Although Nolan was raised in Paterson, New Jersey, 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, who were both born in Ireland.
Nolan married Mary Coyle around 1882, and they had two children, Marguerita (born 1891) and Edward (born 1895).
Nolan started his professional baseball career with the Indianapolis Blues of the League Alliance in 1877.[2] He pitched well that season and stayed with the team when they moved to the National League (NL) in 1878.[3]
Nolan received his nickname in 1878. In that era, "the only" was a common term used to describe anyone who excelled at something. Upon joining the NL, the Blues team publicized themselves by referring to their main pitcher Nolan as "The Only Nolan".[3][4]
That season, Nolan pitched 347 innings, the most of his MLB career. He had a win–loss record of 13–22 and had the fifth-most wins in the NL. He had a 2.57 earned run average (ERA) and an 80 ERA+, and he led the league with 56 bases on balls.[5]
Nolan was expelled by Indianapolis on August 14 when he told the team he was going to a funeral but instead went drinking. During the league meetings in December, his appeal for reinstatement was denied.[6]
Nolan then played for minor league teams in San Francisco in 1879 and 1880.[2]
In 1881, Nolan was allowed to return to the NL, this time with the Cleveland Blues. On July 23, he pitched Cleveland to a 7–3 win over the Buffalo Bisons and went 4-for-4 at the plate.[7] Nolan and his teammates John Clapp and Jim McCormick missed the team's September 20 game in Worcester, Massachusetts, because their return from a side trip to New York City was delayed by a train wreck; they were each fined $100.[7]
In 1883, Nolan pitched in seven games, all losses, for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys before being released for disciplinary reasons. He played professionally for the next several years, including stints with the Wilmington Quicksteps and Philadelphia Quakers, until his baseball career ended in 1886.[2]
Later life
After his baseball career was over, Nolan worked for the Paterson, New Jersey Police Department. He worked there for about 15 years before he suddenly became ill and died of nephritis[9] at the age of 55.[10] He was interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.[5]
