Now It’s O’Malley Under Fire for the Firing of Al Campanis

Regarding the Al Campanis story [“The ‘Nightline’ That Rocked Baseball,” April 6] and Vin Scully’s summation, “It is truly an American tragedy”:

That’s an opinion I’ve held from the beginning. It’s interesting to see that it now appears to be the view of most fair-minded people and unanimously of those who know the real Campanis and his major contributions to the progress of black players in professional baseball.

But where were all these fair-minded people in 1987? Most of all, where was Peter O’Malley?

And who in the first place was responsible for fanning a few misinterpreted words (words, mind you) into the sensationalism that produced this American tragedy?

The master of baiting and trapping, Ted Koppel.

JAMES DONOVAN

Beverly Hills

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I have long thought that what Al Campanis neglected to tell us that night was that white owners didn’t have the necessities either. Perhaps he considered that to be too obvious.

Added thought: O’Malley never should have fired him for that, and, given a second chance, I wonder whether he would do so again. Since the O’Malleys took over, the Dodger brass has been the best in the game. Too much like the rest of today’s America, however, they are almost invariably given to image over substance. Firing Campanis is a standout example.

PAUL ASCENZI

Pomona

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Perhaps the most important outcome of the sad affair of Al Campanis was the exposure of “St. Peter” O’Malley as a man who chose to appease a very noisy minority rather than stand by a longtime friend and loyal employee.

1987 was the last time I went to a Dodger game.

DAVID A. PIERCE

Los Angeles

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Maybe someday Peter O’Malley will have the guts to say he should have handled the situation differently.

Too bad this article wasn’t written 10 years ago, but better late than never.

C. JOHN POPP

Palm Desert

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In reading your article about Al Campanis, all the painful memories of that interview returned.

Ten years later, I would like to know why a racist quote from George Hendrick in The Times in Ross Newhan’s column of March 2 was not noted with the same vigor and condemnation as what Al Campanis said.

Hendrick indicated to Rick Hummel, St. Louis writer, that in St. Louis, “[Delino] DeShields’ semi-isolation affected his performance because he was one of only a few black players on the Dodgers.” He also said, “DeShields will find a group of black players who form a strong leadership corps” and “The atmosphere is more conducive here for him being a good player.”

Can anyone imagine what would happen if a white player or coach or executive made those kinds of remarks about a white player? Or, if they even suggested that the white player would be “more comfortable” surrounded by more white players? They would be out of baseball the next day!

LARRY ZINI

Camarillo

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It’s kind of ironic. Directly adjacent to the story about Al Campanis’ racist remarks 10 years ago, the headline on the Dodger story says “Proud Park Is Beaten,” with the subhead, “Korean is in rotation . . . .” Apparently the only significant trait of pitcher Chan Ho Park is his national origin. Would The Times write, “Black man is in rotation” or “White Anglo Saxon Protestant is in rotation”? I doubt it. The political correctness train must have circumvented Asia.

ANDREW N. DUPUY

Redondo Beach