SHORTY AND SKIPPY TO BE HONORED
By Bob Reiss, From the Re-Echo, Summer 2002

The "Shorty" Dale Field will be reclaimed on Saturday, July 13, 2002.  This has been designated the official celebration date for the 50th anniversary of Skippy Field.  Plans include a baseball skills clinic put on by the Minnesota Twins, with a visit to Skippy by some of the starting lineup.  Skippy Peanut Butter has donated money and product memorabilia.  Free food will be served and a community ball game is planned.  All of Shorty Dale's surviving children will be present on the field. 

It is not hard to imagine how Elmer became "Shorty," but it is unusual for a nickname to stick for a whole career.  Ben Brown makes the observation that St. Louis Park was a village of people with strange nicknames.  If you mentioned the nickname you wouldn't have to say the last name.  Everyone knew who you meant.  Here is a small offering of some of the names he remembers:  Pill, Spike, Bud, Huns, Punko, Windy, Chub, Honey, Honey Boy, Apey, Dutch, Doe, Tick, Scotty, Tuffy, Chick, Lug, Mouse, Happy, Numb, Stoge, Hayseed, and Egg Head.  Shorty was one of this group.

If you played or cheered at Skippy Field in the last 50 years, you will want to be there on July 13th.  It's going to be a big crowd.

 

Home    St. Louis Park History    History Index    About the Society    Research Resources
Brookside Timeline    Something In The Water    The Re-Echo    Contact Us

This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.