 Signed by the Browns without having previously played any minor league baseball , Nicol made his debut on September 23 , 1890 , and pitched — what was then considered to be — a no @-@ hitter . In the following season , he joined the Chicago Colts in July after starting in the minor leagues . After a two @-@ year sojourn away from the major leagues , he signed for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1894 . In August of the same season , he was traded to the Louisville Colonels , with whom he played his final game on September 29 , 1894 . 
