Devir Park Improvement Project
Proposal for 2020 CPA (or before)
Goal: Better utilization of the western half of Devir Park
History: Designate the tremendous history of semi-pro baseball at this park in Malden
Current: Lacks baseball infrastructure (fences / nets) at Rotondi Field, Maplewood Park, Pine Banks
Needs: “Nothing has been done there in a long time.”
Plan: Convert two baseball areas into multi-purpose fields
Design Strategy: “Light touch” renovation
Cost: Unknown at this time, but estimated to be $140,000 - $240,000
Proposing Team:
Brian DeLacey, Joe Levine, Lenny Merullo, Bill Muise
Support from City Councillors Paul Condon and Debbie DeMaria
Looking for additional participants for added diversity and design input
Contact: bdelacey@gmail.com More information at www.maldenhistory.org/Parks/Devir
Devir Park Photos
According to https://maldenma.mapgeo.io
Roosevelt Park - 163,893 SF
MVRCS Athletic Field - 73,554 SF
MacDonald Stadium - 191,220 SF
Callahan Park - 113,560 SF
Devir Park (including Bruce) - 355,918 SF
Amerige Park - 104,980 SF
South Broadway Park (Howard Park/Rotondi Field) - 178,191 SF
1 acre = 43,560 SF
Photographs taken Sunday, May 5th, around noon time. Park vastly underutilized.
Ralph Wheeler Historical Memorial
“He was an unforgettable man.”
“Ralph never missed a game.”
https://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20190115/malden-musings-frank-says-hi-fundraiser-jan-18
"A few months ago, a friend sent me your Malden Observer article inquiring whether Tony Conigliaro had hit a legendary home run at Devir Park. In fact, he never hit a home run there. I know because I played against Tony C. for three years. First as a Malden Catholic player and eventually as a teammate on Ralph Wheeler’s 1961 Malden City Club. As you stated he did play a few games for the City Club in 1961 but the real star in 1960 and 1961 was Walter ‘Butch’ Hriniak from Natick who sprayed line drives around Devir Park for two years before signing with the Braves as one of the original bonus babies.
Hriniak could scorch the ball and later became a successful and controversial hitting coach teaching the same style that I watched him employ many nights at Devir. Wade Boggs was one of many major leaguers who credited Hriniak for their success. Conigliaro and Hriniak were just two of the many great players Ralph Wheeler brought to Devir Park over the years. But all that ended in June 1962, 56 years ago with Ralph’s death.
On June 19 the Malden City Club was scheduled to play the Everett City Club at Glendale Park in Everett. As the game began Ralph was not there and Ralph never missed a game. A Boston Herald sportswriter for 38 years, Ralph was an unusual personality. He never married, didn’t drink or smoke and didn’t drive or own a car either. As the game progressed that night we all kept looking anxiously across the field to Ferry Street expecting to see Ralph alight from an MTA bus and stride across the field in his straw hat and baggy pants. When the game ended and Ralph had not arrived most of the team left Glendale and headed directly to Estey Street in the west end of Malden to Ralph’s residence. Ron Perry, the great Somerville baseball and basketball star along with veteran slugger Jack Killoren and the Malden police gained access to his apartment. I remember waiting outside in my car with City Club teammate Joe O’Donnell of Harvard and Hosmer Chief fame when Perry came out to confirm our fears. Ralph was inside dead of a heart attack at 63 years old. The Malden City Club finished that season and then disbanded — the driving force was gone. But also gone was a brand of baseball that has never been seen since in Malden. No team sent more players along to pro careers than the City Club. I suspect only Medicare eligible readers remember Ralph, but he was extremely loyal to his players or ‘his boys.’ He funded the team out his own pocket and used his affiliation with the major league Cubs then the Braves to bring the best players in New England to Devir Park. Upon his death the Herald was filled with accolades from local stars that he had helped — names like Bellino, Merullo and Hriniak to name just a few. He was an unforgettable man."
REF: CPC Documents - http://www.cityofmalden.org/content/community-preservation-committee-related-documents-and-information
