Michael J. Hallahan
MICHAEL JOHN “MIKE” HALLAHAN JR. was a well-known sports figure in Camden. He was born in Ireland on March 4, 1873 to Michael J. and Mary Hallahan, the first of seven children. His parents brought him to the United States as toddler. The Hallahans first settled in Philadelphia. They moved to Camden in 1894. Michael Hallahan married at the age of 23. The 1894 City Directory shows the family at 226 Milton Street. They had moved to 10 York Street by 1895, and 46 North Street by 1899. The 1902 City Directory has the family at 618 Point Street. By 1909 Michael J. Hallahan, his wife Sarah and daughter Mary had moved to 909 North Front Street. This would be the family home as late as 1965.
Mike Hallahan became quite well-known in Camden as a boxer and through his connections to the Camden A.C. baseball club, which played its home games at north 3rd and Erie Streets. His known record as a professional boxer, as of January 2020 shows one draw and three losses, in 1895 and 1896, records for that era being very incomplete. As an amateur he was at one time the A.A.U. featherweight champion, at 115 lbs. Mike Hallahan was friendly and often trained with Dan McConnell, a North Camden lightweight a top contender in his day. Mike Hallahan’s baseball club was one of the top teams in Camden in the 1900s and 1910s. In the 1920s he took an interest in politics in the First Ward as a Democrat and at one time had an oyster house at 106 Vine Street.
Michael J. Hallahan Jr. died at home of a heart attack on June 21, 1934. After services at Holy Name Roman Catholic Church, he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in what is now Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Michael Hallahan, Old Athlete, Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Noted as Boxer, Swimmer and Baseball Player in North Camden
Mike Hallahan is dead and North Camden mourns one of its most beloved and well-known men.
Hallahan, boxer, baseball player and swimmer, died at his home, 909 North Front street, yesterday at p. m., of a heart attack. Mike, who was in his 58th year, had been ill for the past month, but appeared to be on the way to recovery when he suffered a fatal heart attack yesterday.
Along with Sam Clemens, a good outfielder and a good hitter despite the weight he carried, also deceased, Hallahan operated the old Camden A. C. Baseball Club at Third and Erie streets back in the early 1900’s. Hallahan and Clemens brought to this city the first Chinese or Hawaiian team when baseball was at its peak at old Raspberry Park. It cost money to bring the Hawaiians here, but Mike and Clemens gambled on the game and they made money on the deal.
Born in Philadelphia, Hallahan’s parents moved to North Camden when Mike was about 21 years old, and Mike has been an institution in that section of the city ever since.
Hallahan’s heart always was in baseball despite the fact that he was better known as a boxer. Mike boxed at the same time that Dan McConnell, another North Camdenite, was considered a possibility for the lightweight championship.
They trained together and Dan, who later boxed the best in the country, had to step high, wide and handsome in their exhibition bouts to look better than Hallahan, whose right was just as effective as his left, while McConnell’s left was his biggest asset.
As a youngster, Mike played shortstop for St. Augustine’s School in Philadelphia, and it was there that he learned to love the national sport. He turned to boxing a couple of years later and forgot the national game until he knew he was through as a boxer.
Then Mike teamed up with Clemens as co-manager of Camden A. C., and the two combined to have one of the best clubs ever to represent the northern section of the city. Each fall, Hallahan and Clemens’s Club would go to bat with Charley Gardner’s Camden City Club, which played at the Sunken Gardens, Broadway and Atlantic avenue, for the city championship.
Older baseball fans will recall those series. Hallahan persuaded Clemens to hire big league pitchers for those games and Mike’s judgment never was questioned by Clemens. Their club usually won the series.
Hallahan is survived by his wife, Sally; his daughter, Mary; two brothers, John “Dugan” Hallahan, one of the best pitchers ever developed in independent ranks in this city; Eddie, another great hurler in his time; his sister, Jennie, and one grandchild, Sarah, Eddie’s daughter.
Mike Hallahan is dead, but those who knew him always will respect his memory. In later years Mike devoted his time to politics in the First ward and was a power in the ward in which he lived.
