Favorite cigar store of baseball-minded Detroiters in 1907 was Mel Soper's. Two of Mel's good customers were Walter Owen Briggs and John Kelsey, coming figures in the coming automobile industry. When Walter Briggs was unable to get World Series pasteboards because the ball club and not Mel was the chief purveyor of tickets, Mel went to see his friend Frank Navin, part owner of the Tigers. Said Mel with dignity: "Frank, you've got to get me two tickets. . . . They're for Walter Briggs." Mr. Navin snapped: "And who the hell is...
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