Dowling's 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.
cabinet card During the 1890 season, the
Chicago Colts of the
National League signed Glenalvin to be their second baseman. Their previous second baseman,
Fred Pfeffer, had signed with the
Chicago Pirates of the
Players' League for the 1890 season. Glenalvin played 66 games for Chicago, Pfeffer returned to the Colts after the Players' League folded following the 1890 season, Portland won the league's championship and agreed to face the San Jose team, champions of the
California League, in a best-of-19 game series, which lasted from November 1891 to January 1892. In the 19th game, Glenalvin pulled his team off of the field in protest of a call made by the
umpire. San Jose was declared the winner in a forfeit. In 1892, Glenalvin was named manager and
captain of the
Los Angeles Angels of the
California League. He began the 1893 season in the same roles. The Colts signed Glenalvin in August 1893. He played in 16 games for the Colts late in the 1893 season, and batted .344. The Colts sold Glenalvin to the
Detroit Tigers of the Western League before the 1894 season to be their second baseman, captain, and manager for $600 ($ in current dollar terms). After the 1894 season, Glenalvin accused team owner
George Vanderbeck of exceeding the league's salary limits and of not paying him the additional $812 that he was promised on top of his permitted salary. Glenalvin brought this discrepancy to the league's attention in 1895, and they ruled in favor of Glenalvin, ordering Vanderbeck to pay him by March 1 or forfeit the franchise. Glenalvin signed on as the player-manager for Terre Haute in May 1895. In 1896, Glenalvin partnered with
Robert Leadley to re-establish the Pacific Northwest League as the
New Pacific League. Glenalvin captained, managed, and played second base for the Portland Gladiators. The league collapsed at midseason and Glenalvin became the manager of the
Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League for the remainder of the season. and he played the 1897 season as their captain, manager, and second baseman. He considered retiring, but returned to St. Paul for the 1899 season. His mother, who was ill at the time, made him promise that he would retire from baseball. ==Later career==