North Carolina A&T grad Al Holland, MLB pitcher, dies

NORTH CAROLINA A&T ATHLETICS

Al Holland, a two-sport standout at North Carolina A&T who pitched on the Philadelphia Phillies’ 1983 National League championship team, died July 4 in Fort Mill, S.C., at age 73.

Al Holland, a North Carolina A&T graduate who helped the Philadelphia Phillies to the 1983 World Series, died July 4 in Fort Mill at age 73.

Al Holland Jr. confirmed his father’s passing, surrounded by family. The elder Holland, a 1975 A&T graduate, was a 2015 inductee to the College Baseball Hall of Fame in addition to the Aggies’ (1994) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (1993) halls of Fame.

“Al Holland was a big-league star, both on and off the field,” A&T Chancellor James R. Martin II said in a statement. “He and his trademark phrase, ‘Give me the ball,’ personified the Aggie spirit of toughness, competitiveness and excellence that defines our university.”

Born on Aug. 16, 1952, in Roanoke, Virginia, Holland played for the Aggies baseball team from 1972-75 under head coach Mel “Big 10” Groomes. He is one of only three A&T student-athletes to have his jersey number retired on merit, along with men’s basketball player and Naismith Hall of Famer Al Attles (Class of 1960) and football player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea (1968).

Holland’s No. 17 jersey is inscribed on the left-field wall at World War Memorial Stadium, the home ballpark of A&T baseball. Before arriving at A&T, Holland graduated all-Black Lucy Addison High School, a segregated school for African Americans in the Roanoke area where he starred in football, basketball and baseball. Holland enrolled at A&T in 1971, and his three younger brothers eventually followed him to Greensboro to play football. Holland made an immediate impact on the football field, leading the Aggies in rushing as a freshman in 1971.

But baseball is where Holland became an Aggie, collegiate baseball and Phillies legend.

As a freshman, he led the nation in strikeouts with 143 and finished second nationally in ERA (0.54). A 25-strikeout no-hitter against rival North Carolina Central became the highlight of his freshman season. He never posted a season ERA above 1.03, and he pitched a no-hitter in each of his four seasons with the Aggies.

A&T moved from the NAIA to the NCAA in 1974, where Holland continued his dominant performances. He finished with a 0.95 ERA and 105 strikeouts as a junior and a 0.26 ERA and 118 strikeouts as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as a two-time NAIA All-American.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Holland, a true Aggie legend,” A&T baseball coach Ben Hall said. “I was so fortunate to become close with him and his wife, Mary, and their whole family when we went through the process of retiring his No. 17 jersey.

“His no-hitters were legendary, and his fastball was all the pitches he needed. I will miss his periodic visits with our team. The Aggie baseball program sends our thoughts and prayers to his whole family during this tough time.”

Holland was first drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round of the 1974 summer Major League Baseball draft before the San Diego Padres drafted him in the fourth round of the January 1975 draft. He chose not to leave school both times.

After graduation, Holland went undrafted in the summer of 1975. However, Branch Rickey III, a descendant of baseball legend Branch Rickey, signed him to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 1975.

Holland, who went on to play 10 MLB seasons, made his MLB debut Sept. 5, 1977, in a Pirates uniform. He finished seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1980 with the San Francisco Giants.

Holland made his biggest mark in MLB in 1983 as a member of the Phillies, where he saved 25 games for the National League champion. The Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games in the NL Championship Series, with Holland saving Games 1 and 4. They lost the World Series to the Baltimore Orioles in five games although Holland earned the save in Game 1. 

Holland’s breakout season earned him the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. He also finished in the top 10 of the Cy Young and NL MVP voting. The following season, he earned his first and only MLB All-Star Game appearance.

A&T officially retired Holland’s No. 17 in 2020.

Comments