Baseball | 7/6/2026 12:31:00 PM

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 6, 2026) – The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Intercollegiate Department of Athletics and entire North Carolina A&T family are mourning one of its most famous student-athletes, College Baseball Hall of Famer Al Holland Sr. '75.

Al Holland Jr. confirmed his father passed away Saturday, July 4, in Fort Mill, South Carolina, surrounded by loved ones. He was 73.

In addition to his induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, Holland is a member of the North Carolina A&T Sports ('94) and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Halls of Fame ('93).

"Al Holland was a big-league star, both on and off the field," said Chancellor James R. Martin II. "He and his trademark phrase, 'Give me the ball,' personified the Aggie spirit of toughness, competitiveness and excellence that defines our university. He was one of a kind, and we will sorely miss him at North Carolina A&T."

Born Alfred Willis Holland on Aug. 16, 1952, in Roanoke, Virginia, Holland played for the Aggies baseball team from 1972-75 under head coach Mel "Big 10" Groomes. He is one of only three A&T student-athletes to have his jersey number retired on merit, along with men's basketball player and Naismith Hall of Famer Al Attles ('60) and football player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea ('68).

Holland's No. 17 jersey is inscribed on the left-field wall at World War Memorial Stadium, the home ballpark of the A&T baseball program. Before arriving in Aggieland, Holland attended and graduated from Lucy Addison High School, a segregated school for African Americans in the Roanoke area.

Holland starred in football, basketball and baseball at Addison. Holland took his tremendous athletic skills to Greensboro, enrolling at A&T in 1971. His three younger brothers eventually followed his lead and played football at A&T. Holland made an immediate impact on the football field, leading the Aggies in rushing as a freshman in 1971.

But baseball is where Holland became an Aggie, collegiate baseball and Philadelphia Phillies legend.

During his freshman season at A&T, he led the nation in strikeouts with 143 and finished second nationally in ERA (0.54). A 25-strikeout performance against North Carolina Central University (NCCU), which resulted in a no-hitter, became the highlight of his freshman season. He never posted a season ERA above 1.03, and he pitched a no-hitter in each of his four seasons at A&T.

The Aggies moved from the NAIA to the NCAA in 1974, where Holland continued his dominant performances. He finished with a 0.95 ERA and 105 strikeouts as a junior and a 0.26 ERA and 118 strikeouts as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as a two-time NAIA All-American.

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Holland, a true Aggie legend," said A&T head baseball coach Ben Hall. "I was so fortunate to become close with him and his wife, Mary, and their whole family when we went through the process of retiring his No. 17 jersey. "His no-hitters were legendary, and his fastball was all the pitches he needed. I will miss his periodic visits with our team. The Aggie baseball program sends our thoughts and prayers to his whole family during this tough time."

Holland was first drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 30^th round of the 1974 summer Major League Baseball draft before the San Diego Padres drafted him in the fourth round of the January phase of the 1975 draft. He chose not to leave A&T for the professional ranks both times.

After graduation, Holland went undrafted in the summer of 1975. However, Branch Rickey III, a descendant of baseball legend Branch Rickey, signed him to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 1975.

Holland went on to play 10 MLB seasons. He made his MLB debut Sept. 5, 1977, in a Pirates uniform. He finished seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1980 as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Holland made his biggest mark in MLB in 1983 as a member of the Phillies. He saved 25 games, becoming a vital part of the Phillies' winning the 1983 National League pennant. The Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games in the NL Championship Series, with Holland saving Games 1 and 4. They reached the World Series, where they lost to the Baltimore Orioles in five games although Holland earned the save in Game 1.
 
Holland's breakout season earned him the NL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. He also finished in the top 10 of the Cy Young and NL MVP voting. The following season, he earned his first and only MLB All-Star Game appearance.

A&T officially retired Holland's No. 17 on Feb. 8, 2020, at A&T baseball's annual 1st Pitch Banquet in the Student Center's Deese Ballroom.

Holland earned his Bachelor of Science degree from A&T in recreation. Holland married the former Mary Reid in 1975, and the couple had two daughters and a son together. He is survived by all four.