When Father Was a Boy

Camden Courier-Post - June 8, 1930

CAMDEN ATHLETIC CLUB TEAM OF 1907

Front row—Claude N. Davis, first baseman; George “Babe” Clayton, catcher; “Big Bill” Humphries, pitcher, and “Tip” O’Neil, assistant manager.

Second row—“Seck” Hewitt, shortstop; Frank Ziegler, third baseman; Joe Harvey, second baseman; Bill Pies, umpire; “Squire” William Davis, manager; William Gilmore, pitcher; Thomas J. Doyle, right fielder; “Dick” Halsberger, centre fielder, and Raymond Fish, left fielder.

A gentle nod sets aside the curtain of weighty years, and a blink of the orbs will clear vision for a glance through time. The result will produce a tour for the veteran to a bygone era, when dad was a kid. Only an oldtimer knows the joy of such a cruise, and even the silver strands that line his head seem to tingle as memory brings back the wholesome days of light-hearted youth.

Recollections of the good old days hereabout could hardly be complete, in fact would be woefully inadequate, without a scene revealing the Camden A. C. ball players, on their vanished battlefield, down at Fourth and Emerald streets. They later furnished the diamond thrills at Twelfth and Federal streets, when that plot was the gathering point for lovers of the national pastime. But it was down at the old orchard that the Camden aggregation staged many of its hair-raising tussles.

A record of the games won and lost by this team during its memorable 1907 campaign has disappeared with the site of fun the players had, but there are a number of the “boys” who grin broadly when a mental turn brings back the old gang.

It isn’t hard to recall “Big Bill” Humphries, or Bill Gilmore, for these noble knights of the flannels did some classy chucking for the team. Humphries was then a thin-haired veteran, having seen service years before with the Phillies in the National League. He was a right hander, while Gilmore threw them up from the opposite side of the box. The latter is widely known in Gloucester, where he resides today.

‘Babe’ Clayton Back of Bat

Behind the plate was a young husky who then was hailed as George the “Babe”, but whose surname is Clayton. A muscular scrapper, he proved strong with the lumber weapon he used for a bat and he handled the burning steam of both Humphries and Gilmore with ease. Clayton now is a guardian of the law here, having serv [sic] for years on the motorcycle squad starting as a bluecoat after numerous seasons with many teams in this vicinity. “Babe” combined ability to field his position with an uncanny knack of planting bingles where opposing fielders were not.

Stationed at the first hassock was Claude N. Davis, who later became the mayor of Woodlynne and who now is a candidate for the county committee post on the Republican ticket at Haddon Heights. Claude, son of the late “Squire” Davis who managed the club, performed in the South Jersey circuit and later with the Binghampton outfit in the New York State chain.

“Squire” Davis was long a prominent figure in Democratic ventures in Camden and numerous political yarns of the old days find this popular character in a leading role. He was chosen state committeeman, served for years as chief of police and was a prime factor in some of the most exciting campaigns of this city.

Three infield teammates who heaved at Claude are active and alive down in Gloucester nowadays. Joe Harvey, one of the best hitters on the team, held down second base while Frank Ziegler, who later went to the minors via the South Jersey League, covered third base. “Seck” Hewitt, one of the best-known ball-tossers of long ago, handled duties at shortstop in his own incomparable style. Hewitt lent his field and bat talents in the Tri-State League after aiding this and other local clubs.

“Tom” Doyle in Pasture

The trio that patrolled the garden included Ray Fish in left, Dick Halsberger in centre and Thomas J. Doyle on the right side. Thomas J., always a great lover of outdoors, today is known broadly as an ardent follower of Izaak Walton but before he tossed away the spiked shoes and leather glove he held up the proud name of the clan of Doyle. He now is an official of the Keystone Leather Co. here. Fish saw service as a railroader and for years lived in Centreville while Halsberger was one of the team’s importations from the other side of the Delaware, up around Pottstown.

This team was somewhat changed in personnel as years passed and a few seasons after 1907 they became known as one of the greatest collections of ball hands this city ever produced. They deserted the Fourth and Emerald street field and licked Bob Black’s strong Camden nine on one occasion.

Departed from the cast today is Tip O’Neil, the “Original Tip” who aided “Squire” Davis in managing the club. Bill Pies, another character, who umpired many of their games, also is deceased.

They’ve long since “grown up” but they live many of the happy battles in memory and the sight of young lads pounding the pill today gives every last survivor of them a keen desire to step out there and whale one out of sight.