The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-07
"OLNY" NOLAN WAS JOHNSON
OF POP" ANSON'S DAYS

With the passing away Of Edward
Nolan at his home in Paterson. n. j.
another of the fast-fading landmarks
that link modern baseball with ancient
story was removed from the land of the
living. To the fans of the sos the name
of Nolan was fully as familiar as the
title of Mathewson. johnson. Rucker OF
Bender today.
Contemporary with such heroes as
Pop" Arson, Dan Brouthers. King
Kelly, John Clarkson, Charles Rad
bourne. and Jim Whitney, Nolan estab-
nshed a reputation that has SPAWNED the
gap of nearly forty years, and his feats
are still remembered and talked about
wherever the true baseball fans gather.
While pitching for Cleveland, and later
Philadelphia, in the early days of the
National League. Nolan's prowess be-
came SO pronounced that the fans
proudly referred to him as the only
Nolan The announcement that Eddie
was going to pitch was a sufficient
attraction to fill the stands and many
handsome presents were bestowed OF
him by enthusiastic admirers.
Nolan was born in Paterson on Sep
TENDER 5. 1855, and his early baseball ex.
perience was gained on the back lots OF
the Jersey town. which has come to have
a national reputation as the home OF
great ball players. Although only fifty
five years of age at his death, the once
great pitcher had not been connected
with professional baseball since 1857. The
spring of that year Eddie signed a con.
tract to play for the Washington, then
Eastern League. club, but Mayor G. d.
Beckwith. of Paterson, offered him an
appointment on the city police force. and
Nolan forsook diamond career to ac-
cept
Pitched to Kelly.
Nolan gained his early baseball ex-
perience as a member of the so-called
Sand Hill gang. This organization. which
was more or less of a terror to the good
people of Paterson. produced. in addition
to Nolan, King Kelly, the famous
backstop, and Jim Mccormick. afterward
famous as a Giant pitcher. Playing base
ball was the principal occupation of the
Sandy Hill gang. and the prowess dis
played by Nolan, Mccormick and Kelly
soon attracted attention.
Eddie from his early introduction to the
game was always a pitcher, and in later
years he was wont to say that some OF
his hardest diamond battles were fought
out on the Sandy Hill lots when the
honor Of the gang was the only prize at
stake. By the time Nolan was fifteen
years Of age his baseball ability had at
tracteA the attention of thes manager of
the Olympics, Paterson semi-pro team.
and the kid pitcher was given a chance
to Try out against older opponents.
Nolan was a sensation from the first
game. Without being particularly taught
Eddie had stumbled on to the trick OF
throwing curve ball, and he probably
ranked as one OF the first twirlerss to
use that style OF delivery. An under
hand delivery. with a sharp-breaking in
shoot. was his particular stock in trade,
and the opponents Of the oiympics went
down like sheep in q slaughter house.
The fame Of young Nolan spread
abroad. and in 1876 one Of ~ bceuts for
the famous Buckeye club, of cull -
Ohio. signed him on q conditional eo,-
tract Eddie's friends predicted thst h
would be a long walk home for the base
ball star. but the enthusiasm of youth
carried Nolan along. and before many
weeks went by reports began to come