Dear Ross,

Just heard John Wooden died. I know he was a good friend of yours, and I was sorry to hear the news.

Jack Warner
Edmond, Oklahoma

Hey, Ross,

Bud Selig will not reverse the call because he has no heart for the game (he may have no heart period). With common sense and fairness screaming that the right thing to do would be to reverse a terrible human error, Selig once again hasn’t got a clue on how to be a leader. His ego will once again overtake his ability to do the right thing. He is a BUSINESSMAN, not a BASEBALL MAN. He has demonstrated over and over that when it comes to doing the right thing, he is the WRONG man for the job. I’m just thankful I never bought a car from this guy.

And I do applaud the umpire for the courage and decency after the game. And the pitcher has a maturity far beyond his years. Maybe Selig could learn a thing or two from these two good people.

Richard Carson
San Antonio

Ross:

I agree! Galarraga pitched a perfect game. I felt so sorry for Jim Joyce. The decision should absolutely be overturned. And it would be classy if Jason Donald came out to say that he was indeed out at first. Selig will make no change in the call. Too bad he didn’t read your commentary. What I’m really wondering though, is how in the world could we have had three perfect games in the past month. It’s quite astounding.

Barbara Leonard
Katy, Texas

Dear Ross,

My first reaction was that Bud Selig should credit Galarraga with his perfect game, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion that he cannot. How do you disregard the last batter of the game who made the final out?

Bert Hornsby
Los Angeles

Your story on the near perfect game was beautifully written (as is every one you write and I agree.) Unhappily, Selig doesn’t have enough sense to reverse the call. Query, any pitcher ever have two perfect games?

Roy Armstrong
San Francisco

Ross:

No major league pitcher, Roy, has thrown two of the 20 perfect games in history. Closest to it, I believe, was what Johnny Vander Meer of the Reds achieved in 1938. The left-hander held the Braves hitless in Cincinnati. and four days later, pitched his second consecutive no-hitter against the Dodgers in Brooklyn. That was the first night game ever played at Ebbets Field. In 1952, 14 years later, Vander Meer pitched a minor league no-hitter for Tulsa against Beaumont.

Hi, Ross,

Good followup on the near perfect game. I’m personally sorry that Selig chose to not act on reversing the results. If it results in more usage of TV replay, that might be a good thing.

Al Guggenheim
Tampa

Ross——–

Selig is an ass.

Tom Duncan
Nashville, Tenn.

Hello, Mr. Porter:

A few weeks ago, I found your website and have been listening to the vignettes and reading the articles. It is refreshing to learn that there are so many athletes who are doing positive projects.

Best wishes.

Ray Northcutt
Boise, Idaho

Linda,

I enjoyed your very nice article on Challenger Baseball. Keep up the good work.

Erma Heavener
Enid, Oklahoma

Dear Ross…….

For my radio program, The Inside Pitch, I had the privilege of interviewing you at Dodgertown in Vero Beach on a couple of occasions. On May 24, 1999, I mailed a complimentary cassette of an interview to you and received your courteous response which I still retain in my files. It said, “I enjoyed doing the interview with you, Marvin. See you along the baseball trail.” It is nice to meet you again by visiting your wonderful website. You and your wife are “class acts” and I just wanted to say “hello.”
Hope things are going great for the two of you.

Kindest regards,

Marvin W. Lowe
Markleville, Indiana

ROSS:

So good to hear from you, Marvin. Lin and I remember how you passed out pocket cards with positive quotations on them. It was always a pleasure to chat with you. Hope you are in good health.

Ross,

I broadcast a syndicated 30-minute sports nostalgia program every Saturday, heard in the Pittsburgh area and Martinsburg, West Virginia.
I’m featuring your 6 hour, 14 minute solo game broadcast story on my show of May 22nd.
I love your website. Very organized and the subject matter is excellent.
Congratulations.

Bob Tatrn
Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania
www.doubledribble.com

ROSS:

Very nice of you to check in, Bob, and thanks for remembering the 22-inning game in 1989. I enjoyed seeing your website and love the attention you gave your grandchildren. Continued success.

Ross:

You seem like an honest guy so tell me the truth. Did you expect the San Diego Padres to have the best record in the National League after 34 games at 22 and 12?

Tom Mills
Oceanside, Ca.

Ross:

No way, Tom. I’m as surprised as everyone else, but happy for manager Bud Black, one of the nicest guys in baseball. Here are a couple of views on the Padres.

Jon Heyman of S-I.com points out that San Diego closed 37 and 25 last season, and finished 2010 spring training 15-2 and 2.
Jon writes, “Most folks inside the National League West division seem to feel the Rockies are the strongest team of the five, but all their injuries have given extra hope to the others, including San Diego.”
The Padres’ first year general manager, Jed Hoyer, says, “Our offense has to be more consistent.
Right now, we’re striking out a little too much.”
Only Arizona and Toronto batters have struckout more than San Diego in the major leagues.

Hi, Ross:

It was fun running into your website and looking through it. While I now live in the Pittsburgh area, I am a transplanted Angelino. I listened to you many years broadcasting the Dodgers and if I remember right, I remember you doing sports broadcasts on KNBC-4.

Anyway, hope you are doing well and I’ll always appreciate your work.

Thanks.

Chris Enoch
Pittsburgh

Dear Ross,

I was thrilled to find this web site. I listened to you all those years with the Dodgers thinking they found someone as good as Vinny. I also enjoyed you on channel 4. Thanks for the memories and hope all is well with you.

Don Elm

Ross:

Thanks, Chris and Don. It’s always nice to hear from loyal listeners like you. Visit our website often.