Mark J. "Marty" Devine Jr.
Mark James “Marty” Devine was well known in Camden in the late 1910s and 1920s as a scholastic and semi-pro baseball player, pitching for Camden High School and any number of semi-pro teams in the tri-state area until an arm injury ended his career on the diamond.
Marty Devine was born in Pennsylvania on December 16, 1899 to Mark and Carrie Bauer Devine. The Devines were living on Jones Lane in Philadelphia when the 1900 Census was enumerated. A brother, James was born in 1902. Sadly, his father died on April 22, 1908 in a work-related mishap at the too-young age of 1928.
Carrie Devine and her sons first appear in Camden's City Directories in 1911, at 714 Ferry Avenue. They remained there for at least a year. When the 1917 Directory was compiled the family had moved to 540 Lester Terrace. A fine pitcher, Marty Devine attended Camden High School and was an immediate success on the baseball diamond, winning most of the games he started on an otherwise mediocre team. He soon was pitching for any number of semi-pro teams in Camden and the tri-state area.
Marty Devine apparently left Camden High briefly, as he was working at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards near his home in September of 1918 when he registered for the draft. His work probably had more to do with being a member of the company baseball team than anything else. He returned to Camden High in time for the 1919 baseball season. Marty Devine pitched for New York Ship in 1919 and 1920, for the Gloucester baseball team in 1922, and for Lou Schaub's Camden club in 1923. These are just the teams this author is aware of as of this writing.
The Devines are listed in Camden City Directories from 1921 through 1923 at 2220 South 9th Street. Marty Devine married Frances Miles around 1924. By 1930 there were four children, Mark Jr. and Dolores. Two more sons, Paul and Thomas, came during the 1930s. The Devines had moved to 2266 South 7th Street when the 1924 Directory was compiled and were still at that address as late as 1980. Younger brother James Devine founded a coal and ice business in the 1920s, and Marty worked for him as a driver for many years. When he registered for the draft in April of 1942, Marty Devine was again living at 540 Lester Terrace.
A Camden resident to the end, Marty Devine passed away in January of 1986. His wife joined him on August 8, 2002.
Back in 1919, Devine Was King of the Hill
Camden Courier-Post —
DOWN MEMORY LANE
By DOUG FRAMBES, of the Courier-Post
It indeed is a wonderful world in which we live. Even a complete mechanical incompetent such as myself can twist a few dials and bring to life, via microfilm, events of days long past.
My latest trip into the days of yore goes back to 1919. The Great War was over and semipro baseball was entering its greatest era. Crowds flocked to games in every neighborhood of Camden. Football still was a small-time activity and the diamond wars lasted deep into autumn.
On Saturday, October 27, 1919, a youthful righthander named Marty Devine took the mound for Whitman Park at the old Third and Erie Street grounds, and hurled a masterpiece against the Camden BBC. For 13 innings he sent his opponents back to their dugout hitless — and all he got was a scoreless tie.
In fact, Devine on that memorable day almost hurled a perfect game. His bid for perfection was marred in the eighth inning when he hit rival first baseman George Zibell with a pitch. Zibell paid for his indiscretion with a broken arm.
Devine, who recently passed his 80th birthday, remains mentally sharp and recalls lucidly many of the games he pitched. “I used to come at them sidearm, a lot of the righthand hitters didn’t seem to like to dig in too much,” remarked Devine.
Although considerably smaller, it takes only a slight bit of toying with one’s memory to see Don Drysdale or Ewell Blackwell delivering that wicked delivery from the third base side of the diamond.
Devine had trouble convincing some of his early managers that the mound was his true calling. In his teenage days in Fairview, he was a good-hitting, strong-armed third baseman, but always he was looking for the opportunity to pitch.
His superlative job that autumn day brought him to the attention of Wid Conroy. A veteran of more than a decade in the major leagues, Conroy was handling the reins of the New York Shipyard nine, one of the area’s premier squads. Devine was ready for the best that semipro ball had to offer and for the next three years he competed successfully in independent ball’s top echelon.
“They were great days for a ball player,” commented Devine. “The pay was excellent, the competition keen, and there always was some team to play for. I remember facing on several occasions the great Negro team, Hilldale, that played once a week at Third and Erie. I pitched well against them but, oh my, that Sandtop, how he could hit the long ball.”
The name Sandtop will bring back memories to oldtimers. One of the legends of Negro baseball, he was one of the stars of that day who were kept out of organized ball by what then was known as the “color-line.”
Devine was still in his twenties when torn ligaments brought his career to a finish. “The arm never came around, but it was fun while it lasted. I played in Philadelphia, South Jersey, Delaware, all through Eastern Pennsylvania, a little bit at the seashore, anyplace where someone wanted my services,” recalled Devine.
Despite his considerable success on ball fields too numerous to recall, it still seems fitting to go back to that day in 1919. The two teams had previously fought to a scoreless tie and fans of both fine teams demanded that the battle for supremacy be concluded.
