Billy Holland
Pitcher / Infielder
Born: February 1874
Alabama
Batted: Unknown
Threw: Left
debut
1894, for the Chicago Unions
Last appearance
1908, for the Philadelphia Giants
Teams

William Holland (born February 1874) was a Negro leagues pitcher and infielder for several years before the founding of the first Negro National League.

Career

Holland debuted at the age of 20 with the Chicago Unions in 1894, and moved to the Page Fence Giants in 1895.[2] He went back to the Unions in 1897, and by 1899 most of the former Page Fence Giants had moved to Chicago, Illinois to form the Columbia Giants. Holland joined the Columbia Giants in their second season.

Holland signed with the Renville, Minnesota team in April 1904.[4] He then traveled back to Chicago and played the 1905 season with the Leland Giants.[1] By 1906, Holland moved to the east and played a couple seasons for the Brooklyn Royal Giants, and played winter ball with the Philadelphia Giants in the 1907–1908 season.

Pitching accident

Holland pitched for the Algona Brownies, and in September 1903 was involved in an incident in St. Paul, Minnesota where one of his pitches went wild and hit Winnipeg player William W. Kelley on the head, fracturing his skull. Holland was arrested by local police, after leaving the game and traveling to the city on a street car. An hour later, police decided it was an accident and let him go without charging him. The two teams were set to tour together throughout Minnesota, playing each other at county fairs.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Frank Lelands' Chicago Giants Base Ball Club" Fraternal Printing Company, 1910
  2. 1 2 "Pounded at 'Haha" Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis, MN, April 22, 1895, Page 6, Column 3
  3. ↑ "The Algona Brownies, Most Famous Afro American Team" St. Paul Appeal, St. Paul, Minnesota, September 19, 1903, Page 3, Columns 2 and 3
  4. 1 2 "The Renville Athletic Association has signed ten fast ball players" The Minneapolis Journal, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Monday Evening, April 4, 1904, Page 8, Column 4
  5. ↑ "Would Meet All Comers." Indianapolis Freeman, Indianapolis, IN, Saturday, June 5, 1909, Page 7, Column 3
  6. ↑ "Skull Fractured by Pitched Ball" St. Paul Globe, St. Paul, Minnesota, September 21, 1903, Page 1, Column 5 and Page 2, Column 3
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