Brian Holman
Encyclopedia
Brian Scott Holman is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher. He is now the Managing Director and Principal for Ronald Blue & Co.'s branch office in Kansas City, Kansas.
Holman's brother Brad Holman and stepfather Dick LeMay
also were Major League pitchers.
. While at Aurora Hinkley, Brian earned “ALL CENTENNIAL LEAGUE” First Team Pitcher honors and was selected to the Colorado Division AAA “ALL STATE” High School Baseball Team.
In 1982, Brian moved to Wichita, KS, and began attending Wichita North High School, where, as a senior, he made the All-State team. After graduating from North High where he earned “ALL CITY”, “ALL DISTRICT-5” and First Team High School “ALL AMERICA” honors, Brian was selected by the Montreal Expos
in the first round of the June 1983 amateur draft
/free agent draft. He was the sixteenth player selected overall. Brian decided to forgo a college baseball scholarship to the University of Nebraska to pursue a professional baseball career and signed with the Expos organization.
along with Randy Johnson
and Gene Harris
for Mark Langston
and player to be named later (Mike Campbell).
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He recorded his first Major League win on June 30, 1988, when he threw a five-hit complete game shutout vs. Tom Glavine
and the Atlanta Braves
.
On April 9, 1990, Brian was the Mariners “Opening Night” starting pitcher vs. the California Angels and recorded the victory with a 7-1 win.
Brian is perhaps most well known for his pitching performance on April 20, 1990, against the Oakland Athletics
, Holman retired the first 26 batters he faced before Ken Phelps
hit a home run over the head of Henry Cotto
in right field and turned his perfect game into the ninth one-hitter in Mariners history. At the time, no Mariner had pitched a no-hitter. Phelps had been traded by the Mariners to the Yankees in 1988 for Jay Buhner
. It was the last home run of Phelps' career.
Known as a fierce competitor, Brian was a workhorse for the Mariners during the late 1980s and early 1990s logging 32 wins and fourteen complete games, five of those shutouts in just two and a half seasons of work. He was on his way to a very bright future when his playing career was cut short by an arm injury.
Active in his community, Brian is involved with many non-profit and philanthropic organizations. Brian currently serves on the Board of Directors of Esperanza International, an organization founded in 1994 by former teammate Dave Valle
to address the needs of impoverished women in the Dominican Republic
. He is also actively involved in Young Life
, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
, Pro Athletes Outreach, Children’s Hospital and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Brian is a highly respected and sought after motivational speaker. He and his family know the pain of personal loss and have overcome great adversity. Brian uses his life experiences to encourage and inspire a host of audiences. His inspirational messages have had a tremendous impact when shared at churches, youth-family and men’s outreach conferences, sports awards banquets and corporate events across the United States and Canada.
Brian enjoys public speaking, coaching baseball, upland bird hunting, fishing, weight lifting and collecting vintage baseball memorabilia. Brian is now heavily involved in youth baseball where he conducts private and group pitching lessons and clinics for teams and individuals throughout the Kansas City area. Brian coaches select “Show Case” teams during the summer months. He is a member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
and works as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Wichita Wingnuts Professional Baseball Club. In 2007, Brian was inducted into the "Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame" along with Joe Carter, Bill James and Phil Stephenson.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher. He is now the Managing Director and Principal for Ronald Blue & Co.'s branch office in Kansas City, Kansas.
Holman's brother Brad Holman and stepfather Dick LeMay
Dick LeMay
Richard Paul LeMay is a retired American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, LeMay appeared in parts of three Major League Baseball seasons , but had a long career in minor league baseball....
also were Major League pitchers.
Amateur career
Brian started his high school baseball career at Aurora Hinkley High School in Aurora, ColoradoAurora, Colorado
City of Aurora is a Home Rule Municipality spanning Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties in Colorado. Aurora is an eastern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area . The city is the third most populous city in the Colorado and the 56th most populous city in the...
. While at Aurora Hinkley, Brian earned “ALL CENTENNIAL LEAGUE” First Team Pitcher honors and was selected to the Colorado Division AAA “ALL STATE” High School Baseball Team.
