Tommy Holmes

Position: Outfielder
Bats: Left  •  Throws: Left
5-10, 180lb (178cm, 81kg)
Born: March 29, 1917 in Brooklyn, NY us
Died: April 14, 2008  in Boca Raton, FL
Buried: Forest Lawn North Cemetery, Pompano Beach, FL
High School: Brooklyn Technical HS (Brooklyn, NY)
Debut: April 14, 1942 (9,202nd in major league history)
vs. PHI 5 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: September 28, 1952
vs. BSN 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Thomas Francis Holmes
Nicknames: Kelly
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

Nine Players Who Debuted in 1942

Warren Spahn
Larry Doby
Tommy Holmes
Johnny Pesky
Johnny Sain
Ewell Blackwell
Allie Reynolds
Willard Marshall
Jim Russell
Connie Ryan

All-Time Teammate Team

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Notable Events and Chronology for Tommy Holmes Career

SearchSearch Events, Dates and More Date (Newest)Title (A - Z)

December 9, 1941

The Yankees trade prospect Tommy Holmes to the Braves for two players to be named later

February 5, 1942

The Boston Braves’ Strategic Move for Tommy Holmes in 1942

June 22, 1944

Boston right-hander Jim Tobin holds the Phillies hitless in the shortened five-inning nightcap, blanking Philadelphia at Braves Field, 7-0. In April, ‘Abba Dabba’ threw a full-game no-hitter against Brooklyn.

July 6, 1945

Tommy Holmes hits in his 34th consecutive game to pass Rogers Hornsby’s modern National League record of 33 in 1922

July 12, 1945

Tommy Holmes National League record hitting streak halted at 37 games

October 6, 1948

Boston Braves beat Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians, 1 – 0

October 11, 1948

Cleveland Indians defeat the Boston Braves to win the 1948 World Series

July 25, 1978

Pete Rose’s third inning Shea Stadium single to left off Mets righty Craig Swan establishes a National League record for hits in consecutive games. The Reds infielder has hit safely in 38 games, breaking Tommy Holmes’ mark set as a member of the Boston Braves in 1945.

Biography

Braves right fielder Tommy Holmes hit safely in a 20th-century NL record 37 straight games, from June 6 through July 8 of his 1945 TSN MVP season. That year, he hit .352 with 117 RBI, 125 runs, and 15 stolen bases, and had league highs of 47 doubles, 224 hits, a .577 slugging average, and 28 HR; he is the only player ever to lead a league in home runs and fewest strikeouts (9) in the same season. But these totals were all career highs, and though he batted over .300 in his next three seasons, he never again managed more than nine homers or 79 RBI. Appointed the Braves’ manager in mid-1951, Holmes was fired early in 1952, finishing up as a Dodger pinch hitter. When Pete Rose broke his hitting-streak record in 1978, a tearful Holmes thanked him “for making people remember me.”

Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts

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