Camden People - Joe Snyder

JOSEPH SNYDER, known to family, friends, and baseball fans throughout South Jersey as Joe Snyder was born to Elmer D. and Bessie Snyder on May 20, 1907.

Elmer Snyder was born in New Jersey in December of 1874, one of nine children born to Wilder and Catherine Snyder. The Snyders were living at 1702 South 6th Street in Camden's Eight Ward when the 1900 census was taken. Elmer Snyder, still single and living with his parents and three younger siblings, was then working as an oilcloth printer. Bessie Snyder was born in Russia, of Jewish parentage, and had come to America in 1894.

Elmer Snyder had left home by the time the 1906 Camden City Directory was published, most likely having gone to Trenton NJ, where the family was living when the 1910 Census was taken. Elmer Snyder was still working as an oilcloth printer when the Census was enumerated.

By the spring of 1917 the family, which by then included younger sisters Margaret and Ethel and younger brother Elmer, had moved to 331 Mechanic Street in South Camden. When Elmer D. Snyder registered for the draft on June 5, he was working at the Victor Talking Machine Company plant.

When the Census was taken in 1920, the Snyder family had moved across the street to 316-1/2 Mechanic Street. Elmer Snyder was then working as a nickel plater. He later found work as a polisher. The Snyder family stayed at 316-1/2 Mechanic through 1927. The 1927 City Directory shows Joe Snyder still in school. Two of his uncles still lived in Camden, Willard Snyder at 266 Liberty street and Worthington Snyder at 1103 Emma Street.

When the 1929 City directory was compiled, the Elmer Snyder family had moved to 525 North 32nd Street in East Camden. Joe Snyder by the was working as a bookkeeper, Elmer as a laborer. It is highly probable that they were both working for the City of Camden, as the 1930 Census shows them both in the same trade in city employ.

Joe Snyder would remain in the same East Camden neighborhood for the rest of his life. By this time he was working as a clerk at Camden’s municipal garage. He would also work at the City garage for many years, finishing his career as the Superintendent of the police and fire garage on Wright Avenue. Across the street in the next block at 602 North 32nd lived the Stanley Miller family. Their daughter, Edwina "Winnie" Miller, worked as a wrapper at one of Camden's soap factories. Before long Joe Snyder and Winnie Miller would marry.

As a young man Joe Snyder played sports, and was quite well known as a star shortstop with the semi-pro clubs that were active in Camden during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. He was on Lou Schaub’s Camden club as early as 1928 and as late as 1933. This team featured several ex-major league players and minor leaguers, and faced many of the nation's top barnstorming clubs, as well as Negro League teams. The Camden club also played against major league competition at least twice, playing exhibition games against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932 and 1933.

Joe Snyder also played on Camden's Twelfth Ward Club in 1933, with future Camden High coach Al Bass. He played for the Westfield Athletic Club in 1938, and was still active as a player well into the 1940s.

After stepping off the field as an active player, Joe Snyder stayed in the game as an umpire and coach for many years. He coached East Camden boys at Dudley Grange. One of his young players was Bob Bartosz, who lived on the same block. He taught young Bob how to hunt and fish as well.

The 1947 City Directory shows Joe Snyder at 609 North 35th Street. He lived out his days at that address with his wife, "Winnie" Snyder, who became well known in her own right as a golfer.

Between 1950 and 1959 the Fire Department replaced its entire fleet of hose wagons. The Fire Department's vehicle maintenance was done at Camden's municipal garage under the direction of superintendent Al Healy, Assistant Joe Snyder and Fire Mechanics Earl VanSandt and Ed Campbell would design and manufacture most of these apparatus in-hose. Fireman John J. Mogck Jr., who was by the time he joined the Fire Department well trained in the use of welding and cutting, would be detailed to the shop as needed. The Department would acquire commercial truck chassis upon which the hose wagon bodies would be fabricated. The first of these units was a 1951 GMC 2-1/2 ton cab and chassis. The hose wagon body was equipped with a 250 gallon per minute hale pump, a 1000 gallon per minute deckpipe, a 150 gallon booster tank, and a cartridge canister containing "Wet Water"- an additive agent designed to allow water to penetrate and soak through deep seated fire in baled rags, paper, and similar materials. Engine Company and 8 and Engine Company 2 were the first to receive the new hose wagons. In later years Dodge cab and chassis trucks were utilized.

Joe Snyder passed away in January of 1985, survived by his wife, Mary "Winnie" Snyder, nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Camden Courier-Post * June 11, 1932

BLACK YANKS HERE IN DOUBLE-HEADER
Camden Club to Entertain Colorful Stars at Fairview Ball Park

Probably the greatest collection of colored talent in the country will perform before local fans tomorrow afternoon at the Fairview Athletic Field when the New York Black Yankees and Lou Schaub's Camden Club engage in a double-header. The opening game is slated to start promptly at 2 o'clock.

