Jerry Dorgan

Jeremiah F. Dorgan (1856 – June 10, 1891) was an American professional baseball player from 1879 to 1887. He played four seasons of Major League Baseball as a right fielder and catcher for five major league clubs. He appeared in 131 major league games and compiled a .282 batting average with 22 doubles, four triples, no home runs and 49 RBIs.

Dorgan's baseball career reportedly came to an early end due to his "unconquerable appetite for liquor"; he died of alcohol poisoning in 1891 after being discovered intoxicated in a Connecticut barn with an empty liquor bottle by his side.

Early years Dorgan was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1856. His parents were Cornelius Dorgan and Mary (Cahill) Dorgan, both of whom were immigrants from Ireland. His older brother, Mike Dorgan, played ten seasons of Major League Baseball from 1877 to 1890.

Professional baseball player Dorgan began his career as a professional baseball player in 1879 with the Holyoke, Massachusetts team where he compiled a .304 batting average.

Dorgan made his major league debut in July 1880 with the Worcester Ruby Legs in the National League. He appeared in 10 games for Worcester, nine of them as an outfielder, and had seven hits in 35 at bats. His cause of death was stated to be alcohol poisoning and/or alcoholism. The Sporting Life published a front-page account of his death under the headline, "THE WAGES OF SIN: A Once Promising Career Ended By Disgraceful Death." Dorgan was interred at the St. John Cemetery in Middletown.