Devine’s pitching foe that day was Charley Garrison, who was a veteran compared to the Whitman Park ace, who still was a few weeks short of his 20th birthday. And Garrison did not do a bad job, holding Whitman Park to seven hits during the long contest. Only one man accounted for more than a single safety, and that was Devine, who delivered a pair of singles.
The box score did not include strikeouts, but Walker, his catcher, had 13 putouts, indicating Devine must have fanned around a dozen hitters. Another indication that his sidearm delivery was sinking is the 18 putouts credited to first baseman Gartland.
Garrison also must have had his good stuff going as Miller, who was behind the plate, had 18 putouts in the box score. Miller played a key part in the game, throwing out two would-be base stealers at third, and another at second.
Today the spotlight is focused almost entirely on national events, but there was a day when a ball game between top local teams was the biggest event in the area.
Time moves relentlessly on, but it is nice to occasionally pause and remember men like Marty Devine, who 60 years ago — in the vernacular of today — turned a city on.
Media High Downs Camden in Easy Game
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Before the largest crowd of the season the Camden High baseball team went down to defeat before the Media High School team by the score of 8 to 2.
Camden Athletes Busy
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Baseball and Track Candidates Working Hard for Berths
The past week was one of activity in the fine line of the Camden High School athletics. Baseball candidates held outdoor practice every day and are shaping up nicely under the direction of Coach Brooks, are beginning to develop into an almost finished club with only a few scrubs remaining from last year. The ‘Varsity men from last year are Westney, pitcher; Verdeur, catcher, and Devine, Lutz and Ivory, infielders. Pinky and Shaw, from last year, will probably be the outfielders. The pitching staff this year has none experienced a poor season, failing to win consistently. Brandt and Burgeson, other prospects for the season are bright as the Camden pitchers. Devine is the only man on the team with a record for hitting. [Schedule follows — see image]
South Jersey Teams Hard Hit by Weather
Philadelphia Inquirer —
GLOUCESTER. N. J., June 3.—Baseball teams in South Jersey towns were hard hit this week because nearly every game that was booked had to be called off on account of rain. There were also numerous other events cancelled.
The eight clubs of the West Jersey League are paying big salaries for players this year; in fact, never before were there such high salaries paid to baseball players in South Jersey towns and the salaries are per week and not per game, so the clubs had to dig deep today to pay the salaries. The salaries of the main players average from $50 to $100 per week because of the rivalry which exists.
The clubs are drawing big crowds and can afford to pay these salaries providing that they get the weather. Each club had booked on big gate receipts this week, especially for exhibition games, but not a dollar came into the treasury.
The Gloucester Club has had three exhibition games cancelled thus far because of the rain. They were with Hilldale, Nativity and the Cuban All-Stars. The management now hopes that the rule of three has been carried out and that no more games will be called off.
More interest is being displayed in baseball in South Jersey this year than probably ever before. The twilight games have created the interest because the best teams are being booked and the clubs can afford to pay big guarantees because of the attendance.
The West Jersey League has also created added interest. The Gloucester Club today announced that it had signed Marty Devine, a pitcher of the Nativity Club; Larry Singer, catcher of South Camden, and Errickson, formerly of Pitman Grove, to help do slab work.
Vince Costello, who was covering third for Swedesboro and coached the Gloucester High School team this year, to play third. Clayton has secured several new players from Philadelphia, while Swedesboro is after some new players.
At Gloucester, June 7th
Woodbury Daily Times —
At Gloucester, June 7th. Paulsboro defeated Gloucester in a listless game last evening by the score of 4 to 0. Clark pitched effective ball and the home team could do nothing with him. Clark allowed Gloucester five hits while his teammates collected ten.
Contract to Play for the Camden Baseball Club
Philadelphia Baseball Association —
Philadelphia Baseball Association, Inc.
UNIFORM PLAYER’S CONTRACT
This Agreement made this 9th day of April, 1923, by and between Mark J. Devine a ball player of Camden, County of Camden, State of New Jersey, hereinafter called the Player; and O. Clapp, Manager, C. Schaub, Treasurer, and the Camden Baseball Club, a corporation, hereinafter called the Club.
1. The Club hereby engages the Player as a skilled baseball player for a period beginning April 9th and ending September 3rd, 1923.
2. The Player agrees to serve the Club as a skilled, competent and trustworthy player in the line of his calling in the playing of games of baseball in such manner as the Club may direct. The Player shall report to the manager of the Club on or before May 3, 1923, at such place as the Club may designate for the purpose of entering upon his duties. The Club shall pay the Player the sum of Salary per week during the period of this agreement, provided the Club shall have the Player available for the games of the Club or when directed by the manager, unless the Player shall by reason of sickness, accident or injury or by military law or authority be incapacitated to play his position. The club also retains the right to fine the Player for non-compliance with all rules and regulations of the Club.
