flake

[James A. Landau]

In a message dated 10/31/02 3:20:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,
buchmann at BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

>     Does anyone know if "flake" was  engendered or enhanced by "el flaco" ?

A different question:  the term "flake" meaning "an irresponsible person" was
attached to a baseball player named Jackie Brandt not later than 1962.

reference "Flakey Brandt and Big Boog" _Sports Illustrated_ April 9, 1962
(Vol. 16, Issue 14) -- p. 50.  Title quoted in URL
http://www.pubdim.net/baseballlibrary/sabr/tbi/B/Brandt_Jackie.tbi.stm

I have seen it claimed several times that the usage of "flake" to mean
"irresponsible person" derives from this epithet applied to Brandt.  Does
anyone know whether this claim is correct or an etymythology?

           - Jim Landau