Gary Nolan (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Gary Lynn Nolan is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed starting pitcher
who played with the Cincinnati Reds
(1967–73, 1975–77) and California Angels (1977). He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1983.
Nolan's first Major League ballgame was at the early age of 18. A hard thrower, Nolan had a promising debut on April 15, 1967 when he struck out the side in the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros
. He finished with a 14-8 record in that rookie season, was fourth in the National League
in ERA
(2.58) and in strikeout
s (206), and was third in the Rookie of the Year
voting behind Tom Seaver
.
In 1970 Nolan went 18-7 with 181 strikeouts and a 3.26 ERA, helping the Reds to win the NL pennant and establishing himself as one of the league's great young starting pitchers. Nolan pitched a remarkable nine innings of shutout ball to earn a victory in the 10-inning Game One of that year's National League Championship Series
against Pittsburgh. But he took the loss in Game One of the World Series
against the eventual champion Baltimore Orioles
.
The remainder of Nolan's career was plagued by assorted injuries, but his diminishing fastball was soon complemented with renowned pitching accuracy, and he led the league in fewest walks per nine innings during Cincinnati's 1975 and 1976 back-to-back World Series
seasons.
After a disappointing 12-15 record in 1971, he posted 13 victories before the 1972 All-Star Game
. Selected for the NL team, Nolan was suffering from neck and shoulder pains, and he was forced to withdraw from the game. After rehabbing his injuries on the disabled list, he returned to the lineup and finished the season with a 15-5 record and 1.99 ERA, leading the league in winning percentage
(.750) and was second to Steve Carlton
in ERA. In the World Series against Oakland
that year, he lost Game One (six innings, three runs) and was pulled from the game early in Game Six (4 1/3 innings, one earned run).
Arm problems forced Nolan to miss most of 1973, and he missed the entire 1974 season. He returned in 1975 in good form, going 15-9 with a 3.16 ERA. In the World Series against Boston
, he pitched just six innings in two starts. In 1976, he duplicated his 15-9 record and finally got his first World Series victory against the Yankees
in the last game of a four-game sweep. New arm and shoulder problems bothered him in 1977, and he opted to retire.
In 10-season career, Nolan compiled a 110-70 record with 1,039 strikeouts, a 3.08 ERA, 45 complete games, 14 shutout
s, and 1,674 innings pitched
in 250 games (247 starts). In eleven post season games he was 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA covering 59.1 innings.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
who played with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1967–73, 1975–77) and California Angels (1977). He was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1983.
Nolan's first Major League ballgame was at the early age of 18. A hard thrower, Nolan had a promising debut on April 15, 1967 when he struck out the side in the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He finished with a 14-8 record in that rookie season, was fourth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(2.58) and in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (206), and was third in the Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
voting behind Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
.
In 1970 Nolan went 18-7 with 181 strikeouts and a 3.26 ERA, helping the Reds to win the NL pennant and establishing himself as one of the league's great young starting pitchers. Nolan pitched a remarkable nine innings of shutout ball to earn a victory in the 10-inning Game One of that year's National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
against Pittsburgh. But he took the loss in Game One of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
against the eventual champion Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
The remainder of Nolan's career was plagued by assorted injuries, but his diminishing fastball was soon complemented with renowned pitching accuracy, and he led the league in fewest walks per nine innings during Cincinnati's 1975 and 1976 back-to-back World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
seasons.
After a disappointing 12-15 record in 1971, he posted 13 victories before the 1972 All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. Selected for the NL team, Nolan was suffering from neck and shoulder pains, and he was forced to withdraw from the game. After rehabbing his injuries on the disabled list, he returned to the lineup and finished the season with a 15-5 record and 1.99 ERA, leading the league in winning percentage
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
(.750) and was second to Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
in ERA. In the World Series against Oakland
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
that year, he lost Game One (six innings, three runs) and was pulled from the game early in Game Six (4 1/3 innings, one earned run).
Arm problems forced Nolan to miss most of 1973, and he missed the entire 1974 season. He returned in 1975 in good form, going 15-9 with a 3.16 ERA. In the World Series against Boston
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, he pitched just six innings in two starts. In 1976, he duplicated his 15-9 record and finally got his first World Series victory against the Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the last game of a four-game sweep. New arm and shoulder problems bothered him in 1977, and he opted to retire.
In 10-season career, Nolan compiled a 110-70 record with 1,039 strikeouts, a 3.08 ERA, 45 complete games, 14 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, and 1,674 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
in 250 games (247 starts). In eleven post season games he was 2-2 with a 3.34 ERA covering 59.1 innings.