Ernie Holbrook
| Date and Place of Birth: | 1912 Los Angeles, CA |
| Date and Place of Death: | December 16, 1944 Luxembourg |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | First Base |
| Rank: | Private |
| Military Unit: | 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Ernie Holbrook, former University of Southern California star
athlete ... has been missing in action in Belgium since December 16,
according to word received from the War Department, by his father in Los
Angeles.
The Sporting News February 1, 1945
Ernest J. Holbrook was a star athlete in basketball and baseball at
Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He enrolled at the University of
Southern California in 1932, and was a high-scoring forward on the first
undefeated USC freshman basketball team, before starring for the varsity
team for three years. In March 1935, Holbrook was the hero of the
Pacific Coast Conference play-off series against Oregon State, looping
his only field goal of the game in the last 30 seconds to give the
Trojans a 32–31 win. As a rangy first baseman with the Trojans, he
batted over .300 each season, and helped coach Sam Berry clinch the
championship in 1935.
On May 6, 1935, amid much publicity, Holbrook traveled to Cleveland for
a tryout with the visiting Boston Red Sox. He signed a professional
contract the following week and joined the Charlotte Hornets of the
Class B Piedmont League, where he batted .284 with 70 RBIs in 125 games.
In 1936, the Charlotte Hornets left the Piedmont League and joined the
independent Carolina League, so Boston began a working agreement with
the replacement team, Rocky Mount, and great things were expected of
Holbrook. However, his batting average nose-dived to .214 in 50 games,
and on June 17, he was assigned to the Canton Terriers of the Class C
Mid-Atlantic League, where he was used sparingly before the season was
over.
Holbrook retired from baseball after the 1936 season and returned to
California, where he coached basketball at George Washington High
School. He took over coaching duties of the court team at USC in
1943–1944, and led the team to a 31–17 record to clinch the Pacific
Coast Conference’s Southern Division title.
On January 17, 1944, and after being rejected on three previous
occasions, Holbrook relinquished his coaching position to enter military
service with the Army. As a replacement infantryman, he left his wife
Melva, and young son Ronnie, at home in Hermosa Beach, California, and
served with the 109th Infantry Regiment of the 28th “Keystone” Infantry
Division in Europe. On December 16, 1944, snow, ground fog and freezing
weather engulfed the Ardennes in Luxembourg, where Private Holbrook was
stationed.
An early morning enemy artillery and mortar barrage ripped into the
division’s line as the Fifth Panzer Army launched an attack in what
later became known as the Battle of the Bulge. Holbrook was reported
missing in action that first day. It was later confirmed he had died
during the opening salvos of the Ardennes offensive. He is buried at the
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
“Ernie was a fighter, but at all times a sportsman,” reported the Los
Angeles Times, after his death was announced. “He played to win—he hated
to lose, no matter how small the stake—yet he never belittled the
opposition. His spirit was contagious.”
The University of Southern California annually presents the Ernie
Holbrook Memorial Award to the school’s most inspirational basketball
player.
Ernie Holbrook at USC in 1934
|
Team |
League |
Class |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
AVG |
|
|
1935 |
Charlotte | Piedmont | B | 125 | 472 | 52 | 134 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 70 | .284 |
| 1936 | Rocky Mount | Piedmont | B | 50 | 201 | 16 | 43 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 19 | .214 |
| 1936 | Canton | Mid-Atlantic | C | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Thanks to Astrid van Erp for help with photos for this biography
Date Added January 31, 2012 Updated July 29, 2017
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