3. In the event of serious injury the Club shall not be obligated to reimburse the Player for medical treatment. The Club also retains the right to fine the Player for non-compliance with all rules and regulations of the Club.
4. If the Player fails to report and serve as provided during the period of this agreement, he shall be liable to a fine of not to exceed fifty dollars for each day of default.
5. The Club shall have the right to release the Player from his agreement. In the event the Club shall exercise this right, it shall thereupon cease to pay the Player his salary. The Player then ceases to be a member of this Club and shall have no further obligations to this Club hereunder except as provided in the clause in paragraph 5 following.
6. The Player grants and transfers to the Club any and all baseball skill and ability of the said Association, both as to his or their other the Club and Player and he respectively binds them to the joint and several liability of the said Association to recognize and abide by the rules and regulations of the National League and American League and all other leagues which may be affiliated with them.
7. The Club shall have the right to sell, release or transfer the Player at any time during the playing season, and shall cause the Club to be bound to paying likewise otherwise, as may thereafter, be may be claimed by the Club without notice, but the Player agrees to place himself under the control of such other Club if engaged to be assigned or transferred and shall be bound by all the rules and regulations of the new Club and the National and American Leagues and all other leagues affiliated with them.
8. This Contract shall be terminated at any time by the Club without the engagement of any reason therefor given for the dismissal of the Player, and in consideration of the faithful compliance with the terms and conditions thereof, and further conditioned upon the Player’s faithful performance of his duties hereunder.
9. If the Player shall be suspended or expelled from the game of Baseball or become otherwise unfit or unable to engage in the game of Baseball for any reason whatsoever, the Club shall thereafter have no claim against the Club.
10. The Contract shall be terminated at any time by the Club without the engagement of any reason therefor given for the dismissal of the Player. In the event of such termination the Club shall thereupon cease to pay the Player his salary.
11. Upon the sale or transfer of the Player by the Club to another professional Baseball Club, the Player agrees to submit himself to the rules and regulations of such other club. In the event the Club shall sell or transfer the Player during the playing season, it shall pay the Player his salary through the date of such sale or transfer, and the Player shall thereupon become the property of such other Club, and the Player shall thereafter be subject to all the rules and regulations of the new Club and all the rules and regulations that now are or may hereafter be established by the National Association, Inc., otherwise with all or any unique thereof.
In Witness Whereof we have hereunto set our hand and seal to this agreement.
Eugene Hughes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Manager] Mark J. Devine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Player]
Player’s Home Address: 2220 So 9th St, Camden N.J. (Player’s Telephone No.): 2140 R
Philadelphia Baseball Association Inc.
Signed Player’s Contract
Officers: [Names] Signed: 2280 S 9th St. Address: Camden City: N.J. Phone Number: Camden (PA) 6
Approved by the Philadelphia Baseball Association, Inc.
APR 24 1923
President: [Signed] Secretary: [Signed]
[Official Seal]
Registration Details:
Player: Martin Devine Club: Camden Address: 2280 S 9th St., Camden N.J.
Approved April 24, 1923
World War I Draft Registration Card
REGISTRATION CARD (front) Serial Number: 1041 Order Number: A 1370
1. Name: Mark James Devine 2. Permanent Home Address: 540 Lester Terrace, Camden, N.J. Age in Years: 18 Date of Birth: December 16, 1899 Race: White (citizen) U.S. Citizen: Native Born Present Occupation: Machine Driller’s Helper Employer’s Name: N.Y. Ship Co. Place of Employment: N.Y. Ship Yard, Camden Nearest Relative (Name): Carrie Devine (mother) Address: 540 Lester Terrace, Camden Signature: Mark J. Devine P.M.G.O. Form No. 1 (Red)
REGISTRAR’S REPORT (No. 29-3-9-C) (reverse): Height: Medium Build: Stout Color of Eyes: Blue Color of Hair: Light Has person lost arm, leg, hand, eye, or is he obviously physically disqualified: No defects Date of Registration: SEP 12 1918 Signature of Registrar: Charles J. [Latz?] Geurge Local Board No. 3, City of Camden, N.J.
Serial Number: 1041 — Order Number: A 1370
1. Name: Mark James Devine
2. Permanent Home Address: 540 Lester Terrace, Camden, N.J.
Age in Years: 18 — Date of Birth: December 16, 1899
Race: White — U.S. Citizen: Native Born
Present Occupation: Machine Driller’s Helper
Employer’s Name: N.Y. Ship Co. — Place of Employment: N.Y. Ship Yard, Camden
Nearest Relative: Carrie Devine (mother), 540 Lester Terrace, Camden
Date of Registration: September 12, 1918 — Local Board No. 3, City of Camden, N.J.
Registrar’s Report: Height: Medium — Build: Stout — Color of Eyes: Blue — Color of Hair: Light — No defects