Two Ways to View Story on Sand Gnats

Leave it to Bill Plaschke to take what would have been a fascinating story on the impact of race relations in a small Southern town and ruin it through an unsubstantiated assertion [“A Place of Hope,” Aug. 12].

So the Baltimore Oriole organization is racist because John Shelby, a high school shortstop, was converted from the infield to the outfield in 1977?

Is it Plaschke’s intent to somehow try to paint the Dodger organization in a better light in a story about one of their farm clubs, despite the fact the parent club has only two African-Americans on their roster?

How could it be that the Orioles, 20 years ago, were racist for moving John Shelby to the outfield, but the Dodgers, 20 years later, are not racist for doing the same with Chad Fonville?

Rather than trying to cast a dark shadow on the Oriole organization 3,000 miles away, Plaschke should shine the light instead on the Dodgers, a few miles from the Times’ building.

HECTOR RUIZ

Cypress

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Many thanks to Bill Plaschke for his wonderful article about the Savannah Sand Gnats. It was enlightening and written very well. In a world filled with prejudice, racism and too many narrow-minded people, the Sand Gnats are an example to us all.

ELIZABETH NEWMAN

Pacific Palisades