Galvin played with the St. Paul Red Caps in 1883. By 1884, he joined the
St. Paul Saints of the
Northwestern League, and appeared in nine games as a pitcher and 22 games as an
outfielder. When St. Paul joined the
Union Association in late September, Galvin remained with the club and appeared in three games from October 1 to October 12.
The Kansas City Star described him as "one of the swiftest pitchers in the country" at the time. In 1885, Galvin played for
Springfield in the
Interstate League,
Omaha Omahogs and
Keokuk Hawkeyes of the
Western League and
Haverhill and
Lawrence of the
Eastern New England League. In his last professional season of 1886, he played for the
Oswego club of the
International League, and the
Meriden, Connecticut club. In October 1886, he accepted a job at a boot and shoe establishment in Haverhill. ==Personal life==