The New York Times and Reporter Dispatch cover Nationals

The Reporter-Dispatch of White Plains, New York, was one of the leaders among the local Scarsdale papers in giving interesting, illustrated accounts of platform tennis. The March 9th edition of “One of Saturday’s features,” speaking of the Men’s Nationals , commented on the play of Earle Gatchell of Fox Meadow and Ken Ward of Manursing Island Club, who admitted to a combined age of 128 years.

“They beat two younger men from Massachusetts in the first round in straight sets before bowing out. Gatchell helped construct the world’s first platform tennis court three decades ago. I might add that the older team taught the youngsters something about the strategy and tactics of the game. When Earle came to report the results, he said, ‘There has been a dreadful mistake. I know it wasn’t supposed to happen, but we won.’ Platform tennis covers a wide span of years.”

Source: Adapted from Fessenden S. Blanchard, Platform Paddle Tennis, 1959