This will be' the first appearance of the New Yorkers here this season.

Schaub had originally scheduled them for the opening game of the season, but rain forced the cancellation of, the game

Due to the fact that the Yankees, happened to have an open date for this Sunday,Schaub immediately grabbed the chance of bringing this fast-moving outfit here. The players comprising the New York ensemble are of the best in the country and is the finest collection of stars gathered in one team.

They have a pitching staff that ranks with the best, namely, ”Reds" Ryan, Phil Rolland, Luther Farrell and Gandy. A number of other out-standing players who will be in the lineup are Yancey, Riggins, Smith, Rector, "Fat" Jenkins and George Scales, who also manages the club.

The Yanks have taken on all kinds of opposition since the season started and have made the best bite the dirt. The most recent visit of the New Yorkers in the section was last Tuesday when they defeated the Mayfair Club of Philadelphia, a team which also bowed to the Schaubmen.

Schaub announced that the pitching assignments will be turned over to the veteran Johnny "Rube" Chambers and Jack Kimble, Wildwood High athletic director, who has been twirling splendid ball for Camden this season.

Tommy Naughton and Joe Hyde will take care of the receiving, with the former probably donning the mask and windpad in the opener.

The local infield will be taken care of by Bill O'Donnell on first with Bill "Jigger" Black at second, and Joe Snyder at shortstop, while either Ernie Padgett or Fritz Schadel will hold down third base. In the outfield will be Dick Spalding, George Gilham and Bill Graupner, the latter having recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he captained the nine.

Camden Courier-Post - June 9, 1933

CAMDEN TO TACKLE WESTVILLE TOSSERS
Schaubmen on New Winning Streak Hope 10 Make It Four in Row on Sunday

Lou Schaub's Camden club will endeavor to make it four in a row when it tackles "Dutch" Dietrich's Westville club in a double-header on Sunday afternoon at the Fairview Athletic field. The opening game is scheduled to start promptly at 2 p. m.

Last week the Schaubmen regained their winning stride after an extended losing streak by turning back the Washington Pilots in both ends of a twin bill.

"Rube" Chambers, who has been pulling games out of the fire for the locals for the past few seasons, will start the opening game, while Jack Kimble, Wildwood High teacher, will toss 'em up in the nightcap.

Just who Dietrich will use for the double-header is a question. The Westville pilot has a number of first class pitchers to throw against the locals and it is likely that his selections will probably be from Al McKee, Roger "Reds" Kean or Hazelton, with "Chick" Hoell doing the backstopping.

Tommy Naughton and Tom Williams will divide the catching duties for Camden, while the infield will be composed of Zehran, at first; Tom Bragg, at second; Joe Snyder, at short, and Ernie Padgett, at third. The outfield will consist of Dick Spalding, Eddie Ryan and Bill Coleman.

Camden Courier-Post - June 12, 1933

WESTVILLE SPLITS EVEN WITH CAMDEN
'Villagers' Take Opener 5-4 But Lose Nightcap in Twelfth, 6 to 5

"Dutch" Diedrich's Westvllle club gained an even split with Lou Schaub's Camden Club in a doubleheader yesterday afternoon at the Fairview Athletic Field. The 'Villagers" captured the opening game 5 to 4, but lost the 12-inning nightcap 6 to 5.

A flurry of base hits is which they drove Jack Kimble from the mound in the fourth inning, after the latter had sprained his ankle, enabled Westvllle to score all their five runs to take the opening game.

"Rube" Chambers then relieved Kimble and held the "Villagers" at bay during the balance of the game. Camden took the lead with two runs in the third and added another in the fourth. The locals' final marker came in the ninth.

"Bud" Scharnagl and Edward went the route for their respective teams in the nightcap. Westville appeared to have the final game clinched, holding a 5 to 3 lead at the start of the home team's half of the ninth.

Camden, however, rallied to knot the count when Walt Welham, singled to center and Dick Spalding, batting for "Buddy" McGarrigan, tripled to center to score Welham. After George Shefflott had flied out, Tommy Williams came through with a single to right to score Spalding with the tying marker.

Then in the twelfth frame, Joe Snyder was hit by a pitched ball and went to second on Chambers' sacrifice. Snyder took third on Wheatley's error of Padgett's grounder and scored when Jack O'Donnell was safe on a fielder's choice.

*Camden Courier-Post June 10, 1932**

...continued...

Lou Schaub - Bill Graupner - Bill O'Donnell - Dick Spalding - George Gilham Johnny "Rube" Chambers - Bill Black - Jack Kimble - Tommy Naughton Fritz Schadel - Ernie Padgett - Joe Snyder