Hall of Famers Confused

To the editors:

Eli Richlin '01 (Letters, April 3) misattributed the origin of the famous baseball maxim "Hit 'em where they ain't." While Pee Wee Reese successfully employed that strategy, it was "Wee" Willie Keeler who coined the phrase almost a century ago. The 5-foot, 4-inch Keeler led the National League in batting in 1897 with a phenomenal .432 average and is the shortest player in the Hall of Fame.

While Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese was also a great hitter, he is perhaps more famous for being Jackie Robinson's friend and fellow infielder during the Dodgers' golden years. In 1947, when a crowd started booing baseball's first black player, Reese went over to second base and put his arm around Robinson's shoulder. That gesture quieted the crowd and helped Robinson gain acceptance. TOM SYLVESTER '00   April 3, 1998