Ace Holohan

Cornelius J. Holohan
(Ace, Red, Hooly)

• Born September 27, 1871 in Kansas City, MO USA
• Died July 7, 1900 in Kansas City, MO USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

"Manager Ted Sullivan of the Atlanta team has signed for third base Con J. Holohan. Ace, as he is better known, has few equals as a guardian of that bag, and if he keeps up his good work he will be in the National League next year. He has brains as well as brawn, and plays the game in a fashion that would delight the soul of the most sour-hearted crank. He is a .300 batter at all times and few sprinters can give him pointers in getting around the bases.... Personally, he is a well-bred, quiet young fellow, with no small vices, and Atlanta is to be congratulated on securing such a jewel." - The Sporting News, January 27, 1894

Cornelius Holohan was best known as Ace Holohan and was one of the top minor league third baseman in the west before his body broke down. As he came up as a teenager in Kansas City, MO, he played with numerous local amateur teams, often being identified as Houlehan or with any of numerous variations of his last name. By the start of 1890 he was recognized as one of the top local players, playing with and against the Kansas City Blues that spring. He spent most of 1891 playing in Kansas for independent teams in Atchison and Pittsburg.

In 1892 Holohan played in the Nebraska State League, with Beatrice, for manager Harry Gatewood. He hit well over .300 and was in the top 10 in the league in most offensive categories, also leading the league in fielding percentage among third baseman. Among his teammates was future 10-year major leaguer Ducky Holmes, who Holohan also out-hit, John Slagle, who had pitched in the American Association in 1891, and George Taylor, one of the premier negro players of the time. Beatrice was comfortably leading the league when the team disbanded on July 4, with the league falling apart the following week. It would be the last integrated professional league in the US for over 50 years.

Pearce Chiles had left the Nebraska league for an independent team in St. Joseph, MO and Holohan followed in his footsteps, featuring for the club for the remainder of 1892. After a successful year for the club, Holohan returned to Kansas City for the offseason, then returned to St. Joe for 1893, when they competed in the Western Association. He hit .360 and led the league in runs and stolen bases, playing alongside Fred Clarke and several other future major leaguers. However, that league also went bust by July, with Holohan then moving to the Savannah Electrics of the Southern Association, managed by previous Kansas City manager Jim Manning. Though he hit just .204 in 17 games with Savannah before that league also folded, he became a favorite of the fans. That year the St. Louis-based Sporting News had a contest for readers to vote for their favorite player, and Holohan finished fifth, behind four St. Louis players.

For 1894, Holohan returned to the Southern Association with Atlanta. He opened the season as the team's shortstop and hit .295 in 37 games, but began to struggle due to a malarial infection and leg problems, getting released in June. He signed again with St. Joseph, but continually refused to report due to his leg problems. By August he was ready to play again and signed with Bill Watkins, another manager with Kansas City connections, and the Sioux City Cornhuskers in the Western League. He stayed at shortstop for his new club and hit .331 in 39 games, displaying ginger and doing "splendid work" for the league champions.

Despite Sioux City's successful season, the team was replaced for the 1895 Western League season by the St. Paul Apostles and Holohan was one of the team's players that manager Charlie Comiskey wanted to bring to Minnesota. However, Holohan decided to sit out the season with the hopes of regaining his leg strength. Comiskey still hoped to bring him back for the 1896 season, though it is unclear if he ever played again.

Holohan had worked as a clerk in his father's grocery store during his off-seasons, then became a bartender after his playing days. He became involved with Democratic politics in Kansas City and got married in 1897, fathering a daughter that year. Holohan died at age 28 in July 1900, drawing little notice.

Related Sites

• Find-A-Grave Memorial Site for Cornelius J. Holohan