John Dovey

John S. C. Dovey

• Born September 19, 1865 in Philadelphia, PA USA

Biographical Information

John Dovey, the brother of George Dovey, was the co-owner of the team that would become the Boston Braves from 1907, when they bought it from Arthur Soden, until 1910. The team was usually called the Boston Doves by reporters during the period.

The family fortune came from coal mines in central Pennsylvania. His older brother was the main driver in the venture, serving as team President while John was secretary and treasurer. After George passed away suddenly in June of 1909, John did not want to keep the team. It was sold to John P. Harris, the club's Vice-President, in 1910, but only as an interim measure as it proved difficult to find a new owner. Harris would then sell the team to William Hepburn Russell shortly thereafter.

Dovey faded completely away from the news after that brief episode. He was apparently still alive and residing in Derry, PA in 1930, but no one seems to know when he passed away. He married Ellen Tall in 1885. He is usually called "John S." or "John S.C." in newspaper articles, to distinguish him from his father who was John J. Dovey, with the C. apparently standing for Charles.