He was a great fellow and the community in which he lived suffers a great loss.
Mike will be laid out at funeral parlors at Fifth and State streets on Sunday night and will be buried on Monday.
Hallahan Funeral to Be Held Monday
Camden Courier-Post —
Veteran North Camden Athlete Died of Heart Attack
The funeral of Michael J. Hallahan, widely known boxer, baseball player and manager and politician, who died suddenly late Thursday, will be held at 8 a. m., Monday, at 521 State street.
Solemn requiem mass will be held at 9 a. m., Monday, at Holy Name Church. The body will be on view at the State street address tomorrow night.
Hallahan died at his home, 909 North Front street, at 4 p. m. Thursday, of a heart attack. Mike, who was in his 58th year, had been ill for the past month, but appeared to be on the way to recovery when he suffered a fatal heart attack yesterday.
Along with Sam Clemens, a good outfielder and a good hitter despite the weight he carried, also deceased, Hallahan operated the old Camden A. C. Baseball Club at Third and Erie streets back in the early 1900’s. Hallahan and Clemens brought to this city the first Chinese or Hawaiian team when baseball was at its peak at old Raspberry Park. It cost money to bring the Hawaiians here, but Mike and Clemens gambled on the game and they made money on the deal.
Born in Philadelphia, Hallahan’s parents moved to North Camden when Mike was about 21 years old, and Mike has been an institution in that section of the city ever since.
Hallahan’s heart always was in baseball despite the fact that he was better known as a boxer. Mike boxed at the same time that Dan McConnell, another North Camdenite, was considered a possibility for the lightweight championship.
They trained together and Dan, who later boxed the best in the country, had to step high, wide and handsome in their exhibition bouts to look better than Hallahan, whose right was just as effective as his left, while McConnell’s left was his biggest asset.
As a youngster, Mike played shortstop for St. Augustine’s School in Philadelphia, and it was there that he learned to love the national sport. He turned to boxing a couple of years later and forgot the national game until he knew he was through as a boxer.
Then Mike teamed up with Clemens as co-manager of Camden A. C., and the two combined to have one of the best clubs ever to represent the northern section of the city. Each fall, Hallahan and Clemens’s Club would go to bat with Charley Gardner’s Camden City Club, which played at the Sunken Gardens, Broadway and Atlantic avenue, for the city championship.
Older baseball fans will recall those series. Hallahan persuaded Clemens to hire big league pitchers for those games and Mike’s judgment never was questioned by Clemens. Their club usually won the series.
Hallahan is survived by his wife, Sally; his daughter, Mary; two brothers, John “Dugan” Hallahan, one of the best pitchers ever developed in independent ranks in this city; Eddie, another great hurler in his time; his sister, Jennie, and one grandchild, Sarah, Eddie’s daughter.
Mike Hallahan is dead, but those who knew him always will respect his memory. In later years Mike devoted his time to politics in the First ward and was a power in the ward in which he lived.
Service Tomorrow for Mrs. Hallahan
Camden Courier-Post —
Widow of Michael J., North Camden Sportsman, Died in Phila.
Services for Mrs. Sarah T. Hallahan, well-known North Camden resident who died Monday, will be held tomorrow at 8.30 a. m. from the home of a brother, Daniel T. Campbell, 1307 West Wyoming avenue, Philadelphia, with whom she had been living.
Mrs. Hallahan was the widow of Michael J., North Camden sportsman, and the sister of John J. Campbell, 4723 Lexington avenue, Merchantville, writ server in the office of Sheriff Gorman. Mrs. Hallahan was ill two weeks.
Shortly after her husband’s death five years ago, Mrs. Hallahan left the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Pellegrino, 909 North Front street, to take care of a sister, Catherine Campbell, of the Wyoming avenue address.
For many years her husband was manager of the Camden A. C. baseball club and later became groundkeeper at “Razzberry” park, Third and Erie streets. He followed sports of every description up until his death.
Besides John, Daniel and Catherine Campbell, and her daughter, Mrs. Hallahan is survived by another sister, Grace Campbell, 2929 North Sixth street, Philadelphia.