Upon leaving Notre Dame, Dolan served in theUnited States Marine Corps for two years, where he attained the rank offirst lieutenant.[5] Upon leaving the Marine Corps in 1958, Dolan worked as assistant prosecutor inGeauga County, Ohio, before going into private practice.[5] He eventually became president and managing partner of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan inChardon, Ohio.[5]
In 2000, Dolan (through a family trust) bought theCleveland Guardians (then Indians) ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) for $323 million fromRichard 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.[6] As part of the deal, Dolan bought all of the stock at just over $12 a share, making the franchise privately held once again.[7] During his time as owner, the team experienced periods of competitiveness, including playoff runs in2007 and2013, and making it to theWorld Series in2016, as well as periods without success, including several seasons with over 90 losses.[8][9]
While the team's player salaries were among the highest in MLB during Jacobs's final years as owner, at times they have been among the lowest under Dolan.[10] This led some fans to regard Dolan asmiserly,[11] although other fans dispute the reputation.[12] After the team reached the2016 World Series, the team acquired free agentsEdwin Encarnación andBoone Logan.[13][14] 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.[15]
In November 2021, the baseball team officially changed its name to theCleveland Guardians.[17]
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.[18] His sonPaul J., who has held ownership duties and the title of "Owner/CEO/Chairman" of the Cleveland Guardians since 2013, is also the only one of Larry J. Dolan's six children to have held major leadership roles with the team.[19]
Dolan married Eva Haas Dolan in 1957[20] and they went on to have six children; among them areMatt who was an Ohiostate senator and is now an economic development leader in Northeast Ohio,[21] andPaul J. who worked for his law firm and was since named as president, and later chairman, CEO, and controlling owner of the baseball team.[22]
Established in1894 Former names (all in Cleveland unless noted) -Grand Rapids Rustlers,Lake Shores,Bluebirds,Bronchos,Naps,Indians Based inCleveland, Ohio
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