The Only Nolan
Encyclopedia
Edward Sylvester "The Only" Nolan (Born November 7, 1857 in Paterson, New Jersey
, Died May 18, 1913 in Paterson, New Jersey
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
, outfielder
, and third baseman
.
Although he was raised in Paterson, and the 1900 census shows his birthplace as New Jersey, both the 1870 and 1880 censuses indicate that he and his three older brothers (John, Mills and Michael) were born in Canada. His parents were James and Mary Nolan, both born in Ireland. He married Mary Coyle around 1882 and they had two children, Marguerita (born 1891) and Edward (born 1895).
of the National League
in . On May 21, Nolan set down the Milwaukee Grays
with just 2 hits‚ but the Blues barely won the 6-5 game because of 11 errors and passed balls. He was expelled by the team on August 14 when he told the team he was going to a funeral, but instead went drinking. During the league meetings in December, Nolan's appeal for reinstatement was denied.
In Nolan was allowed to return to the league, this time with the Cleveland Blues
. On July 23, Nolan not only pitched Cleveland to a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons
, but went 4-for-4 at the plate. Nolan and teammates John Clapp
and Jim McCormick missed the team's September 20 game in Worcester
because their return from a side trip to New York City
was delayed by a train wreck. They were each fined $100 each.
At a National League meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York
later that month, the league adopted a blacklist of players who were barred from playing for or against any NL teams until they were removed by unanimous vote of the league clubs. Nolan was one of the ten blacklisted for "confirmed dissipation and general insubordination". The other nine were Sadie Houck
‚ Lip Pike
‚ Buttercup Dickerson
‚ Mike Dorgan
‚ Bill Crowley‚ John Fox
‚ Lew Brown
‚ Emil Gross
‚ and Ed Caskin
.
He pitched in 7 games, all losses, for the Pittsburg Alleghenys
in 1883 before being released for disciplinary reasons. He played two more professional seasons for the Wilmington Quicksteps
and the Philadelphia Quakers
before retiring.
"The Only" have been claimed over the years, one states that the reason for the name derives from the fact that no other Nolans, either first or last name had played or was playing in the majors at that time, therefore he was the only Nolan. The other is slightly more elaborate. In the period following the Civil War
, a wildly successful minstrel
performer of the day, named Francis Leon
, rose to prominence performing a burlesque
act while simultaneously in both blackface and drag. His popularity prompted many imitators. In response, Leon began billing himself and his act as, "The Only Leon." The theory follows then that Ed Nolan somehow reminded an observer of Leon, thus sparking the similar nickname.
at the age of 55. He was interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey
.
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, Died May 18, 1913 in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
) is a former Major League Baseball
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
.
Although he was raised in Paterson, and the 1900 census shows his birthplace as New Jersey, both the 1870 and 1880 censuses indicate that he and his three older brothers (John, Mills and Michael) were born in Canada. His parents were James and Mary Nolan, both born in Ireland. He married Mary Coyle around 1882 and they had two children, Marguerita (born 1891) and Edward (born 1895).
Career
A right-handed pitcher who batted left-handed, Nolan broke into baseball with the Indianapolis BluesIndianapolis Blues
The Indianapolis Blues were a baseball team in the National League only during the 1878 season and finished fifth in the six-team league with a 24-36 record. They were managed by outfielder/first baseman/catcher John Clapp, and played their home games at South Street Park.Their top-hitting regular...
of 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 . On May 21, Nolan set down the Milwaukee Grays
Milwaukee Grays
The Milwaukee Grays were a short-lived baseball team that spent one year, 1878, in the National League.The team was part of the League Alliance, loosely affiliated with the National League, in 1877. It won 19 games and lost 13 , ending up in fourth place...
with just 2 hits‚ but the Blues barely won the 6-5 game because of 11 errors and passed balls. He was expelled by the team on August 14 when he told the team he was going to a funeral, but instead went drinking. During the league meetings in December, Nolan's appeal for reinstatement was denied.
In Nolan was allowed to return to the league, this time with the Cleveland Blues
Cleveland Blues (NL)
The Cleveland Blues were a Major League Baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio that operated in the National League from 1879 to 1884. In six seasons their best finish was third place in 1880. Hugh Daily threw a no-hitter for the Blues on Sept. 13, 1883. Besides Daily, notable Blues players...
