By Jack Munhall
Washington Post Staff Writer
Dec. 2, 1940; Page 21

A mite of an Irish lad with an attractively homely face and large, floppy ears, he slumped wearily on a bench in the dressing room of the Philadelphia Eagles and only the bright twinkle of his eyes suggested that Davy O'Brien was supremely happy yesterday.

The first player of either team to leave the field, O'Brien dashed into the club house at Griffith Stadium amid a tremendous cheer for the almost 60 minutes of brilliant football he played in a losing cause against the Redskins.

Two reporters met him on the stairs to the dressing room and said, "It was a great way to bow out, Davy," and he murmured thanks as he clomped on up to the top.

Quickly a crowd gathered outside and chanted, "We Want O'Brien," and implored the overworked attendants to allow them just one look at the "little fellow."

O'Brien Center of Interest
Inside, a privileged few bustled around the mighty midget. News hawks, forgetting that across the hall jubilant Redskins were celebrating the victory that brought them the Eastern title, fired their questions at him. Photographers grabbed his aching right arm and posed him this way and that. For ten minutes the steam-flavored, arnica-tinctured air was filled with the bright flashes of speed graphics and the eerie whizzing of news reel cameras.

Davey O'Brien was paying the price of fame. Dead-tired — so exhausted it was an effort to strip of his sweaty uniform — the little fellow longed for the comfort of a warm shower. But, instead, he just sat there while his teammates pounded him on his back until he winced. A pug-nosed, inebriated gentleman staggered in, elbowed his way through the encircling throng and hugged "the greatish li'l Irishman I ever did shee."

Baugh Lauds O'Brien
Now O'Brien looked up and for the first time showed any real emotion as Sammy Baugh and other Redskins stopped by on the way to their own dressing room to say, "Nice going kid and good luck to you." To each of them he smiled and thrust forward one of the deadliest hands that ever gripped a football.

Then, at last he appeared regretful that he had played his last game of professional football, as Redskins' Coach Ray Flaherty appeared with a shiny, new football, the last one used in the game.

"Take it," he said, "you deserve it, kid."

And O'Brien, his eyes moistening, gingerly fingered the ball, and, wrapping it in a towel, he placed it in his locker. Later he had it returned ot the Redskins' dressing room, asking that all of the Washington players autograph it for him.

Finally when the crowd of well-wishers began to drift away, Davey, showered and looking much fresher and smiling happily, posed for more pictures, this time with Coach-Owner Bert Bell of the Eagles and Turk Edwards and Sammy Baugh of the Redskins.