Ed Holly
Encyclopedia
Edward William Holly was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors. He is also a member of the International League
Hall of Fame.
Holly's professional career began in with the Western League's Milwaukee Brewers
. In , he played for the St. Paul Saints
. After eight years in the minor leagues, Holly was acquired from the Johnstown Johnnies, where he had batted .298 in by the St. Louis Cardinals
. He played 10 games for the Cards, batting just .059, but was apparently impressive enough to be handed the starting shortstop job in , replacing Forrest Crawford
. Holly played 150 games for St. Louis that year, batting .229. He was let go after the season.
In , Holly was back in the minor leagues, playing for the Rochester Bronchos of the Eastern League
, the predecessor of the International League
. He spent the next six seasons in that league, with the Bronchos, Montreal Royals
, and Toronto Maple Leafs, where he built his reputation as a top defensive shortstop. Three of his teams won the league championship during his tenure: Rochester in and , and Montreal in .
It would take a third major league to bring Holly back to the majors in . That year, Holly joined the Pittsburgh Rebels
of the upstart Federal League
. He served as their starting shortstop that year, batting .246 in 100 games. The next season, however, he was on the bench behind Marty Berghammer
, who had jumped over from the Cincinnati Reds
. After the season, the Federal League folded, and Holly retired as an active player.
Holly returned to the International League in as manager of the Montreal Royals. He managed the club for three full seasons and parts of two others—including winning 96 games in -- before being let go partway through the season. He was also a long-time scout for several different major league teams. He was elected to the IL Hall of Fame in .
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors. He is also a member of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Hall of Fame.
Holly's professional career began in with the Western League's Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
. In , he played for the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. After eight years in the minor leagues, Holly was acquired from the Johnstown Johnnies, where he had batted .298 in by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He played 10 games for the Cards, batting just .059, but was apparently impressive enough to be handed the starting shortstop job in , replacing Forrest Crawford
Forrest Crawford
Forrest A. Crawford was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
. Holly played 150 games for St. Louis that year, batting .229. He was let go after the season.
In , Holly was back in the minor leagues, playing for the Rochester Bronchos of the Eastern League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, the predecessor of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. He spent the next six seasons in that league, with the Bronchos, Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
, and Toronto Maple Leafs, where he built his reputation as a top defensive shortstop. Three of his teams won the league championship during his tenure: Rochester in and , and Montreal in .
It would take a third major league to bring Holly back to the majors in . That year, Holly joined the Pittsburgh Rebels
Pittsburgh Rebels
The Pittsburgh Rebels were a professional baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team was a member of the short-lived Federal League, which was a minor league in 1913 but a full-fledged outlaw major league the next two years...
of the upstart Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
. He served as their starting shortstop that year, batting .246 in 100 games. The next season, however, he was on the bench behind Marty Berghammer
Marty Berghammer
Martin Andrew Berghammer was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for four seasons. He played for the Chicago White Sox in 1911 and the Cincinnati Reds from 1913 to 1914. He also played for the Pittsburgh Rebels of the Federal League in 1915.-External links:...
, who had jumped over from the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. After the season, the Federal League folded, and Holly retired as an active player.
Holly returned to the International League in as manager of the Montreal Royals. He managed the club for three full seasons and parts of two others—including winning 96 games in -- before being let go partway through the season. He was also a long-time scout for several different major league teams. He was elected to the IL Hall of Fame in .