Story Came Along in the Nick of Time

Re: “Name Dropping,” [Aug. 8] the story on sports nicknames: First, a little history lesson: Owner Charlie Finley thought of the nickname “Catfish” for pitcher Jim Hunter in the 1960s, when Finley’s Athletics were still in Kansas City, not in the 1970s, after they moved to Oakland (in 1968).

Speaking of which, the story brought back to me the day I attended an Oakland baseball game in the early 1970s. Sitting next to me was an exuberant A’s fan, who was marveling about the flamboyant nicknames given to members of the A’s pitching staff.

“We have Catfish Hunter,” he gushed. “Blue Moon Odom, Mudcat Grant, Diego Segui ... “

John Cressy

Ventura