Cozy Dolan (1910s outfielder)

For the other Cozy Dolan in baseball, see Cozy Dolan.
Cozy Dolan

Albert J. "Cozy" Dolan
Outfielder
Born: (1889-12-23)December 23, 1889
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Died: December 10, 1958(1958-12-10) (aged 68)
Chicago
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 15, 1909, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
July 7, 1922, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average .252
Home runs 6
Runs batted in 111
Teams

Albert J. "Cozy" Dolan (born James Alberts, December 23, 1889 – December 10, 1958) was a Major League Baseball player. The 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), 160-pound outfielder and third baseman played for six teams; the Cincinnati Reds (1909), the New York Highlanders (1911–1912), the Philadelphia Phillies (1912–1913), the Pittsburgh Pirates (1913), the St. Louis Cardinals (1914–1915) and the New York Giants (1922). Over his career he posted career numbers of 299 hits, 210 runs, 102 stolen bases, a .339 Slugging percentage, and a .252 batting average.

In the final series of the 1924 season, the Giants were playing the Philadelphia Phillies at the Polo Grounds and battling for the pennant with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell offered Phillies shortstop Heinie Sand $500 to throw the games. Sand rejected the bribe and reported it to Phillies manager Art Fletcher. It eventually led to the lifetime suspension of O'Connell and Dolan, who was a coach for the Giants, by Commissioner Landis, although future-Hall of Famers Frankie Frisch, George Kelly, and Ross Youngs were also implicated.[1]

Personal life

Coca-Cola ad from 1915 with Dolan.

Dolan was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on December 23, 1882 to James T. and Bridget (Joyce) Dolan.[2] He was the youngest of 7 children.[3] His birth record indicates he was named Alvin, but a 1911 newspaper report says, "Albert J Dolan, commonly known and called as Alvin Dolan... ."[4] He records his name as Albert James Dolan on his World War I draft registration card.[5]

On January 2, 1907, Albert J. Dolan married Georgia Simpson, daughter of Douglas J. and Mary (Abrams) Simpson, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.[6] The couple frequently wintered in Oshkosh during Cozy's off season. This tendency is evidenced by articles such as the following:

"Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Dolan have returned to Oshkosh to spend the winter in this city. They will reside at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Simpson, 1316 South Main street. Mr. Dolan is a member of the New York American league baseball team" (The Daily Northwestern [Oshkosh, Wisconsin], 10 Oct 1911).[7]

The city of Oshkosh was very proud of their native son and local papers assiduously followed his career. Articles such as the following were common:

"PLAYS WINNING BALL. Alvin Dolan Makes Home Run and Brings Victory to Jersey City Over Newark.

Alvin Dolan, the Oshkosh young man who formerly played with the Oshkosh team in the Wisconsin state league and the W-1 league, and is now playing third base with Jersey City in the Eastern league, makes the eastern fans sit up by clouting the ball."[8]

The article continues to describe a specific game and touts Alvin's prowess. Another article shows some of Cozy Dolan's personality when he joined the bowlers team of Oshkosh's Elks Lodge when they competed in a state tournament in 1915. A review of the tournament in The Daily Northwestern (an Oshkosh newspaper) includes the following Cozy Dolan antics:

"A feature of the Oshkosh expedition to the tournament was a concert by the Arions of this city at the Hotel Beaumont, Green Bay, at supper-time Saturday. They played in the lobby for an hour, under the direction of Albert J. Dolan, the Oshkosh baseball star who plays left field for the St. Louis Cardinals. The name "Cozy Dolan" was changed to "Dazy Colan" for the time being, and the ball-player-bowler-comedian literally brought down the house with his skillful interpretations of the wiles and arts of bandmaster. With all the magnetic directive powers of a John Philip Sousa, all the grace of a D'Urbando, "Dozy Colan" led the Arions in an artistic concert" (The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin), 25 Jan 1915).[9]

Cozy Dolan died December 8, 1958 in his hometown of Chicago.

References

  1. ↑ Jordan, David M. (2002). Occasional Glory: The History of the Philadelphia Phillies. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 64.
  2. ↑ "Wisconsin, Births and Christenings, 1826–1926", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XR2L-Z38 : accessed 27 Nov 2014), Alvin Dolen, 23 Dec 1882; citing Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin, reference item 3 cn 1855; FHL microfilm 1305606.
  3. ↑ Information comes from combining the 1880 and 1900 census records of his family: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNHT-KMD and https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM2R-BFC
  4. ↑ Ancestry.com. The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: The Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
  5. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-26451-17395-34?cc=1968530 : accessed 27 Nov 2014), Wisconsin > Oshkosh City; A-E > image 1086 of 1320; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
  6. ↑ "Wisconsin, Marriages, 1836–1930", index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XRK4-B4P : accessed 27 Nov 2014), Albert J. Dolan and Georgia Simpson, 02 Jan 1907; citing reference 404-10; FHL microfilm 1275654.
  7. ↑ Ancestry.com. The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: The Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
  8. ↑ The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin), 2 June 1911: Ancestry.com. The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: The Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
  9. ↑ Ancestry.com. The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: The Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.

External links

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