Wikipedia

Larry Dolan

For the American Olympic luger, see Larry Dolan (luger).

Lawrence J. Dolan (February 8, 1931 – February 23, 2025) was an American attorney who was the principal owner of the Cleveland Guardians of the Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2000 until his death in 2025 and the founder of SportsTime Ohio (now FanDuel Sports Network Great Lakes).

Lawrence J. Dolan
Dolan in 2016
Born(1931-02-08)February 8, 1931
Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 2025(2025-02-23) (aged 94)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
TitleCleveland Guardians principal owner
Founder of SportsTime Ohio
Spouse
Eva Dolan
​
(m. 1957)​
Children6, including Matt and Paul
RelativesCharles Dolan (brother)
James L. Dolan (nephew)

Early life and education

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Dolan was born on February 8, 1931, in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He attended St. Ignatius High School and got his law degree from University of Notre Dame in 1956.[1] He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Cleveland State University.[2]

Professional career

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Upon leaving Notre Dame, Dolan served in the United States Marine Corps for two years, where he attained the rank of first lieutenant.[3] Upon leaving the Marine Corps in 1958, Dolan worked as assistant prosecutor in Geauga County, Ohio before going into private practice.[3] He eventually became president and managing partner of Thrasher, Dinsmore, & Dolan in Chardon, Ohio.[3]

Cleveland Guardians owner

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In 2000, Dolan (through a family trust) bought the Cleveland Guardians (then Indians) of Major League Baseball (MLB) for $323 million from Richard E. Jacobs, who, along with his late brother David H. Jacobs, had paid $35 million for the club in 1986. Jacobs had taken the team public in 1997.[4] As part of the deal, Dolan bought all of the stock at just over $12 a share, making the franchise privately held once again.[5] During his time as owner, the team experienced periods of competitiveness, including playoff runs in 2007, 2013, and making it to the World Series in 2016, as well as periods without success, including several seasons with over 90 losses.[6][7]

While the team's player salaries were among the highest in MLB during Jacobs' final years as owner, at times they have been among the lowest under Dolan.[8] This led some fans to regard Dolan as miserly,[9] although other fans dispute the reputation.[10] After the team reached the 2016 World Series, the team acquired free agents Edwin Encarnación and Boone Logan.[11][12] However, both of these players were with other teams by 2019 in an attempt to reduce payroll, thus adding to both sides of the “miserly” argument between fans.[13]

In 2006, Dolan started SportsTime Ohio to broadcast the team's games; in 2012, it was sold to Fox Entertainment Group.[14]

In November 2021, the baseball team officially changed its name to the Cleveland Guardians.[15]

At the time of his death in February 2025, Dolan and his family were the longest tenured ownership group in the team's franchise history.[16] His son Paul, who has held ownership duties and the title of "Owner/CEO/Chairman" of the Cleveland Guardians since 2013, is also the only of Larry Dolan's six children to have held major leadership roles with the team.[17]

Personal life and death

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Dolan married Eva Dolan in 1957[18] and they went on to have six children; among them are Matt who was an Ohio state senator and is now an economic development leader in Northeast Ohio,[19] and Paul who worked for his law firm and was since named as president, and later chairman, CEO, and controlling owner of the baseball team.[20]

Dolan had three brothers, including businessman Charles Dolan.[3] His nephew James L. Dolan owns the New York Knicks of the NBA and the New York Rangers of the NHL.[16]

Dolan died in Cleveland on February 23, 2025, at the age of 94.[3][21]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ "Larry Dolan | Cleveland Indians Baseball". Cleveland Seniors. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  2. ^ Johnston, Brian (May 8, 2009). "Spring Commencement Ceremonies are Saturday, May 16 | News Release #14683". Cleveland State University. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Cleveland Guardians owner Larry Dolan passes away at 94". MLB.com. February 24, 2025.
  4. ^ Sandomir, Richard (November 5, 1999). "BASEBALL; A Dolan Agrees to Purchase the Indians for $320 Million". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 13, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  5. ^ "DOLAN'S TRUST OWNERSHIP OF INDIANS REVEALED IN SEC REPORT". Sports Business Daily. January 7, 2000. Archived from the original on June 9, 2014. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "Owners | Cleveland Guardians". MLB.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  7. ^ "Cleveland Guardians Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  8. ^ Roth, Phil. "MLB Past and Future Payrolls". mlbpayrolls.info. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  9. ^ Pluto, Terry (2008). Dealing: The Cleveland Indians' New Ballgame: How a Small-Market Team Reinvented Itself as a Major League Contender. Gray & Company. ISBN 978-1-59851-049-2.
  10. ^ Dery, Todd (April 8, 2015). "How the Indians Were Built Through a Series of Nifty Trades". Cleveland Scene. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Meisel, Zack (January 27, 2017). "Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan, on Edwin Encarnación's hefty contract: 'There's no better time than now'". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  12. ^ Pluto, Terry (February 4, 2017). "Cleveland Indians have Terry Talkin' Boone Logan, ownership spending". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on May 5, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  13. ^ Pluto, Terry (March 15, 2019). "Cleveland Indians: Paul Dolan talks payroll, pitching and contention". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  14. ^ Emmet, James (January 2, 2013). "News Corp confirms SportsTime Ohio takeover". SportsPro. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  15. ^ Bell, Mandy (November 19, 2021). "Guardians era officially arrives in Cleveland". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Cleveland Guardians owner Lawrence J. Dolan dies at 94". Associated Press. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  17. ^ Bell, Mandy (February 24, 2025). "Guardians owner Larry Dolan, a true fan at heart, dies at 94". MLB.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  18. ^ "Cleveland Indians owner Larry Dolan to get St. Thomas More Award". Akron Beacon Journal. October 12, 2014. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  19. ^ "Matt Dolan, 45 / Republican". Cleveland Magazine. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  20. ^ "Larry Dolan '50 and Family Earn Lifetime Achievement Award". Saint Ignatius High School. Archived from the original on July 10, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  21. ^ Meisel, Zack (February 24, 2025). "Cleveland Guardians owner Larry Dolan dies at 94". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  22. ^ "2014 Archives". Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
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