The 1969 Chronicles: A Sports Writer's Notes  By Stan Isaacs

This is the follow-up column as a result of correspondence from readers.

February 3: Will the Jim Dandys Inherit the Earth?

The recent Left Field "J.D." funfest inspired a spirit of Joie De Vivre among correspondents. Many added to our first-time-anywhere list of J.D. People, Places and Things. Hence:

John DosPassos, John Dema, Joe DePre, John Derham, Jean Dubuffet, Jacques Louise David, John DeLuca, Jack Dupree, Joseph (brother of Jefferson) Davis, Jack Denny, Joe Darensbourgh, Joe Dixon, Jim Dillon, Joe Dodger, Johnny (son of referee Norm) Drucker, John Dziegel, Johnny Duncan, Jimmy Davies, Jimmy Daywalt, Jim Duffalo, John (Hank) DeBerry, Joey Dee, Jack Donohue, J. Frank Dobie, Johnny Dodds, Johnny Dankworth, Jose Delgado, Joe Dey, John Dunlop, John Dodger and Jonathan Daniels.

Sorry J.D.Salinger and J.D. Smith just don't qualify.

Big challenges came from Jonathan David Cohen of Woodmere, who put together a list of notable R.B.s and from John Curcio of Farmingdale, who entered the lists with a J.S. compilation. We herewith put the Top Tens of the two challengers against the cream of the J.D. crop for Initials Supremacy.

Left Field J.D.s
1. John Doe
2. Joe DiMaggio
3. John Dillinger
4. Jack Dempsey
5. Jefferson Davis
6. Joe Doakes
7. Jeanne D'Arc
8. James Dean
9. John Donne
10. Jim Dandy
-- Captain: Jeff Denberg

Cohen's R.B.s
1. Ralph Bunche
2. Rhett Butler
3. Ralph Branca
4. Roger Bannister
5. Rex Barney
6. Robert Browning
7. Red Barber
8. Richard Burton
9. Robert Burns
10. Ray Bolger
-- Captain: Rudolph Bing

Curcio's J.S. s
1. Joseph Stalin
2. John Phillip Sousa
3. JohnnySample
4. John L. Sullivan
5. Johnny Sain
6. Johann Strauss
7. Jean Seeberg
8. James Stewart
9. John Steinbeck
10. Jonas Salk
-- Captain: Jock Sutherland

This is a game for Juvenile Delinquents Down on the Farm with Bret Hanover

Chapters
Home Page
Introduction
1. The Amazing Mets
2. Yankee Fans
3. Music to My Ears
4. Ali & Friends
5. People Are Funny
6. The Poetry Corner
7. The Glorious Knicks
8. Bill Bradley & Others
9. Horsing Around
10. An Angry Mother
11. Political Baseball
12. Fun and Games
 
  • The Greatest Athlete of Them All Was…
     
  • The Games Children Play Never Change
     
  • It's a Non-Stop Trip Around All the Bases
     
  • Muted Cries from Faces in the Crowd
     
  • This is a game for Juvenile Delinquents
     
  • Will the Jim Dandys Inherit the Earth?
     
  • Down on the Farm with Bret Hanover
  • 13. The Sweet Science
    14. Baseball, Gentlemen
    15. Some Immortals
    16. A Galleria
    17. Ladies First
    18. The Irrepressible Jets
    19. The Sporting Culture

    Email Stan Isaacs
    at sibelch@optonline.net