Art Devlin: Early 20th Century New York Giants Third Baseman (1905 - 1911)

Arthur McArthur Devlin was born October 16, 1879 in Washington D.C. The six foot gifted athlete, attended Georgetown University starring in both in football & baseball.

Football Career: Devlin was the Georgetown football captain & standout back. In those days, All American's were restricted to Harvard, Yale & Princeton players making Devlin ineligible or he would have won the honors.

In 1902 & 1903 Art served as football coach at North Carolina State before joining the New York Giants baseball team in 1904.

Baseball Career: From 1904-1011 Devlin would be the Giants regular third baseman winning
two NL pennants & a World Series title under legendary manager John McGraw. 

He was considered to be the best defensive third baseman of his era. Stats show he led the NL in assists three times (1905/1906/1908) putouts once (1908) while coming in second the next two years. He also led the league in double plays turned (1909) coming in second twice (1906/1908). In the 1908 he led the league in field % as well.

In the Giants 1905 Championship Season, Devlin led the league in stolen bases (59) sharing the title with the Cubs Billy Maloney, the first of two seasons Devlin stole over 50 bases. He was rated one of the top base runners during his years with the Giants. 

He hit 14 doubles, seven triples, driving in 61 runs & scoring 74 runs. Although he only hit .246 he posted a .344 on base % walking 66 times & getting hit with 15 pitches. 

1905 World Series: In the 1905 World Series win over the Philadelphia A's, Devlin hit .250 (4-16) hitting safely in the first four games. In Game #3 at Philadelphia he helped the Giants in their 5th inning five run rally, as he singled off Andy Coakley & then stole second base.

The next season he raised his average up to .299 hitting 23 doubles, while driving in 65 runs and stealing 54 more bases (3rd in the league). 

In 1907 Art would lead the league in getting hit by pitches (15) coming in second the next year getting plunked 84 times in his career (178th most all time).

In 1908 he led the league in fielding % (.947) games played (157) assists (331) as well as put outs (203) solidifying a tight infield of Al Bridwell (SS) Larry Doyle (2B) &Fred Tenney (1B).

Overall while with the Giants in eight seasons, he was in the league’s top ten in walks & hit by pitches five times, stolen bases & on base percentage four times, sacrifice hits, times on base & hit by pitches three times each. 

In 1912 he was purchased by the Boston Braves batting .289 in the first of his two seasons there. In In 1914 Art retired after the season with a lifetime .269 batting average collecting 1185 hits with 10 HRs 164 doubles 57 triples 457 runs scored & 350 RBIs. He stole 285 stolen bases (172nd all time) with a .364 on base %.

At third base he played 1192 games (72nd all time) made 1399 put outs (45th all time) had 2481 assists (63rd all time) making 257 errors (47th all time) & posted a .938 fielding %.

Retirement: During the 1920's Devlin served as the baseball coach at Fordham University in the Bronx during the 1920’s. Some reports claim Devlin coached the legendary "Fordham Flash" Frankie Frisch at Fordham University & introduced him to Giants manager John McGraw. After Fordham he served as basketball coach at the Naval Academy.

Devlin also coached with the Braves & Pirates. He also worked in a hospital.

Family: Art first married Ilma (Wilk) the daughter of the wealthy Vice President of the Union Trust Co. The two were married on Thanksgiving 1906. The two separated in 1911.  He married a second time to Gertrude (Griffin) who passed away on September 18th, 1948 the same day as Babe Ruth's passing.

Passing: In 1948 Devlin passed away in Jersey City, New Jersey at the age of 69.