Growing up in a town rich in the oral tradition of baseball, author Marty Payne recounts his journey from childhood to becoming a researcher of the game’s local history in his interview with the Spy. . Born and raised on the Eastern Shore, he first encountered the local baseball culture while working at his father’s drugstore, a popular hangout for teenagers. His academic pursuits led him to Washington College, where he earned a master’s degree before embarking on a career as a state bureaucrat. It was during this time that his interest in baseball history deepened.
Inspired by Bill Mowbray’s The Eastern Shore Baseball League, he began to explore the origins of baseball in Talbot County. His research revealed a fascinating correlation between the sport’s growth and the expansion of railroads and steamboats in the region between 1865 and 1867. As transportation networks connected towns, baseball followed, attracting players from major cities and nurturing local talent.
Local newspapers became a goldmine for his research, revealing how baseball was more than just a game; it was a social cornerstone of the community. Throughout the early 1900s, the Eastern Shore produced notable players like Homer Smoot and Jake Flowers. By the 1920s, the minor leagues had become a breeding ground for future Hall of Famers, transforming local games into major social events that drew large crowds and fostered community connections. This historical journey through baseball on the Eastern Shore highlights the sport’s profound impact on local culture and community life.
Marty stopped by the Spy studio last month to talk more about his book.
This video is approximately minutes in length.
Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson says
Enjoyed this! What do you know about the story that Fidel Castro played ball on the Shore during that “lost year” from Cuba, after he had been accused of killing a policeman during a demonstration?
Marty says
The Castro/Eastern Shore story, like most of Castro baseball stories, are fabrications. The expert on baseball and Cuba is Peter J. Bjarkman. I would recommend his article “Fidel Castro in Baseball,” on the SABR (Society of American Baseball Research) website debunking the Castro stories. He also has a book out on Castro and baseball in Cuba.
According to Bjarkman Castro played in high school but was never mentioned as a prospect in Cuban newspapers. He purportedly invited himself to two tryouts with Washington scout Joe Cambria, and made no impression..His last appearance as a ball player was an intramural game while at law school. There were no major league signings or tryouts. Like many of us Castro loved baseball, and like many of us, could not play it very well. Castro cultivated his baseball image through the years for various reasons
Hope this helps,
Marty