Brooks Holder

Brooks Holder
Second baseman, outfielder
Born: (1914-11-02)November 2, 1914
Rising Star, Texas
Died: June 7, 1986(1986-06-07) (aged 71)
Pinole, California
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
WL: 1935, for the Des Moines Demons
PCL: 1935, for the San Francisco Seals
Last appearance
WL: 1935, for the Des Moines Demons
PCL: 1951, for the Portland Beavers
Minor League Baseball statistics
Batting average.295
Hits2,540
Home runs98
Teams
Member of the Pacific Coast League
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction2004

Richard Brooks Holder (November 2, 1914 – June 7, 1986) was an American professional baseball player whose career spanned 17 seasons, all of which were spent in the minor leagues. Holder joined the Pacific Coast League (PCL) 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 (1935–1942, 1949–1950), the Hollywood Stars (1943–45), the Oakland Oaks (1946–48), and the Portland Beavers (1951). 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 appeared exclusively as an outfielder. During his playing career, Holder stood at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) and weighed 180 lb (82 kg).

Sports journalist David Halberstam noted that Holder was a "great hitter with good speed", but had difficulty on 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.