The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-08-18

uOCulnR at tndI
Well, "Skillet" Finn, Esq, has
fession, has been lamping the pc
wears, ducking in and out of the
another. and still hopes to rack {
go" signal over the telegraph VII
Now nearly everyone in Washing
ton already knows Frank Saffen,
dean of the delayed delivery boys
who sit at the right hand and oft
times at the left hand of the base
hall experts who dish up baseball
IN the columns of the papers for
Wholesale and retail consumption.
And to those of you who don't
actually know Frank, why. this is
your opportunity, for Skillet" IN
tends to oisgorge himself Of an in
PRODUCTION of Frank which will be
something he can identity himself
with when he makes his appear
ance before st. Peter.
For albeit, Frank essays to be-
come one of sSkillet's" little boy
friends at the world series games
and to that end has declared him
self of an all-American baseball
team Of present-day activity which
he claims would make Pop" Arson
turn IN his grave.
And Frank rreIndes his team
with q personally conducted ora
ton of his own intimate contact
with the game, dating as It does,
from hack in 1884 when ball
players wore nustaches and no
chest protectors, masks nor
gloves. Frank admits he was
there at the time and knows
whereof he speaks.
Furthermore, he deposeth and
sayeth that he got his start In the
professional world as score mark
or when the matn baseball around
tls section s3pee was pl s,at at Ninth
alive in 1884. but he takes it Frank
means Ninth and S northwest. he
having said nothing to the contrary
in his comment.
Frank next changed his baseball
activity to North Capitol and q
streets, where Union Station and
the city post office now occupy the
outfields. This was about the years
1888 and 1889, during which time
he also devoted some attention 10
old Atlantic Park at Seventeenth
and L streets, where he gave the
boys a treat in the afternoon, to saw
nothing OF the then few fair fans
who CHANGED to glance in his direc-
ton. In those days Frank had the
prize crop of sorrel hair Of any boy
in Swampoodle and there was a
brief space, 1t is said, when he he'd
the title of both Swampoodle and
Foggy Bottom in this particular
respect. Later he funetioned at the
old Fifteenth and H street grounds.
Anyway, when the march of.
civilization forced the baseball
promoters to find new pastures
for their performers, Frank SAT.
fell and his dad. too. for that
matter, moved right into Amer
christened "Clark Griffith Sta
dunn"
Until a few short yeas ago.
the elder Saffell, witt. the aid NJ
his versatile son, .eld ful: sway
in matters pertaining 10 the pr.Ss
box and the dispatch of news
therefrom.
Now Frank !" doing the .rb
alone and with credit 10 he mem
DRY Of that I5areat who first
showed the BOY how to grasp
telegraph key in his hand. No
hS"SPoPOI hAohs lGISAhth MI w.
nestle, can ak professional
favor that Frank Saffell can't
grant, and tIat went for mis-
father as long ds ne endured.
II seems to 'ShiIIet" that the
ideas, opinions aid comments Of
a man who has followed baseball
through the meGIILl Of teIesri.Thy
for az long as FIanE SaffeH has
should be worth recording. Pos
many of "Skliie.'s'' contestant 8,
would like to know via: the man
who has seen many baseball tca,ns
come and go from Washington
thinks of the cop -wEo are he
real stars and VINO are The nledi.
OGRE stars AMI w1o ere Just tile
bare hangers-on in basebalrs hall
of fame.
In qualifying Frank as judge of
baseball timber. let it be added that
he has missed but two games out
of the great number which have
been played in Washington by the
club under various Arrangements
over a period of about fifteen years
Next to NOISY Grimes, train an.
nouncer at Union Station, Saffell
probably has no peer in Washing
ton when it comes to wearing the
cloak of the Big Omelet Man from
Egg Harbor.
Anyway, here is Franks team,
and ''Skillet" hopes that the next