Saturday, July 11, 2009

RIP Jessie Hollins

Former Cubs reliever Jessie Hollins apparently drowned on Thursday while fishing in Texas. His body was recovered yesterday. Details here.

Hollins was a 40th round draft choice in 1988 and appeared in 4 games in late September, 1992. His Cubs claim to fame is that he was the first Cubs player born in the 1970's.

He was thought of enough by the card makers to have seven different cards during his career. That's more cards than appearances.



Topps 1993



Upper Deck 1993



Donruss 1993



Bowman 1991



Bowman 1993



Bowman 1993 again



Bowman 1994


Condolences to his family.


29 comments:

  1. That's a really nice blog post. Especially since most fans aren't familiar with him, me included and I'm a die-hard Cubs fan.

    Charley

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  2. I believe something happened to his shoulder right when he made it to the team. Can you confirm that? Supposedly he threw his rotary cup out or something like that. Also, do you know where we can get any of his cards? I'd like to buy some. I knew him personally and he was a really good guy.

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  3. Yes he suffered a rotator injury and was unable to fully recover. He had 25 saves here in Charlotte in '92 and I knew him personally. He was a good man with a great family. He was polite and respectful. I never heard him speak ill of anyone. I haven't spoken to him or his family in years but I still feel a hole knowing he is not here any longer. He died trying to help someone else, enough said.

    Mike, Charlotte, NC

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  4. Thank you Mike, for sharing your memories of Jessie.

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  5. You are correct...Jessie was a wonderful person. Many people - MANY - are grieving his loss. He loved horses - was a true cowboy - and would give anyone the shirt off of his back. I was fortunate to know him - in many ways - and doubt will ever get past losing him. Does anyone know if its even possible that he has any cards that can be purchased? We had some years ago, but my daughter teethed on them when she was a baby and they are messed up. If you know where I can get some, please forward that information to me.

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  6. His funeral will be this Saturday at West Baptist Church in Conroe, TX at 1:00 if anyone is interested...(6/18/2009)

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  7. Thanks again to all for sharing your stories. It's nice to hear about the human side of a ball player. He seemed like a wonderful person.

    A great place to look for cards of Jessie would be Sportlots.

    You can also check the Beckett Marketplace.

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  8. Jessie was and is still a mountain of a MAN he will be truely missed by friends and family, especially his brotherhood. keep on climbing my brother our LORD Allmighty and the Linegods awaite you !! HAMBONE

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  9. Jessie my friend you will truly be missed. We love you from everyone at WHS!Stacey

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  10. Thanks for the card images, I borrowed the first one. I went to school with him and worked with him at the local supermarket until he went to college and then played ball. He gave me his 91 Winston-Salem Sprits card but I have no way to digitize it at the moment. I also worked with his bothers and wish his family the best.
    Thanks.
    t

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  11. R.I.P. my Uncle Jessie Hollins u will always be missed and i know u looking down on us and granny saying it is ok put a smile on ur face i love you uncle jesse u was the best uncle i ever had and ever will have im gone listen to nickelback tomorrow during ur funeral.

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  12. To the children and their mother. I offer my deepest condolences and love. I can't say that I know what you are feeling but I do know that Christ will comfort those that mourn. Take courage that the hurt you now feel will turn to joy as you remember how much he loved you and was always giving of himself to help others as Christ did.

    Love always, Minister Brown

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  13. Jesse was a year younger than me, but I remember him from school. Always polite and sweet. A very gentle spirit. Through everyone who ever met him he will live on!

    I am sincerely sorry for the loss that his family has to endure.

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  14. Jessie was a great guy. I went to school with him and worked with him at the local supermarket where we had a lot of fun. I still have one of his Cubs game-used jersey's and will always cherish it. RIP Jessie.
    JD

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  15. Paul- Scout that signed JessieJuly 19, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    Jessie was a great kid! What a smile, and what a great arm. I attended the funeral, I cant even begin too tell you how many people Jessie touched, the out pouring of people at his funeral was really something. Jessie will be missed by alot of people but will never be forgotten. To his family I am very sorry for your loss.

