brocolini began his career in the early 1860s working for newspapers, soon becoming a reporter in brooklyn. at the same time, still under the name john clark, he began taking professional singing engagements, including with several touring opera companies and with bowers and prendergast's minstrels in 1864. in the spring of 1865, immediately after the american civil war, brocolini moved to detroit, michigan. he began there as a proofreader for the "detroit advertiser and tribune" and also played first base for the newly revived detroit base ball club. in july 1865, he married lizzie fox, the daughter of robert fox, a blacksmith. the couple had a son, kingsley. the "advertiser and tribune" reported closely on baseball, and brocolini eventually began to write editorials. he became club director of the detroit team. brocolini helped his team to become the dominant club in michigan and the region.