For the last 45 years Jack Maley ran a successful tavern at 447 SW 153rd St. in Burien called the Hobnobber.
It is a "Cheers" type bar with the requisite stools, pin ball, pool tables, pull tabs and neon beer signs. Boiled eggs crowd a jar at the bar. A bundle of beef sticks stand at attention. It is a second home for some. It is a place where everybody knows your name.
But it is more. In those 45 years cops were frequent visitors, not for police action. Quite the contrary. A lot of cops gathered there for an after hours beer from playing in local softball games or just gathering from the day's patrol. It is a true sports bar. It became a sports bar before sports bars were popular. It included many sports but Jack loves baseball.
In the 70's Jack developed his own fast pitch team, competing with the area's best and hoping the Hobnobber would also be a thirst quencher for the teams. He was not wrong.
Jack not only created and sponsored the team, he played. A recent reunion was held in June bringing back former players from Jack's teams, as well as a few retirees. It was a good time to rehash those great plays and highlights of close victories.
It was good to remember.
This summer you might see Jack hustling around the diamond but you won't see him at the Hobnobber. Jack sold the tavern in June to the folks who own Hooverville bar in the SODO district, an off the wall double from Safeco Field in Seattle. That story is yet to be told. Jack is now on a path to new interests where he plans to worry less and enjoy life more.
Good luck Jack. You will be missed.
