Dean,

This is all great stuff, but should it not be on the yahoo hardbat member forum.

I think some folks might be missing an important and very relevant conversation.

Thanks,

Peter (Titanium)

-------------- Original message from Djab2b@...: --------------

Lim Ming:

. . . thank you for the insights you offered and your thoughtful comments on the status of our sport.

While I agree with some of what you recommend (encouraging beginner students to experiment with hard rubber) and disagree with some (encouraging the development of greater speed, spin and control of hard rubber), I believe your recommendations are well-meaning and are made through the eyes of one with much more experience in the sport than I have.

However, I find that referring to “players of the USA . . . never being close . . . to the great table tennis powers . . . in the 30s through early 50s” does not do justice to the remarkable achievements of American World Class players during this period.
BR>For the record, in World Championship competition:

Ruth Aarons won the Women’s Singles in 1936/37 and led the U.S. to the Corbillon Cup in 1937.

Jimmy McClure shared the Men’s Doubles title in 1936/37/38 and was a member of the winning Swathling Cup team in 1937.

Sol Schiff won the Men’s Doubles with McClure in 1938 and led the team to the Swathling Cup in 1937 with a 21-1 record and wins over Bergmann, Barna and Vana and, in 1937, was in the top 3 in world rankings.

Lou Pagl iaro was a semi-finalist in 1947 defeating Barna, Andersson, Urchetti, Amouretti, and Ehrlich before losing to Sido who lost to Vana in the final.

You mention Erwin Klein and Leah Neuberger winning the Mixed in 1956 but –

Dick Miles and Leah’s sister –

Thelma Thall "Tybie" Sommer also won the Mixed in 1948. Tybie was also a member of the winning Corbillon Cup team in 1949.

Dick Miles, as a member of the 1948 Swathling Cup team was 10-0 – did not lose a game – defeated the entire English team – Victor Barna, Johnny Leach and about-to-be World Singles Champion Richard Bergmann as well as the whole Hungarian team of Josef Koczian, Ferenc Sido and Ferenc Soos all of whom were already or were about to be World Singles or Doubles Champions. Dick was also a semi-finalist in the 1959 World’s.

Marty Reisman, as a member of the 1948 Swathling Cup team, defeated Johnny Leach who would go on to win the World Championship the following year. Marty won the English Open in 1949 defeating Erlich in the quarters, Miles in the semis and Barna in the final. As a member of the 1949 Swathling Cup team Marty also defeated future World Champion Ferenc Sido. That was also the year in which American –

Peggy McLean won the English Open Women’s Singles and was a member of the winning 1949 Corbillon Cup team.

I trust you’ll take my comments in the spirit in which they were intended – which is to set the record straight and recognize the achievements of American World Class players.

Sincerely,

Dean Johnson
Virginia Beach, VA



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