Orioles Should Be Recognized

To the editors:

As a devout Orioles fan, and general Baltimore enthusiast, I would like to clarify a few things regarding the recent controversy over the "Hit 'em where they ain't" quotation printed as a caption in The Crimson (Sports, April 1). First, I was angered at the time of the printing because the caption mistakenly associates the quotation with the Boston Red Sox (two ex-Red Sox players were pictured). But second and more importantly, Eli B. Richlin '01 wrote a letter (April 3) in which he attributed the now famous quotation to Brooklyn Dodgers shortstop Pee Wee Reese.

In fact, the statement belongs to "Wee" Willie Keeler of the last 1890s Baltimore Orioles. Keeler's skill with the bat was legendary. His hitting streak of 44 games was a major league record until Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees broke his record.

However, Keeler's record still stands as the National League's longest hitting streak (although it has been matched by Pete Rose), and when asked during the Orioles 1896 championship season how he manages to hit so well, he replied "I hit 'em where they ain't." IAN C. HUNT '99   April 4, 1998