[1] After the ousting of Louisville from the National League following the 1899 season, Dowling had planned to play with the Pittsburgh club, but began to develop a serious drinking problem that put his career in limbo.

[3] On June 30, 1901, pitching for the Cleveland Blues against the Milwaukee Brewers, Dowling threw what may have been the first no-hitter in the American League's young history.

"[4] As of April 2021[update], Retrosheet and Baseball-Reference.com credit Dowling with a no-hitter,[10][11] but the Elias Sports Bureau (the official statisticians of Major League Baseball) does not recognize it.

Dowling missed his train at Fox Lake station in Union County, and decided to walk along the tracks en route to the game.

[2] While walking on the track in Hot Lake, Oregon, Dowling was struck by an oncoming train which decapitated him.