Edward W. Dowling (January 17, 1867 – March 24, 1944), better known as Robert Joseph Glenalvin, was an American professional baseball second baseman and manager. He played for the Chicago Colts of the National League in the 1890 and 1893 seasons. His professional career in Minor League Baseball spanned from the 1887 to 1899 seasons, where he served as the player-manager for several minor league teams. Glenalvin was also an umpire in the minor leagues from the 1909 through 1914 seasons.
Glenalvin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, as Edward W. Dowling. His father, William W. Dowling, was a minister. Dowling had three sisters and a brother. The family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1877.
His parents objected to him playing professional baseball, and only consented to it if he used an assumed name. Under the name Bob Glenalvin, he began his professional baseball career with the Lincoln Tree Planters of the Western League in 1887. He struggled and left the team in May. He caught on with teams representing Oskaloosa and Webster City in the Iowa State League, before the league collapsed. He finished the 1887 season with Wichita in the Western League and then signed with Dubuque of the Central Interstate League for the 1888 season. Glenalvin played for Colorado Springs in the Colorado State League and Grand Island of the Illinois–Indiana League in 1889 and began the 1890 season as the player-manager for the Wheeling National Citys of the Tri-State League.

Return to Bob Glenalvin Autograph Profile