Walter Holke
From BR Bullpen
Walter Henry Holke (Union Man)
- Bats Both, Throws Left
- Height 6' 1½", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut October 6, 1914
- Final Game September 23, 1925
- Born December 25, 1892 in St. Louis, MO USA
- Died October 12, 1954 in St. Louis, MO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Walter Holke played eleven seasons in the majors, almost exclusively at first base. While not a great hitter, his defense was good.
Holke started in the minors in 1912 at Peoria, and got his shot at the big leagues in October 1914 after having hit .315 at Spokane. He went back to the minors in 1915-16 with Rochester, but hit .344 in 1916 at Rochester and when he hit .351 in the majors in 34 games that year, he was up to stay for a decade.
He was traded for another good-fielding first baseman, Hal Chase, in early 1919.
After his major league career, he went back to the minors, playing from 1926-32. In 77 games with Hazelton in 1930, he hit .400 and slugged .752 (20 home runs). He also managed the team, in one of ten seasons that he managed in the minors.
He was a St. Louis Browns coach in 1940.
Hit into an unassisted triple play on October 6, 1923 while playing for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Boston Braves. Ernie Padgett was the fielder. This was the first recorded unassisted triple play in National League history.
Holke purchased a 35 acre farm in DeSoto, MO and quit in 1933 to work his farm.
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Quincy Indians | Three-I League | 82-56 | 1st | none League Champs | ||
| 1930 | Hazleton Mountaineers | New York-Penn League | 63-76 | 7th | New York Yankees | none | |
| 1931 | Quincy Indians | Three-I League | 67-49 | 2nd | League Champs | ||
| 1932 | Terre Haute Tots | Three-I League | 42-27 | 1st | none | League disbanded July 15 | |
| 1933 | Fort Worth Cats | Texas League | 14-22 | -- | Indianapolis Indians | -- | replaced by Jake Atz on May 18 |
| 1937 | Terre Haute Tots | Three-I League | 15-38 | -- | St. Louis Browns | Team disbanded on July 3 | |
| Mayfield Clothiers | KITTY League | 4th | St. Louis Browns | League Champs | replaced Clarence Mitchell | ||
| 1938 | Springfield Browns | Three-I League | 63-60 | 4th | St. Louis Browns | Lost in 1st round | |
| 1939 | Springfield Browns | Three-I League | 65-55 | 4th | St. Louis Browns | League Champs | |
| 1941 | St. Joseph Ponies | Western Association | 10-22 | -- | St. Louis Browns | -- | replaced by Gus Albright on June 3 when team moved to Carthage |
| 1942 | Hutchinson Pirates | Western Association | 50-76 | 6th | Pittsburgh Pirates |
