Tracy Nolan
Tracy's love affair with baseball started as a child growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His introduction was sponsored by a Grand Father who was the back up catcher to Hall of Fame Negro League Star Josh Gibson. Tracy would regularly play catch with his Grandfather as he shared stories of the old Negro League.
Tracy went on to play sandlot and high school baseball while in Pittsburgh. After participating in a regional professional baseball tryout camp, he was invited to another tryout session. As a result, he was drafted #7 as a Winter Free Agent by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976. Tracy never did report to camp, but his older brother Roger did, as T. R. Nolan. Roger played for 4 years finishing up with the Johnson City Cardinals.
At the age of 40, Tracy rediscovered baseball and started playing in the 2 largest amateur associations in the country, the NABA and the MSBL. Since then, he has played on numerous All-Star and Championship teams across the country.
That brings us to Lakeland. Tracy joined the Lakeland Crew, a 28 and over wood bat team 2 years ago. That is how he became familiar with Polk County baseball and it's people. Upon the urging of several of his team mates, he set out to build a first class baseball and softball complex that would support the greater Polk County area and it's people. That is how Lakeland Baseball Academy was born.
Tracy also has a deep business background, including executive positions as FedEx, drugstore.com, Merck, Wellpoint Health Systems and Priority HealthCare. Currently, he is CEO of TGX Medical Systems, a software development company specializing in the tracking of surgical instruments in the hospital setting.
Tracy is married to his wife of nearly 14 years, Donnelle. Tracy has 3 children, Miriah 27, Tracy Jr. 23, and Julian 11. Tracy and his family reside in Windermere, Florida.