Dennis Holmberg
Encyclopedia
Dennis Neals Holmberg is a former minor league baseball
player and major league coach. He is currently a minor league manager
for the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League
.
Holmberg attended Brewton-Parker College
and was chosen by the Montreal Expos
in the 58th round of the 1969 amateur draft, but he declined to sign with them. The next year he was drafted in the 5th round by the Milwaukee Brewers
, and he played eight seasons in their farm system. He began his professional career with the 1970 Newark Co-Pilots
, splitting his time between third base
and the outfield
. In 1971, he was a part-time third baseman with the Danville Warriors
. Holmberg spent the 1972 campaign with the San Antonio Brewers. In 1973, Dennis split his time between Danville and Shreveport.
1974 saw Holmberg back in Danville. Playing for Burlington
in 1975, Holmberg did well at the plate but poorly in the field having thirty-eight errors at third base. In 1976, Holmberg played for Burlington again, and he rounded out his playing career with sixteen games in Holyoke
in 1977.
After his playing career ended, he became a longtime member of the Toronto Blue Jays
organization. Holmberg began his managerial career in the Brewers chain with the Newark Co-Pilots
in 1977. He moved to the Blue Jays chain with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays
in 1979. He jumped to the Kinston Eagles in 1980, then managed the Florence Blue Jays
from 1981 to 1984. In 1986 he returned to Medicine Hat for one year. Holmberg managed the Dunedin Blue Jays
from 1990 to 1993. In 1994 and 1995, Holmberg was the bullpen
coach for the Toronto Blue Jays
. He returned to Dunedin in 1996 and 1997.
From 2002 to 2010, he managed the Auburn Doubledays
of the New York-Penn League, leading the team to the best record in the league in 2003 and 2004. In 2011 he began managing the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League
. He was named Appalachian League Manager of the Year for 2011.
In 2005, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Kenny Holmberg, Dennis' son in the 22nd round.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
player and major league coach. He is currently a minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
.
Holmberg attended Brewton-Parker College
Brewton-Parker College
Brewton–Parker College is a private, Christian, coeducational college whose main campus is located in Mount Vernon, Georgia, USA. Brewton-Parker is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention and celebrated their centennial in 2004.-Organization:...
and was chosen 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 58th round of the 1969 amateur draft, but he declined to sign with them. The next year he was drafted in the 5th round by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and he played eight seasons in their farm system. He began his professional career with the 1970 Newark Co-Pilots
Newark Co-Pilots
The Newark Co-Pilots were a minor league baseball team based in Newark, New York that played in the New York-Penn League from 1968 to 1979. They were affiliated with the Seattle Pilots from 1968 to 1969 and with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1970 to 1978. They were independent in 1979. Their home...
, splitting his time between third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and the outfield
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. In 1971, he was a part-time third baseman with the Danville Warriors
Danville Warriors
The Danville Warriors were a minor league baseball team located in Danville, Illinois. The team played in the Midwest League. Their home stadium was Danville Stadium....
. Holmberg spent the 1972 campaign with the San Antonio Brewers. In 1973, Dennis split his time between Danville and Shreveport.
1974 saw Holmberg back in Danville. Playing for Burlington
Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.-History:...
in 1975, Holmberg did well at the plate but poorly in the field having thirty-eight errors at third base. In 1976, Holmberg played for Burlington again, and he rounded out his playing career with sixteen games in Holyoke
Holyoke Millers
The Holyoke Millers were a minor league baseball team located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The team played in the Eastern League. Their home stadium was Mackenzie Stadium. The Millers played from 1977 to 1982 and was a farm team of the Milwaukee Brewers the first four years and the California...
in 1977.
After his playing career ended, he became a longtime member of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
organization. Holmberg began his managerial career in the Brewers chain with the Newark Co-Pilots
Newark Co-Pilots
The Newark Co-Pilots were a minor league baseball team based in Newark, New York that played in the New York-Penn League from 1968 to 1979. They were affiliated with the Seattle Pilots from 1968 to 1969 and with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1970 to 1978. They were independent in 1979. Their home...
in 1977. He moved to the Blue Jays chain with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays
Medicine Hat Blue Jays
The Medicine Hat Blue Jays were the Toronto Blue Jays rookie-level affiliate in the Pioneer League beginning in 1978 and remained with their parent club for 25 seasons. They played their home games at Athletic Park. Over the years, the club generally struggled on the field and with attendance, but...
in 1979. He jumped to the Kinston Eagles in 1980, then managed the Florence Blue Jays
Florence Blue Jays
The Florence Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team based in Florence, South Carolina. They began play in the South Atlantic League in 1981 where they captured the league title in 1985. After the 1986 season the team relocated and became the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays...
from 1981 to 1984. In 1986 he returned to Medicine Hat for one year. Holmberg managed the Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
from 1990 to 1993. In 1994 and 1995, Holmberg was the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
coach for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. He returned to Dunedin in 1996 and 1997.
From 2002 to 2010, he managed the Auburn Doubledays
Auburn Doubledays
The Auburn Doubledays are a minor league baseball team in Auburn, New York, USA, that is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball. They are a member of the Short-Season Class A New York-Penn League and have been a farm team of the Houston Astros , the Toronto Blue Jays , and Washington...
of the New York-Penn League, leading the team to the best record in the league in 2003 and 2004. In 2011 he began managing the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
. He was named Appalachian League Manager of the Year for 2011.
In 2005, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Kenny Holmberg, Dennis' son in the 22nd round.