Red Sox Provided a Motto to Live By

About Mike Penner’s article on the Red Sox and their history: Growing up in the Boston area in the ‘30s, every season I would hope and pray that the Red Sox would win the American League pennant and go on to win the World Series. Every year, I was disappointed, especially in the years 1936 through 1939 when the Red Sox put a challenge to the hated Yankees only to fold up in late July or early August.

Yet, I am grateful to the Red Sox for providing me with my lifetime motto: A pessimist is never disappointed. They also provided me with the skepticism and occasional cynicism that is essential to bear the real travails of life.

EDWIN O. LEARNARD

San Diego