To the editor:

We know that back in the past a name might have identified a person's occupation, such as Blacksmith or Baker.

Other names developed out of family relationships such as John's son, Jack's son or Peter's son.

Descriptive nicknames are well-known. There was Eric the Red or Red Skelton or Red Schoendienst. We have heard of Silent Cal, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Big and Little Poison Waner, Stan the Man Musial, Iron Man Lou Gehrig and Sunny Bottomly or even Ivan the Terrible.

The unusual skill or ability of a player will often result in his being identified by those skills. Most people know who was called the Sultan of Swat and the Manassa Mauler. Some will remember the Galloping Ghost. There are many more which you may recall.

Some names are deceiving. Tony La Russa doesn't look like a Russian woman. Tommy La Sorda is certainly not a deaf lady. He heard the message when he had a heart attack and wisely retired.

As children, we resented being called Fatso or Slim. Any name is a means to identity. Let us hope that our names, like Abou Ben Adhem, may be written in the book of gold as those who love their fellowmen.

IVAN NOTHDURFT

Cape Girardeau