Bill Nolan, Pirate Baseball’s First All-American, Passes Away
1/8/2020 11:51:00 AM | Baseball
South Orange native was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Bill Nolan, Seton Hall baseball's first All-American and a longtime supporter of the program, passed away last week.
A native of South Orange and a Columbia High School graduate, Nolan was a team captain and hit .392 as a second baseman en route to earning All-America honors as a senior in 1954.
"Bill Nolan helped establish Seton Hall's strong baseball tradition during his time in South Orange," said head coach Rob Sheppard. "Bill was a great teammate who made his teammates even better. After he graduated, he remained a faithful Pirate supporter and made an impact on so many lives. He will be greatly missed."
Nolan was described as "one of the most popular players ever to perform for the Hall", according to the baseball media guide from the 1954 season. He was a great fielder who could hit to all fields. As a junior, Nolan led the Pirates in RBI (11), stolen bases (4) and sacrifice hits (2). His father, Neil Nolan, was a standout catcher for the Pirates in the early 1920s.
After graduation, Nolan received interest to play professionally for multiple clubs. Instead, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army where he spent two years in the Military Police, serving 20 months in Germany. Nolan was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975.
A native of South Orange and a Columbia High School graduate, Nolan was a team captain and hit .392 as a second baseman en route to earning All-America honors as a senior in 1954.
"Bill Nolan helped establish Seton Hall's strong baseball tradition during his time in South Orange," said head coach Rob Sheppard. "Bill was a great teammate who made his teammates even better. After he graduated, he remained a faithful Pirate supporter and made an impact on so many lives. He will be greatly missed."
Nolan was described as "one of the most popular players ever to perform for the Hall", according to the baseball media guide from the 1954 season. He was a great fielder who could hit to all fields. As a junior, Nolan led the Pirates in RBI (11), stolen bases (4) and sacrifice hits (2). His father, Neil Nolan, was a standout catcher for the Pirates in the early 1920s.
After graduation, Nolan received interest to play professionally for multiple clubs. Instead, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army where he spent two years in the Military Police, serving 20 months in Germany. Nolan was inducted into the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975.
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