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Tommy Holmes was quite a player. The former All Star received votes in MVP balloting four straight seasons from 1943-1946, finishing as high as second in 1945. That year Holmes set the modern (post-1900) National League record by recording a hit in 37 consecutive contests. The mark stood for 33 years before Pete Rose eclipsed it on July 25, 1978. Holmes finished second in the batting race at .352 and led the league in WAR.

From 1942 through 1948, Holmes finished in the top three in the league in at bats per strikeout, standing as the toughest NL hitter to fan in 1942, ’44’, ’45, and ’46. In his career year of ’45 he led the league in hits, doubles, homers, slugging, OPS, WAR and total bases. That season Holmes hit 28 round trippers while striking out only 9 times.

A member of the Boston Braves for 10 of his 11 big league seasons, Holmes was inducted into their team Hall of Fame in 2004.

In the collection is this government postcard signed by Holmes and mailed on August 7, 1948, in the middle of his lone All Star season.

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By virtue of the US Postal Service date and location stamp, government postcards provide context and value to any autograph. In the collection is this card signed by Tommy Holmes with a date of August 7, 1948 to go along with the Boston postmark.

That day Holmes and the Braves squared off against the Chicago Cubs at Boston. Batting leadoff for the home team, Holmes started the attack with a double to left. Shortstop Al Dark followed with an RBI single to plate Holmes with the Braves’ first run. Holmes also led off the Boston 5th with a double – this one to right – but did not score. Holmes’ Braves beat the Cubs 6-3 behind a complete game by Johnny Sain.

 

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The first game in Major League Baseball history was played in 1871. Today more than 150 years later, Tommy Holmes’ 37-game hit streak of 1945 remains one of the game’s longest.

According to MLB.com, five Hall of Famers have surpassed it. They include Joe DiMaggio (56), Wee Willie Keeler (45), George Sisler (41), Ty Cobb (40), and Paul Molitor (39). Additionally, Pete Rose (44), Bill Dahlen (42), and Jimmy Rollins (38) have eclipsed Holmes’ mark. Dahlen and Keeler, had their runs in the 1800s.

Shown here is a handwritten letter from Holmes dated July 26, 1979. In it Holmes mentions Rose breaking his modern-day National League mark..

“When Pete Rose broke my consecutive hit record, many fond, wonderful memories were brought back.” Rose passed Holmes on July 25, 1978, one year and a day before writing the letter.

The letter is written to the organizers of the “Old Newark Bears Night”, that honored the team’s former minor league players. Holmes played on the 1939 Bears squad, hitting .339 with a .393 on-base percentage and a .482 clubbing mark.

Holmes also mentions Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey in the correspondence that’s penned on letterhead of the New York Mets for whom Holmes was a scout. Below the letter is the original mailing envelope complete with the postmark.

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Tommy Holmes enjoyed a productive 11-year Major League career that included an All Star appearance, two World Series appearances and a .302 lifetime average.

His greatest season came in 1945 when he hit set a post-1900 National League record by hitting in 37 straight games. That year Holmes hit a career-high .352, leading the league in hits, doubles, homers, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases.

In the collection is this autographed exhibit card that dates to 1950. In blue ballpoint pen Holmes has written, “Yours truly, Tommy Holmes” boldy across the bottom half of the card.