Larry Dolan, the longtime owner of the Cleveland Guardians, died at the age of 94, the team announced on Monday. A Cleveland resident for life, Dolan and his family are the oldest owners in the history of the Guardians, having owned the team for 25 years.
In a statementGuardians SVP of Public Affairs Bob Dibiasio has talked a lot about the impact of Dolan throughout the Cleveland community. Dibiasio confirmed that Dolan died on Sunday evening.
“Mr. DOLAN has invested all his life in the Grand Cleveland and had an impact on our community at many levels. From his service to our country as the first lieutenant in the United States, his many philanthropic acts of Kindness, career in law, business, education, and sports, many have benefited from his commitment, his influence and his passion, “said Dibiasio. “We are eternally grateful for his passion to support the Ohio northeast community and our franchise.”
The owner, president and chief executive officer of the Guardians, Paul Dolan, one of Larry Dolan’s sons, also spoke of his father’s inheritance in the declaration.
“We are saddened by the loss of our father, but lucky to have it in our lives as long as we have done,” said Paul Dolan. “It was a husband, a father and a loving grandfather who was passionate about his family, his work, our community and his love of our local sports teams, in particular by having the Cleveland Guardians.”
Cleveland Guardians are saddened to announce the adoption of Lawrence Dolan, owner of Cleveland Guardians.
Larry bought the Cleveland Baseball Club on February 15, 2000 in Richard Jacobs. The 2025 season is the 26th year of ownership for the Dolan family, the… pic.twitter.com/nruyg62mtg
– Cleveland Guardians (@Cleguardians) February 24, 2025
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred also expressed condolences.
“I am saddened by the death of Larry Dolan, from Cleveland, whose property of the quarter -century of the family made their hometown team a coherent winner and a basic food of their community,” said the declaration from Manfred. “Larry was a life base for life that served our country as the first lieutenant in the US Navies. He firmly believed in the mentoring of young people and using the guards as a means of having an impact on the Great Cleveland. “
Dolan, born in the suburbs of Cleveland Heights, was raised in the Cleveland region. He attended St. Ignatius high school before going to University to Notre Dame, where he met his wife, Eva.
In February 2000, Dolan bought his hometown team from Richard Jacobs, spending $ 323 million thanks to a family trust, almost 10 times the amount that Jacobs had paid for the first time for the team 15 years earlier .
During the years which followed the priority of the Dolan family, Cleveland had a relative, with 14 winning seasons and nine appearances in playoffs since 2000. Lose against the Chicago Cubs. Paul Dolan took office as the principal owner of the franchise in 2013, leading the team through its change of name in 2021.
Larry Dolan is survived by his wife Eva, his six children and 21 grandchildren.
