Famed sportswriter
Grantland Rice named Devlin third baseman on his all-time Giants
team. After two minor league seasons at Newark, Devlin joined New York in 1904. In
three of his eight Giant seasons, he led NL third basemen in assists; in 1908 he
also led in putouts and fielding average. Alert and speedy, he had good range at
third base (he ranks 15th all-time in chances per game) and stole more than 20 bases
six times, tying for the league lead with 59 in 1905. Devlin's best batting average
was .299 in 1906. He averaged only one HR per year but his first HR came in his first
ML at bat, with the bases loaded. After finishing his NL career with two seasons
in Boston, Devlin played four additional years in the minors.
(FIC)