In 1982, Brian moved to Wichita, KS, and began attending Wichita North High School, where, as a senior, he made the All-State team. After graduating from North High where he earned “ALL CITY”, “ALL DISTRICT-5” and First Team High School “ALL AMERICA” honors, Brian was selected by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the first round of the June 1983 amateur draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
/free agent draft. He was the sixteenth player selected overall. Brian decided to forgo a college baseball scholarship to the University of Nebraska to pursue a professional baseball career and signed with the Expos organization.
The Trade
In 1989, Brian was included in the trade to the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
along with Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
and Gene Harris
Gene Harris (baseball)
Tyrone Eugene "Gene" Harris is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from -....
for Mark Langston
Mark Langston
Mark Edward Langston is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the Seattle Mariners , Montreal Expos , California and Anaheim Angels , San Diego Padres , and Cleveland Indians...
and player to be named later (Mike Campbell).
Career highlights
While in the Expos Minor League system, Brian earned numerous honors including the Expos organizational “Player of the Month” three times. He was named to the Double-A and Triple-A “ALL STAR” teams, selected to the Topps Double-A “ALL STAR” Team for all of Double–A baseball and was named “THE SPORTING NEWS” Southern League Pitcher of the Year. Brian made his Major League debut on June 25, 1988, vs. Barry BondsBarry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He recorded his first Major League win on June 30, 1988, when he threw a five-hit complete game shutout vs. Tom Glavine
Tom Glavine
Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...
and the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
On April 9, 1990, Brian was the Mariners “Opening Night” starting pitcher vs. the California Angels and recorded the victory with a 7-1 win.
Brian is perhaps most well known for his pitching performance on April 20, 1990, against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Holman retired the first 26 batters he faced before Ken Phelps
Ken Phelps
Kenneth Allan Phelps, nicknamed "Digger", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. During an 11-year baseball career, he played from 1980-1990 for six different teams, but he played primarily with the Seattle Mariners...
hit a home run over the head of Henry Cotto
Henry Cotto
Henry Cotto is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball, from until . He also played one season in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants in , winning a world championship...
in right field and turned his perfect game into the ninth one-hitter in Mariners history. At the time, no Mariner had pitched a no-hitter. Phelps had been traded by the Mariners to the Yankees in 1988 for Jay Buhner
Jay Buhner
Jay Campbell Buhner , nicknamed "Bone", is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He was among the most recognizable players of his day, noted for his shaved head, thick goatee, and patch of pine tar on the right hip of his uniform...
. It was the last home run of Phelps' career.
Known as a fierce competitor, Brian was a workhorse for the Mariners during the late 1980s and early 1990s logging 32 wins and fourteen complete games, five of those shutouts in just two and a half seasons of work. He was on his way to a very bright future when his playing career was cut short by an arm injury.
Retirement
He is now the Managing Director and Principal for Ronald Blue & Co.’s branch office in Kansas City, Kansas. Brian joined Ronald Blue & Co., a national financial, estate, tax, and investment consulting firm serving clients through a network of 16 offices in the United States, in 2000.Active in his community, Brian is involved with many non-profit and philanthropic organizations. Brian currently serves on the Board of Directors of Esperanza International, an organization founded in 1994 by former teammate Dave Valle
Dave Valle
David Valle is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from to ....
to address the needs of impoverished women in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He is also actively involved in Young Life
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
, Pro Athletes Outreach, Children’s Hospital and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Brian is a highly respected and sought after motivational speaker. He and his family know the pain of personal loss and have overcome great adversity. Brian uses his life experiences to encourage and inspire a host of audiences. His inspirational messages have had a tremendous impact when shared at churches, youth-family and men’s outreach conferences, sports awards banquets and corporate events across the United States and Canada.
Brian enjoys public speaking, coaching baseball, upland bird hunting, fishing, weight lifting and collecting vintage baseball memorabilia. Brian is now heavily involved in youth baseball where he conducts private and group pitching lessons and clinics for teams and individuals throughout the Kansas City area. Brian coaches select “Show Case” teams during the summer months. He is a member of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association is a 5013 non-profit organization created in 1982 to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images, and protect the dignity of the game through former players.-Mission Statement:...
and works as a Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Wichita Wingnuts Professional Baseball Club. In 2007, Brian was inducted into the "Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame" along with Joe Carter, Bill James and Phil Stephenson.