Danny McDevitt

Daniel Eugene McDevitt

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
• School St. Bonaventure University
• High School Hallstead High School
• Debut June 17, 1957
• Final Game September 19, 1962
• Born November 18, 1932 in New York, NY USA
• Died November 20, 2010 in Covington, GA USA

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Biographical Information

Danny McDevitt pitched six years in the major leagues, most notably for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. After arm injuries cut his career short, he became a minor league umpire.

After attending St. Bonaventure University for a year, McDevitt signed with the New York Yankees organization in 1951. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that year in the low minors, he was released by the Yankees. He soon signed with the Dodgers, and in 1952, he was with the Greenwood Dodgers of the Cotton States League, going 12-12 with a 2.35 ERA while striking out 246 but walking a league-leading 171.

McDevitt was away from baseball for two seasons while serving in the military during the Korean War and returned to the Dodgers chain in 1955. He was called up to the majors in June 1957, joining a rotation that included Don Drysdale, Don Newcombe, and Johnny Podres (who was the same age as McDevitt). He went 7-4 with a 3.25 ERA for the club, and hurled a 2-0 shutout in the final game in Ebbets Field history. After struggling for the Dodgers, now in Los Angeles, in 1958, he went 10-8 in the regular season the next summer, 1959. His club went on to win the World Series, but he did not make any postseason appearances.

After posting an 0-4 mark for L.A. in 1960, McDevitt's contract was sold to the Yankees. Midway through the 1961 season, he was dealt to the Minnesota Twins for Billy Gardner. He ended his big league career with the Kansas City Athletics in 1962.

As of 2009, McDevitt was the last major leaguer to come out of St. Bonaventure, a college whose first major leaguer was John McGraw.

On July 3, 2007, he and Joe Pignatano attended the game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Hudson Valley Renegades, and McDevitt threw out the first pitch. He died in Covington, Georgia in 2010.

He is mentioned in the book Planet of the Umps.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959 (he did not play in the World Series).

Related Sites

• This site has quite a few photos and cards of Danny McDevitt. Greenwood.