis a tribute to a man whom Iloved and respected and itself throughout the years. Idon't know whobegan it,but itis who was loved and respected by a large number of his peers. I obviously incorrect. have no—apology to make for the fact that Iheld Kenny inhigh For anarticle only three pages long, there are a lotof inaccu- esteem as did the vast— majority ofpeople Iinterviewed when racies and misleading statements. As a person interested inhistory researching the book but Inevertheless devoted a complete and baseball history particularly, itis upsetting that nobody on the chapter tohis drug addiction and made substantial reference to his editorial staff caught these errors or felt a need to expand on some neglect ofhis son. other things inthe article such as, Number 1, this year, inthe Finally, to say that absence of discussions of technique and 100th anniversary of , there was a scholarly symposium music theory makes thebook less appealing to working musicians at Hofstra University which included Ruth's achievements in is completely contrary to the reality. Ican listat least 50 working discussions about historic events inforeign affairs, public policy, musicians who have complimented me on the book. Ididn't set and other topics. out to write a drummer's manual. This is not a good situation. One has to have confidence inhis local historical society inorder to be able to support itand speak MikeHennessy wellofitto others. Durchhausen, Germany EricMinde Errors inSports History Mar Babe Ruth Article Pittsburgh Dear Editor, "'s Forbes Field Farewell," byJames Reynolds Telling ofBabe's Feats MayBe Best Account Ever (Summer 1995) has numerous outright errors, other misconcep- Dear Editor: tions, and fails toinclude items pertinent to people interested in Ithoroughly enjoyed Jim Reynolds' monograph [about Babe Pittsburgh history and baseball history especially. Ruth]. The story has been retold many times, but Reynolds' On page 76,it is stated that when Ruth hit 29 home runs in version may be the best. Although the article contained some 1919, he broke the oldrecord of 17 established in1884. The record minor statistical errors, when reading itIfelt as though Iwere actually was 27. (According to the Official Encyclopedia ofMajor sitting inthe firstbase box seats at Forbes Field. League Baseball and The SportingNews Official World Series Records.) As someone who has researched Forbes Field,Ihave looked Ruth's age in1934 was 39, not 41, as the author states. Page 76: Pie into the story that Ruth's homer descended on the roof at 318 Traynor was not keeping himself out of the game due to a nose (continued onpage 185)

147 to look atpeople of allraces and colors as equal, and that their attractive to Abdul. worth depends on their behavior. Ermawati Erman is a senior inbiology at Chatham College. AbdulRabb is a steam-fitter from McKeesport and, along She is known as "Erma" among her friends. Erma lived inthe U.S. withhis wife and two sons, a dedicated Muslim. Abdul came to between the ages of 7 and 14, when her father was a student, and "mainstream," or Sunni, Islam via the Nation of Islam, popularly then she returned to attend college. Erma agrees that Islam has known as the Black Muslims. Abdulremembers when the Nation created a community inPittsburgh, and that being a Muslim makes ofIslam was led by ElijahMuhammad and its most acclaimed her automatically a part ofit.One example is that here she is called spokesman, Malcolm X,preached a strong message condemning "sister" by other Muslims, something which is not done inher "white devils." In1975, ElijahMuhammad's son took over the native Indonesia. —Most ofher friends here are what she calls organization and leditinto the path of mainstream Islam and "internationals" foreign students and Americans who have away fromracialism. Itis precisely this interracial and internation- traveled abroad. Erma mentioned that she had attended services at al aspect of Islam that attracts Abdul. He talks enthusiastically of the Islamic Center only once or twice, and this triggered me to ask the opportunity to meet and worship withpeople of different about why Isaw so few women at the center. She explained that races, nationalities, colors, and walks of life. "Yousee and feel the Muslims are expected to pray five times daily. Men are expected to here," warmth he says. Abdulhimself radiates warmth, humor perform their Friday prayers at the mosque, but there is no such and joviality.He says the Koran explains that God made us into expectation for women, although theymay do so if they wish. tribes and nations not to despise each other but to come toknow Erma makes ita point to attend public prayers following the fasting and respect— each other. This,plus the conservative morality of season known as Ramadan, when special foods are prepared and Islam its emphasis on family values, on— correct behavior, on families and friends gather to socialize. Typically she attends those cleanliness ofmind and body and spirit also make Islam which are organized by the Indonesian Association of Pittsburgh. 0

(com. frompage 147) Photograph Credits Bouquet Street. As an engineer, Isomewhat doubt that the ball The Unity and Diversity ofPittsburgh's Indian Community could have landed there. Itwould have had tohave been wickedly Page 151 Chandrika Raj sliced down the right fieldline and ricocheted off an obstruction agopal Voices —Buba Misawa on the roof of the stadium tohave been deflected toward the Page 152 Buba Misawa house. It is possible, but unlikely. No accounts of the game refer to the drive being sliced down the line. Reflections on the Great Migration Page 155 Carnegie Library ofPittsburgh I,too, have heard that some youths retrieved the ball. One of Pittsburgh's African-American Neighborhoods them is said tohave given itto the Hall of Page 158 Carnegie Library Pittsburgh Fame. Afriend of mine contacted the Hallof Fame and was told of Bridging TwoCultures that someone from Pittsburgh had donated the ball. Ido not Page 165 Bolinger know the year. Gayoing Pittsburgh's Chinese Church Iknow you don't get many letters, but Iam sure there are Pages 169, 175 LydiaLee Ott many likeme who enjoy each issue ofPittsburgh History im- Taking Care ofBusiness mensely. 0 Page 177 Crown Collectibles and Antiques Pittsburgh Dan Bonk The Muslim Community of Coraopolis, Pa Page 183 Larry Glasco Moses YellowHorse [Mr.Bonk, who wrote "Baseball Figures: The Story of Forbes Page 187 Library of Field" (Summer 1993), has written an historical introduction for a Carnegie Pittsburgh Pittsburgh's do-it-yourself paper model of the park by Len Martin, called Forbes Latinos Page 191 Crowder, Field, Itis available nationally inbookstores.] Jerome Center forLatin American Build-It-Yourself. Studies, University of Pittsburgh The Caribbean Experience inPittsburgh Page 192 Verna Crichlow Director's Gallery Page 197 Fred P. Kenderson

Community 185 The Muslim