Mike Dorgan

Professional baseball career

He played during the 1875 season with teams in Grafton and Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1876, Dorgan played for the Syracuse Stars club that won nearly every game played. He made his major league debut in May 1877 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings of the National League, appearing in 60 games and compiling a .308 batting average with nine doubles, seven triples, and 23 RBI. Dorgan returned to the Syracuse Stars for the 1878 and 1879 seasons; in 1879 the Stars joined the National League and attained major league status.

That year he appeared in 59 games, playing at multiple positions including outfield, first base, third base, shortstop, catcher, pitcher, and second base, and compiled a .267 batting average with 11 doubles, five triples, a home run, and 17 RBI. Dorgan also managed the Stars in 1879, leading them to a 17–26 record. In 1880, he played for the Providence Grays, appearing in 79 games (77 as an outfielder) with a .246 batting average, and managed the team to a 26–12 record.

In 1881, Dorgan played for the Worcester Ruby Legs and Detroit Wolverines, appearing in 59 games at first base and outfield with a .272 batting average, and managed Worcester for part of the season to a 24–32 record. He joined the New York Giants in 1883 and spent five seasons there, appearing in 425 games (over 400 as an outfielder) with a .281 batting average, 255 runs scored, 68 doubles, 21 triples, three home runs, 234 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.

Dorgan concluded his major league playing career in 1890 with the Syracuse Stars of the American Association, appearing in 33 games as an outfielder with a .216 batting average; his last major league game was on June 9, 1890.

Later years

After retiring from baseball, Dorgan owned and ran a cafe and worked as a bartender. He was married to Jennie Dorgan, and they had two sons, William and Harry, and a daughter, Mary. By the 1900 and 1905 censuses, he lived in Syracuse, New York, employed as a barkeeper. He later moved to Hartford, Connecticut, working for the American Bridge Company.

In February 1909, Dorgan underwent knee surgery for an old baseball injury, developed blood poisoning, and died at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford six weeks later at age 55. He was buried at St. Agnes Cemetery in Syracuse. His obituary stated he was at one time known as the greatest all around baseball player in the United States. Dorgan was posthumously inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame in 1999.

Did You Know?

• Dorgan was born in Middletown, Connecticut in 1853 to Irish immigrant parents Cornelius Dorgan and Mary (Cahill) Dorgan.
• His younger brother, Jerry Dorgan, also played Major League Baseball.