Al Martin (martial01)

Alfred Dean Martin
also played as Albert May in 1872

• Bats Unknown, Throws Unknown

• Debut May 7, 1872
• Final Game September 25, 1875
• Born September 26, 1847 in Van Vorst, NJ USA
• Died April 1, 1926 in Brooklyn, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Al Martin played for the Brooklyn Eckfords of the National Association in 1872. There was another player with a very similar name on the team, Alphonse Case Martin, who is known as Phonney Martin.

It was known that Martin worked for a newspaper, and the records had long confused him with one Albert DeGroot Martin, a contemporary sportswriter with the New York Herald. However, recent research has demonstrated that he was in fact another Al Martin, a proofreader with the New York Times, whose 1926 obituary confirms that he was indeed the baseball player.

Martin was, at one point, credited with inventing the curve ball.

Further Reading

• "Alfred (Don't call me Billy) Martin", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, Marcg/April, 2008, pp. 3-4.