The baseball community is in mourning after the death of Al Holland Sr., a celebrated pitcher who died at 73. Holland, a North Carolina A&T alumnus, left an indelible mark on the sport through a career that blended collegiate brilliance with a decade of service in the majors.
From Aggies Star to MLB Reliever
At North Carolina A&T, Holland dominated as a starter, tossing no-hitters in each of his four seasons and posting a 0.54 ERA as a freshman. He struck out 143 batters in his breakout year and earned a place in both the College Baseball Hall of Fame and the Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. The university later retired his No. 17 jersey, a testament to his impact on the program.
The San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers drafted Holland, but he chose to remain at A&T before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1977. Over ten MLB seasons he became a reliable late‑inning presence, saving 25 games for the 1983 Philadelphia Phillies en route to a National League pennant. That season he also captured the NL Rolaids Relief Man Award and earned his sole All‑Star selection.
Holland’s personal life was anchored by his marriage to Mary Reid in 1975, with whom he raised two daughters and a son. Friends and family remember him as a devoted husband and father who carried the same integrity he showed on the mound into his everyday life.
Tributes have poured in from across the sport. Former teammates, coaches, and fans alike cite Holland’s competitive fire and community involvement as inspirations. The outpouring underscores how his legacy transcends statistics, living on in the next generation of pitchers who study his approach and share his love for the game.