Marty Devlin’s 90 years include a multitude of mind-boggling activities, achievements and accolades.
Now he is sharing his remarkable life story in a new memoir, Ol’ Buddy Marty: A Memoir Sprinkled with Wit, Wisdom, and Inspiration.
Devlin is well-known in athletic circles in Mercer County. He was born in Trenton and lived in Titusville, Pennington and Ewing, where he currently lives. He worked at Rider University in Lawrence for 22 years, and he also has a real connection in Hopewell, where he still teaches tennis.
Devlin, who also made his mark nationally, recounts his rise in sports and his personal growth with anecdotes, humor and vivid storytelling in his book, which was released in April by Goofer Press.
I first got to know Devlin while I was the Times of Trenton tennis columnist. After all, you couldn’t write a tennis column for 25 years without mentioning Devlin—and often.
He was, and remains, a Trenton legend. At Trenton Central High School, he was an All-American diver, an All-City quarterback, and an All-State baseball player.
His biggest claim to fame growing up, however, was at age 15 when he was a member of the Trenton Schroths baseball team that won the 1948 American Legion National Championship. That was a huge deal: there were celebrations attended by thousands, a parade, the team’s recognition by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, an acknowledgment at the World Series, and tons of media attention. From those beginnings, he became known for his amazing work ethic and hustle.
Devlin went on to play baseball at Duke University, but after a year became academically ineligible. He was not interested in continuing his family’s legacy of intellectual pursuits.
Rather, he reached his baseball goal by signing with the Dodgers in 1952 and playing professional baseball through 1959. There was also a stint playing ball in the Army, and one as a player–manager with the Orlando Dodgers at 26 years old.
He had the opportunity to play with Sparky Anderson and Tommy Lasorda as teammates and against such other luminaries as Don Zimmer, Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson.
There were many interesting phases in Devlin’s life—including an adventurous childhood and a dislike for school, which he described as being in prison. Sports gave him a new perspective on life and a way to be successful.
After leaving pro ball, Devlin went to The College of New Jersey (then Trenton State College) in Ewing and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education.
He worked for Rider University in Lawrence developing a nationally acclaimed intramural program, for Prince Manufacturing as a tennis clinician, and he taught and coached tennis and other sports.
He wanted to share the principles he had developed and became a motivational speaker. Devlin was named as one of the 15 best athletes of the century by the Trentonian newspaper in 1999, has been honored numerous times, and he was inducted into five halls of fame.
Just when you thought there were no more sports for Devlin to excel in, he took up tennis at the age of 36, rose quickly up the senior tennis ladder and attained a world ranking.
What he considers the “biggies” in his life were being the player–manager of the Orlando Dodgers, playing all nine positions in pro baseball, serving on the ski patrol at Mount Snow in Vermont for over 35 years, growing the Rider intramural program (he worked at Rider for a total of 22 years), teaching tennis and skiing to a quadruple amputee, earning gold balls in senior tennis, and writing and publishing his memoir.
“The greatest accomplishment I ever had was writing the book,” Devlin says. “It was the best education I ever had. I was a jock. I only read one book in high school. This was a labor of love and I’m grateful to my book team for helping to make it all happen.”
Devlin started writing his book in longhand nine years ago. He asked me for help with typing it and seeing it through.
I resisted at first because I had no book experience. I finally began working with him six years ago, and I was immediately impressed with what he’d written.
Then a year later, I encouraged Devlin to add a professional editor to our team, which already included his wife Mary Ellen, an accomplished researcher, and daughter Tara, who designed his website and book cover. Enter Cathy Kreyche.
“I was encouraged to write a book by so many people, so I started by scribbling it all out,” Devlin says. “Ann gave the book a structure, and then Cathy questioned me like a drill sergeant and brought out my feelings. That opened up my eyes. Experiences came to light that I had completely forgotten. It was like going to confession. When she put it all together, it flowed.”
Devlin has been amazed by the response and feedback to his book. Family members couldn’t believe Devlin had it in him, and they learned things about him they had no idea about.
Reviews have included such words as inspirational, educational, motivating, flowing, genuine, compelling, well written, and unusual. After reading the book, one woman was inspired to start working out. One guy said he read the whole book in one sitting. Another told Devlin it took courage for Devlin to admit his failures, shortcomings, and mistakes..
At the book launch party at the Mercer County Tennis Center on May 17, a steady stream of friends, family and curiosity seekers stopped by to purchase books and talk to Devlin.
They shared stories and reminisced. One former ski patrol buddy of Devlin’s drove down from Boston to present him with a framed photo.
Another book signing event was held recently at the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton’s Capital Cup, where old connections were rekindled, new connections were discovered, and people lined up to get their photo taken with Devlin.
Even at 90, Devlin still has an uncanny skill of entering a room, talking to everyone, and making them feel glad they talked to him. The energy in the room ramps up the minute he shows up. People seem to love being around him.
“Talking is easy for me, I can express myself,” says Devlin. “In writing, you’ve gotta find a different way to express yourself. It’s tougher. But I’m getting better at it.”
Through the process of writing the book, Devlin says he has learned how and why things happened in his life.
He knows that he’s a problem solver, always looking for a better way to do something, and that was the premise for many of the unbelievable stories in his memoir.
Devlin has slowed down. He has COPD and is currently undergoing medical tests.
“My mind is working more and my body less. My mind is sharper than ever, and I can express myself better than ever,” Devlin says. “Lifting things (rocks, logs, a huge leaf blower!) is easy, breathing is the hard part. I’ve learned to manage my COPD, though.”
Devlin says he wanted to write the book to inspire and show people, through his own life experiences, how to overcome challenges and achieve success. The first part of the book is about his life, and the second part is the wisdom of his principles.
“I want to write more,” he says. “I understand about achieving goals and the rewards more than most people do. I don’t take things for granted.”
Devlin’s little slice of heaven is his West Trenton home, which includes a tennis court that he built mostly by himself with an adjacent gazebo, and an Endless Pool exercise pool in a room added to his house.
A theme throughout the book is his need to get his workout in every day. He still gets that by playing golf, swimming, walking when he can, and giving tennis lessons daily to a large group of dedicated women, whose games are much improved due to his special brand of teaching and repeating “Martyisms,” the inspirational, funny, memorable expressions he is known for.
“I learn from my ladies. They challenge me. I teach about life. It’s so much fun,” says Devlin, who has a unique ability to connect with, inspire and help people achieve their best. He continues to get letters and messages of thanks.
“I’m not afraid of dying, but I’m in heaven right now and still have a lot of living to do. I look up at the moon and the stars and think about what a powerful universe this is. And how I look forward to dinner at night and my two beers,” says Devlin. “I’ll always be busy.”
Sign up on Marty Devlin’s website, martydevlin.com, to receive his occasional newsletter. His book can be purchased through Amazon, and copies can be bought locally at Marsilio’s Kitchen. Hopewell Tennis & Swim Center, and Carellas Chocolates and Gifts.