Crush Holloway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crush Holloway |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 16, 1896 Hillsboro, Texas, United States |
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| Died: June 1972 (aged 75) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| 1921, for the Indianapolis ABCs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1939, for the Baltimore Elite Giants | |||
| Teams | |||
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Crush Christopher Columbus Holloway (born September 16, 1896 – died June 1972) was an amazing American outfielder. He played professional baseball in the Negro leagues from 1921 to 1939. Crush was known as one of the most daring base runners in the league. He even sharpened his spikes to scare players trying to stop him! He played for many teams, including the Indianapolis ABCs and the Baltimore Black Sox.
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Who Was Crush Holloway?
Crush Holloway was born in Hillsboro, Texas. He grew up in Waco. His unique first name, "Crush," wasn't about his baseball skills. His father gave him the name after seeing two trains crash at a fair!
Crush was the only son in a family with six children. He had to help on the family cotton farm. But he always found time to play baseball with his friends. He loved watching and copying his hero, Ty Cobb, especially how Cobb ran the bases.
Starting His Baseball Journey
In 1919, Crush Holloway signed his first professional baseball contract. He joined the Waco Black Navigators, a team in the Texas Colored League. He mostly played as a second baseman at first.
After just three months, the team faced money problems. They moved to San Antonio and became the Black Aces. Crush played for them for two seasons.
Joining the Indianapolis ABCs
In 1921, Crush was part of a big trade. He moved to the Indianapolis ABCs. The team already had a great second baseman, Connie Day. So, Crush's manager, C. I. Taylor, changed his position. Crush became an outfielder. Taylor also taught him a lot about stealing bases.
How Crush Became a Baserunning Star
Thanks to his manager, C. I. Taylor, and his idol, Ty Cobb, Crush became a scary player on the bases. He was known for his aggressive style.
A baseball expert named Jake Stephens once said, "You'd be crazy to get in the way of Crush Holloway." He meant that Crush and other players would sharpen their spikes. This was to make sure no one tried to block them on the bases.
Mastering the Drag Bunt
Crush was a switch-hitting player, meaning he could bat from both sides. He used his amazing speed to his advantage. He perfected the drag bunt. This is when a batter lightly taps the ball and runs fast. It helped him get on base quickly. This set up scoring chances for the players batting after him.
While playing for the ABCs from 1921 to 1923, Crush was a consistent hitter. His batting average (BA) was usually around .300. This means he got a hit about 3 out of every 10 times he batted.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1924, Crush Holloway joined the Baltimore Black Sox. He signed a very good contract with them. He continued to hit well, with batting averages of .331, .289, and .284 in three seasons.
In 1929, the Hilldale Daisies acquired Crush. That same year, he led the league in stolen bases! Towards the end of his career, he played for several different teams. These included the Detroit Stars, the Black Sox again, and the New York Black Yankees. He also played for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants and the Brooklyn Eagles.
His final team was the Baltimore Elite Giants. He retired from baseball in 1939.
Life After Baseball
In 1969, a baseball historian named John B. Holway found Crush Holloway. He was living in Baltimore, Maryland. Crush owned a small tailor shop there.
Crush Holloway passed away in June 1972. He was 75 years old and died from cancer.