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  16. jesse was a great person , i had the honor of working with him in new orleans after hurrican katrina we worked on powerline together. he had wanted to come and deer hunt with me in michigan and ride horses i am very sad that never happened and to his loved one please take all my respect and sadness

    keith koc local 17 detroit

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  17. Jesse was one of a kind. Loved everyone around him. Memories of you will always be cherished, each day that pass we will be sad, but God is the way for us all to be together again. Stacy look to the hills that cometh you help, God makes no mistakes.

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  18. jessie was a great guy he was my husband (craig fowler) best friend they loved each other so much they fish and worked together. We will really miss him almost a month has gone and it seems like he will just pop up to come and see craig like he always did. But he is in a better place where he don"t have to worry about anything god knews best and he don"t make mistakes.

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  19. Every day - something reminds me of him. A song, working my horse (these times are the most difficult), exercising, doing the friggin' dishes...I cannot fathom what his mother or children must be feeling, as I am still raw from losing him. Jessie was a glorious man - when he walked in any room - one took notice. He was magnificent - simply put. We all are still working to try and put one foot in front of the other...his is such a loss not easy to overcome any time soon.

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  20. Jessie - he is not here in the physical sense, but he is here in spirit. I see him in my mind - feel him around. He's watching over us - our protector...

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  21. jessie edward hollins athletic scholarship fund
    willis isd
    204west rogers
    willis,tx77378
    c/o tammy moore
    in memo section of check,write jessie hollins scholarship

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  22. Jessie Edward Hollins Scholarship Fund Cook-Off
    November 20 & 21st / South of Willis on Hwy 75
    To enter or for more info: Call Stacy Hollins 936-443-8560 or Richard Arnold 936-672-6410.
    BBQ Sandwhich plates $5 - BBQ pit Raffle - valued at $1000/ cake raffle, silent auction & more!

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  23. R.I.P uncle jessie you will sincerly be missed by us all we love you

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  24. I was fortunate to play with Jessie during his days with the Cubs and I am saddened to hear of his passing. RIP my brother!

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  25. I knew Jessie as a sweet person. I dated his brotha Stacy in School. Stacy, God never made mistakes. In my Fathers House are many Mansions 1 of dem belongs 2 Jessie. Each yr may gey harder but note u have a shoulder 2 lean on. May God bless U & ur Family. My Prayers are always with u.

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  26. connie hollins ryanApril 9, 2010 at 9:41 PM

    I want to thank all of my son"s many, many friends for the love and support you have shown and still showing my family through the hardest time of our life. Thank you for all of the kind memories you share about my son. He was a gentle giant, always ready to step up and help out ANYONE. I have never felt such pain as that of losing a child, a part of me died that day. I have this empty place in my heart but I know GOD can and will turn my tears to joy in time.

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  27. connie hollins ryanApril 9, 2010 at 9:48 PM

    I was feeling so overwhelmed,I came to my computer to just read the comments about my son. It gives me comfort to read all of the wonderful comments you have posted about Jessie. Thank you,they really help me to bear the pain I yet feel in my heart. I never experienced a true heartache until now. May God continue to bless you and your love ones.

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  28. Jessie....Yesterday was three years my friend and you are thought about often. You are missed and we all will see you again one day!

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  29. Today is my Dads 50th Birthday. Time is passing by so quick. I was only 10 when I received the news. Now I’m 21 years old trying to fully understand and accept why this happened. I was reading through my dads book filled with his whole life and at the end I read through all the comments and i wanted to say thank you. My parents divorced when I was 2 so i never really grew up with him around but the moments we shared I knew he loved me so much. Thank you for these comments letting me know even more that my Dad was the best. It still doesn’t feel real to me but as i get Older i start To feel it more. I know he is with me always and pushing me to leave a great legacy as he did. ❤️

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