Dowling was the eldest child of Michael J. and Ellen Dowling of St. Louis, Missouri.\n', '

Dowling, a left-handed pitcher, made his major-league baseball debut with the Louisville Colonels on July 17, 1897. In his first season, he had 30 starts, of which he won 13 and lost 20, with a 4.16 ERA. After the ousting of Louisville from the National League in 1900, Dowling had planned to play with the Pittsburgh club, but began to develop a serious drinking problem that put his career in limbo.\n', '

He relocated to Kentucky, where his family lived, before playing with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1900. He would later play in Sacramento, California as well, but his alcoholism further jeopardized his career, and he was terminated. Afterward, Dowling played with the Butte Miners, and later with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1904.\n', '

Return to Pete Dowling Autograph Profile