Larry J. Dolan, owner of MLB’s Cleveland Guardians, died Sunday at the age of 94, the team announced Monday.
Dolan, brother to Cablevision and HBO founder Charles Dolan — who died two months ago — and uncle to Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan, died of natural causes.
“Cleveland sadly lost one of their own last night,” said Bob DiBiasio, Guardians SVP/Public Affairs said in a statement. “Mr. Dolan invested his entire life in Greater Cleveland and impacted our community on so many levels. From his service to our country as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marines, his many philanthropic acts of kindness, career in law, business, education, and sports, many benefited from his engagement, influence, and passion. Especially in the world of sports. We are forever grateful for his passion in supporting the Northeast Ohio community and our franchise; through his initial leadership the Dolan family continues to be the longest tenured owners in franchise history.”
A native Clevelander, Dolan bought the then-Indians in 2000 from Dick Jacobs after attempts to purchase the MLB’s Cincinnati Reds and NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
The longtime president and managing partner of the Thrasher, Dinsmore and Dolan law firm paid a hefty $320 million for his childhood favorite franchise.
Shortly after assuming control of the franchise, he famously sparred with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner over baseball’s economic problem in the early aughts.
“George is a large part of our problem,” Dolan said in 2002 after Steinbrenner criticized Twins ownership for not spending enough. “What he doesn’t say is George is not spending George’s money. George is spending revenue that most of us don’t have.
“It’s not in any of our interests to have baseball be such that each season it’s going to be the Yankees against some other team in the World Series. That can’t continue.””
Under Dolan’s stewardship, Cleveland won seven American League Central Division titles, made nine postseason appearances and advanced to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.
He is survived by his wife, Eva, six children and 21 grandchildren as part of a family that is the longest-tenured ownership in Cleveland franchise history.
“We are saddened by the loss of our Dad, but lucky to have him as part of our lives as long as we did,” said Guardians Owner/Chairman/CEO and son Paul Dolan on behalf of the entire family in a statement. “He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was passionate about his family, work, our community and his love of our local sports teams, including owning the Cleveland Guardians.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
