Al Holland Sr. threw four no-hitters in college. That alone would make him a legend at an HBCU program like North Carolina A&T. But he didn’t stop there. Holland went on to become an MLB All-Star closer, win a National League pennant with the Philadelphia Phillies, and pick up the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award along the way. He died at age 73, and the Aggies community is mourning one of its all-time greats.
Holland’s collegiate career was ridiculous by any standard. As a freshman in 1972, he led the nation with 143 strikeouts and posted a 0.54 ERA, which was second-best in the country. He struck out 25 batters in a single game that year — a no-hitter against North Carolina Central. And then he did it again. And again. He threw a no-hitter every season he played for the Aggies, which is the kind of stat that sounds made up but is absolutely real.
The Roanoke, Virginia native played for legendary coach Mel “Big 10” Groomes from 1972 to 1975. His No. 17 jersey is retired and hangs on the left-field wall at World War Memorial Stadium, an honor shared by only two other North Carolina A&T athletes: Naismith Hall of Famer Al Attles and Pro Football Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea.
The Man Who Said ‘Give Me the Ball’
Chancellor James R. Martin II put it best in a statement: Holland’s trademark phrase was “Give me the ball,” and that attitude defined everything about him. “He personified the Aggie spirit of toughness, competitiveness, and excellence,” Martin said. Holland could have gone pro earlier — the Texas Rangers drafted him in 1974, and the San Diego Padres took a shot in 1975. But he finished his degree in recreation first, signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after graduating.
He debuted with the Pirates in September 1977, then moved to the San Francisco Giants, where he finished seventh in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 1980. But his best years came in Philadelphia. In 1983, Holland saved 25 games and was the closer on a Phillies team that won the National League pennant. He saved Games 1 and 4 of the NLCS against the Dodgers, helping send Philadelphia to the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. The Phillies lost in five games, but Holland got the save in their only win.
That season earned him the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, top-10 finishes in Cy Young and MVP voting, and an All-Star nod in 1984. He pitched 10 big-league seasons total, retiring with a 3.36 ERA and 68 saves.
A Legacy That Runs Through Multiple Halls
Holland’s impact on the sport didn’t end when he hung up his cleats. He was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame in 1993, the North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, and the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. The HBCU baseball pipeline has produced plenty of talent over the decades, but Holland stands out as one of its all-time success stories — a kid who threw four no-hitters in college, became an MLB All-Star, and never forgot where he came from.
He’s gone now, but the No. 17 on that outfield wall isn’t coming down anytime soon.
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