. On July 23, Nolan not only pitched Cleveland to a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, but went 4-for-4 at the plate. Nolan and teammates John Clapp
John Clapp (baseball)
John Edgar Clapp , nicknamed "Honest John", was a professional baseball player-manager whose career spanned 12 seasons, 11 of which were spent with the Major League Baseball Middletown Mansfields , Philadelphia Athletics , St...
and Jim McCormick missed the team's September 20 game in Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
because their return from a side trip to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
was delayed by a train wreck. They were each fined $100 each.
At a National League meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
later that month, the league adopted a blacklist of players who were barred from playing for or against any NL teams until they were removed by unanimous vote of the league clubs. Nolan was one of the ten blacklisted for "confirmed dissipation and general insubordination". The other nine were Sadie Houck
Sadie Houck
Sargent Perry "Sadie" Houck was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for eight seasons from 1879 to 1887. He played for the Boston Red Caps, Providence Grays, Detroit Wolverines, Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Washington Nationals, and New York Metropolitans. Houck had a career...
‚ Lip Pike
Lip Pike
Lipman Emanuel "Lip" Pike the "Iron Batter", was one of the stars of 19th century baseball in the United States. He was the first player to be revealed as a professional , as well as the first Jewish player...
‚ Buttercup Dickerson
Buttercup Dickerson
Lewis Pessano Dickerson was a 19th century Major League Baseball outfielder. Born in Tyaskin, Maryland, he played a total of seven seasons in the majors, splitting time between eight teams in three different leagues...
‚ Mike Dorgan
Mike Dorgan
Michael Cornelius Dorgan was an American Major League Baseball player from Middletown, Connecticut, who played mainly in right field, but did play infield positions on occasion. His brother, Jerry Dorgan also played Major league Baseball...
‚ Bill Crowley‚ John Fox
John Fox (baseball)
John Joseph Fox , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1881-1886. He played for the Boston Red Caps, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburg Alleghenys, and Washington Nationals.-External links:...
‚ Lew Brown
Lew Brown (baseball)
Lewis J. Brown was an American Major League Baseball catcher and first baseman for seven seasons and played for six different teams from 1876 to 1884. Brown was primarily a catcher, but he also logged over 100 games as a first baseman...
‚ Emil Gross
Emil Gross
Emil Michael Gross , was an American Major League Baseball catcher from -. He played for the Providence Grays, Philadelphia Quakers, and Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies. He died at the age of 63 in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and is interred in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois at Graceland...
‚ and Ed Caskin
Ed Caskin
Edward James Caskin , born in Danvers, Massachusetts, was a shortstop for the Troy Trojans , New York Gothams/Giants and St...
.
He pitched in 7 games, all losses, for the Pittsburg Alleghenys
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1883 before being released for disciplinary reasons. He played two more professional seasons for the Wilmington Quicksteps
Wilmington Quicksteps
The Wilmington Quicksteps were an 1884 late season replacement team in the Union Association. They finished with a 2-16 record and were managed by Joe Simmons. The team played home games in Union Street Park in Wilmington, Delaware....
and the Philadelphia Quakers
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
before retiring.
The Only Nolan
A range of possible origins of the nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"The Only" have been claimed over the years, one states that the reason for the name derives from the fact that no other Nolans, either first or last name had played or was playing in the majors at that time, therefore he was the only Nolan. The other is slightly more elaborate. In the period following the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, a wildly successful minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
performer of the day, named Francis Leon
Francis Leon
Francis Leon was a blackface minstrel performer best known for his work as a female impersonator. He was largely responsible for making the prima donna a fixture of blackface minstrelsy....
, rose to prominence performing a burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
act while simultaneously in both blackface and drag. His popularity prompted many imitators. In response, Leon began billing himself and his act as, "The Only Leon." The theory follows then that Ed Nolan somehow reminded an observer of Leon, thus sparking the similar nickname.
Post-career
After his baseball career was over, Nolan worked for the Paterson, New Jersey Police Department. He had worked there about 15 years, he suddenly became ill and died of nephritisNephritis
Nephritis is inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys. The word "nephritis" was imported from Latin, which took it from Greek: νεφρίτιδα. The word comes from the Greek νεφρός - nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation"....
at the age of 55. He was interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey
Totowa, New Jersey
Totowa is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 9,892.Totowa was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1898, from portions of the now-defunct Manchester Township and Wayne...
.