The Guardians announced Monday that owner Larry Dolan has passed away at the age of 94. Dolan purchased the franchise back in 2000 for a reported sale price of $323MM. He served as the then-Indians’ control person through 2013, when his son, Paul, succeeded him in that regard. The team has released a tribute video honoring Larry’s life and contributions to the community.
“We are saddened by the loss of our Dad, but lucky to have him as part of our lives as long as we did,” Paul said in a statement on behalf of the family. “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.”
The Dolan family has owned the franchise for a quarter of a century now, but plans were set in motion for a change back in 2022. David Blitzer, who co-owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, purchased a 25-30% stake in the team that June.
In addition to the purchase of that minority stake, a plan was implemented for Blitzer to see his share of the club grow to a majority stake over a six-year period. The current distribution of ownership shares isn’t clear, but there’s been nothing to suggest that Blitzer is not still in line to become the majority owner in a few years’ time.
“Mr. Dolan invested his entire life in Greater Cleveland and impacted our community on so many level,” Guardians senior vice president of public affairs Bob DiBiasio said within the team’s release. “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.”
Though the franchise is still seeking its first World Series win since 1948, there’s little denying the broad-reaching success achieved during the Dolan family’s ownership tenure. Since 2000, Cleveland has won seven division titles, secured another pair of Wild Card berths and advanced to the 2016 World Series, where they fell to the Cubs in a seven-game classic. Cleveland has won 2046 games under the Dolan family, compared to 1902 losses. The Guardians’ player development staff has become one of the most well-respected groups in the entire sport — particularly when it comes to developing young pitching.
While Cleveland typically ranks in the bottom-third of the league in terms of player payroll, that player development prowess has kept the Guards in contention more often than not and again has them in place to contend in the American League Central, even as formerly rebuilding clubs like the Tigers and Royals more firmly emerge as win-now competitors. While Larry won’t see his beloved club reach baseball’s pinnacle, he’ll leave a legacy of competitive teams that can’t be matched by the majority of comparably payroll-limited clubs. We at MLBTR offer heartfelt condolences to the Dolan family and the entire organization.