Ken Holloway
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Eugene Holloway was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 185 lb., Holloway batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Barwick, Georgia
. It has been erroneously reported that he was born "Halloway" or “Hollaway” and changed his name to Holloway. This is not true, he was born Kenneth Elijah Holloway and changed his middle name to Eugene, and family members have carried that name for four generations.
A curveball
specialist, Holloway entered the majors in 1922 with the Detroit Tigers
, playing for them seven years before joining the Cleveland Indians
(1929–30) and New York Yankees
(1930). His most productive seasons came for Detroit, when he went 14-6 in 1924 and 13-4 in 1925. His .700 and .765 W-L%
in that seasons were only surpassed by Walter Johnson
(.767) and Stan Coveleski
(.800), respectively, and his nine relief
victories led the American League
in 1924.
In a nine-season career, Holloway posted a 64-52 record with 293 strikeout
s and a 4.40 ERA
in 285 appearances, including 11 starts
, 43 complete games, four shutout
s, 18 saves
, and 1160.0 innings of work.
Holloway died in Thomasville, Georgia
at age 71.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
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...
who played for three different teams between and . Listed at 6' 0", 185 lb., Holloway batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Barwick, Georgia
Barwick, Georgia
Barwick is a town divided by the county line between Brooks County and Thomas County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.The population was 444 at the 2000 census – 328 of the town's 444 residents lived in Thomas County and 116 in...
. It has been erroneously reported that he was born "Halloway" or “Hollaway” and changed his name to Holloway. This is not true, he was born Kenneth Elijah Holloway and changed his middle name to Eugene, and family members have carried that name for four generations.
A curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
specialist, Holloway entered the majors in 1922 with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, playing for them seven years before joining the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1929–30) and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1930). His most productive seasons came for Detroit, when he went 14-6 in 1924 and 13-4 in 1925. His .700 and .765 W-L%
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
in that seasons were only surpassed by Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
(.767) and Stan Coveleski
Stan Coveleski
Stanley Anthony Coveleski was a Major League Baseball player during the 1910s and 1920s. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969....
(.800), respectively, and his nine relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
victories led the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in 1924.
In a nine-season career, Holloway posted a 64-52 record with 293 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 4.40 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 285 appearances, including 11 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, 43 complete games, four shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, 18 saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and 1160.0 innings of work.
Holloway died in Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
at age 71.
Quote
- As a handler of men, Ty CobbTy CobbTyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
is cruel, autocratic, and entirely without sympathy, said Holloway about Detroit's manager, adding that Cobb made his pitchers throw a beanballBeanball"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head...
. One day I ignored his order to throw at Joe JudgeJoe JudgeJoseph Ignatius Judge was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who played nearly his entire career for the Washington Senators...
. Even though I got Judge to pop up, it cost me a hundred dollar fine.