Fulmer's grandfather John fought in the American Revolution, and his great-grandfather Michael was involved in the French and Indian War.

[2] Fulmer made his major league debut for the Rockford Forest Citys in 1871, the first year that games were played in the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players.

He played for the league's New York Mutuals in 1872 before moving on to a three-year stint with the Philadelphia White Stockings.

He claimed that he executed the first major league unassisted triple play in 1873, but MLB lists the first one as being earned by another player in 1909.

Fulmer decided to sit out of baseball for a year, becoming the manager of a traveling theater troupe that staged productions of Uncle Tom's Cabin.