Brooks Holder

Who was Brooks Holder?

Richard Brooks Holder was a Scotch-Irish American professional baseball player whose career spanned 17 seasons, all of which were spent in the minor leagues. Holder joined the Pacific Coast League in 1935 after a short stint that season in the Western League. Over his tenure in the PCL, he played for the San Francisco Seals, the Hollywood Stars, the Oakland Oaks and the Portland Beavers. His career minor league batting average stands at .295 with 2,540 hits, 417 doubles, 117 triples, and 98 home runs in 2,492 games played. Despite being left-handed, Holder was used as a second baseman early in his career, a position that is usually reserved for right-handed players. After the 1937 season, he would appear exclusively as an outfielder. During his playing career, Holder stood at 5 feet 10 inches and weighed in at 180 pounds.

It has been noted by sports journalist David Halberstam that Holder was a "great hitter with good speed". It was also noted by Halberstam that Holder had difficulty of defense, primarily with catching the ball. In 2004, the PCL enshrined Holder in the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame. He was one of 12 players that year to be inducted.