THE 1878 MILWAUKEE GRAYS

May 9, 1878 at Indianapolis
Grays defeat Blues, 2-1
Season record: 1-3-1

The game played at Indianpolis, yesterday, between the Milwaukees and Indianapolis nine, resulted in the defeat of the home club. The game was of unusual interest, and a large crowd was in attendance. Holbert caught Weaver without a passed ball, and did some fine playing. The Milwaukees batted the “only Nolan” for six base hits, while the Indianapolis only scored one off Weaver.

Notable
- Six different players had hits, with leadoff man and second baseman John Peters and first baseman Jake Goodman scoring the runs.
- The Grays made five errors – so more progress, although the pitcher, Weaver, had two.
- Interesting tidbit about The Only Nolan, Indianapolis’ pitcher. It’s not sure why Edward Sylvester Nolan was called that, but he was definitely a character. For example, “It is said he was suspended twice during the 1878 season, once for visiting a whorehouse when he had told the team he was going to be visiting his brother. He was blacklisted from the league.”And more: “He was not in the major leagues from 1879-1880. In 1881, he was pitching for the Cleveland Blues of the National League. He told the team he was going to a funeral, but instead went drinking, which got him kicked off the team. Showing up again in 1883, with the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League, he lost the seven games he pitched, and then, after he was fined $10 for something, went on a drinking spree and put it on the team's tab. He was fined $100 by the team, and suspended for the rest of the season.”