Danny Holden Comes Home to Vancouver

Dan Holden Purchased, Will Play For Capilanos
City Ball Player Comes Home After Several Years in U.S.
By CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Feb. 5, 1954]
The name “Holden,” long a byword in Vancouver baseball circles, will be back in local box scores this summer.
Bill Brenner, general manager of Vancouver’s pro Capilanos, arrived back from the WIL meeting in Lewiston Tuesday and announced he had bought Danny Holden from Lincoln of the Western League.
Danny, youngest of a large family of Holdens who starred on the diamond here—mostly in Bob Brown’s old senior amateur league—has been an outfield figure in the Class A League for several seasons. Since the Western is generally regarded as a better A league than the WIL Danny, should be a handy addition to the ’54 Caps.
Holden, now 28, also took a whirl in local basketball, rugby and football circles after graduating from Kitsilano high school. For the purists, he’s a left handed hitter.
Chances of another Vancouver youngster, bonus baby Arnie Hallgren, playing for the Caps now appear slim. Brenner talked to Bob Coleman of the Milwaukee Braveswhile down south, and Hallgren is ticketed to go to spring training with the Braves’ Sally League (Class A) affiliate, Jacksonville.
DIAMOND DUST – There are now two Capilanos signed: Rod MacKay, the Vancouver-based pitcher, and one Harold King, a young righthander out of Tucson, Ariz. … Lincoln was willing to obtain Holden for Bill Bonebrake, outfielder-pitcher obtained from Calgary, but Brenner changed his mind and the deal was a straight cash transaction … Brenner has a line on a lefthander, a 23-year-old named Bill Tompkins, currently of Anchorage, Alaska … He was recommended by Jimmy Robinson, one-time Cap, now teaching school in an obscure Washington town … Tompkins had a trial with a New York Giant farm club … The WIL will have at least one good umpire next summer … Veteran Amby Moran will be back … Dick Greco, the big outfielder the locals would love to have (he’s currently on the Tri-City roster) is now a Vancouver resident … His wife is a Canadian girl and her folks live in Haney … Brenner and Tommy English, Capilanos president, will be guests at a broadcasters and sportswriters’ gathering in Seattle Monday … It will proabably be televised, so watch for it … Frank Leahy and Gerry Priddy, the new Seattle manager, will be guest stars.

Arnie Hallgren, Danny Holden May Be Caps

SEEK PAIR
Caps Eye Local Product
BY CLANCY LORANGER
[Vancouver Province, Jan. 13, 1954]
Vancouver Capilanos could have a real “local” look this summer.
The Caps had two Vancouver men, Carl Gunnarson and Rod MacKay, on their roster last season, and there’s a ossibility of two others joining the 1954 club. The duo: Danny Holden and Arnie Hallgren.
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Holden, member of the well-known baseball family sired by Barney—remember Larry, Eddie and Roy?—at 28 is a veteran pro who’s spend his last seven seasons in the Class A Western League. He could be with the Caps if his current club, Lincoln, is willing—and reasonable.
Danny, an outfielder, plans to write to Lincoln, asking his bosses to deal him to Vancouver. Caps general manager Bill Brenner says he’s willing to have Holden if the price is right.
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Hallgren, the King Edward high school bonus baby who’s now spent two seasons in pro ball, may be difficult to pry loose. Milwaukee Braves put out a goodly sum—estimated variously from ten to $15,000—to get Hallgren’s signature on the dotted line, and they may want to keep him in their chain where they can keep a closer watch on the young outfielder.
However, Brenner feels he can’t lose anything by asking, and says he’s going to write the Braves’ organization and get his bid in anyway.