While the Cardinals were one of the last major league clubs to sign its first Black player (First Baseman, Tom Alston in 1954), Devine was seen as a being very progressive when it came to signing Black and Latin players. In fact, on Opening Day in 1962, five of the nine players in the Cardinals' starting lineup - Center Fielder, Curt Flood, Second Baseman, Julian Javier, First Baseman, Bill White, Left Fielder, Orestes "Minnie" Minoso, and Third Baseman, Julio Gotay - were either Black or Latin.