Humiliation of Ineptness on the Field Never Left

With tears pouring off my face and agony in my chest, I read staff writer Duane Noriyuki and photographer Al Seib’s excellent “A Swing and a Miss” (April 22). In addition to being Kevin York’s story, it was my story--but with a key difference.

I played Little League baseball one season when I was in the fourth grade. Despite hours spent at home trying to get wood to meet horsehide--even with the ball standing still on a tee or hanging from a string--I was hopelessly inept. Our coach played only the stars. I remember nothing else of that summer, not even the name of the team or the names and faces of my teammates and coach, except the sole inning I played.

I struck out and horribly screwed up a play in left field. For the remainder of the season, I was invisible to the coach. The shame and humiliation of that one night at age 9 never went away. I’m 50 now.

TIM BRADLEY

Altadena