Gallagher: Holman, original Maple Bat founder, coping with health issues

Sam Holman, left, with Arlene Anderson and Barry Bonds at spring training in 2016. Photo supplied.

September 24, 2024

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Sam Holman sounds a lot better on the phone than he did in his concerning LinkedIn post the other day. 

Holman, who was the major force behind the formation of the Original Maple Bat Corporation in the 1990s in Ottawa, told LinkedIn followers recently that all is not that good with him, although he's certainly not bed-ridden by any means.

"I find that I am at an advanced age, 79.8,'' he said in his LinkedIn post. "I am dealing with on-set Parkinson's and pinched nerves at C5, 6 & 7 so far. This has resulted in numbness in my right arm.

“I will be in the care of the neurology team at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. I am sure that I am in the best of hands. Forgive me -- I will not be active on Linkedin for a while.''

Holman underwent quadruple bypass surgery a few years ago and almost died. He's certainly had to endure a number of health issues. 

"I can still drive,'' Holman said in a more-assuring interview. "I can barely walk. I use my walker quite frequently. I quit drinking almost a year ago. That stopped the shakiness. I'm sober as a judge. I drink Pellegrino now. They diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome in my arm. I don't like thinking about it but it's scary.''

Holman sold his majority stake in the Original Maple Bat Corporation to Anderson and her husband Jim 17 years ago but Holman and Paul Balharrie each own 23% stakes.

Despite his health problems, Holman travelled to Sam Bat's factory in Carleton Place to participate in its recent Open House when close to 300 people showed up. Holman was front and centre in his signature coveralls, regaling customers with stories about the company, saying the maple bat is nothing but great. 

He tells customers and fans he often weighed his bats in the infancy of his project on the scales at Goldstein Food Market in Centretown Ottawa. 

"Sam's a character,'' Anderson said. "Travelling with him is not boring. It's always a new story every time we get in the car. He's certainly has had his health issues. I try to pump him up.''

Holman credits former Expos/Rockies scout Bill MacKenzie for making the Sam Bat project viable. Without MacKenzie, the concept was still be in a tree. Holman and MacKenzie would often talk about bats over a "lot of beers'' at the now-defunct Mayflower Pub in Ottawa.

"It was Bill's expertise that kept me going. He was crucial to me making bats,'' Holman said. "I've always given him credit for the bat. I've been forever grateful to him.''

Sam Bat's biggest client at one time was the home-run king Barry Bonds. He swore on the bat and he met Holman and Anderson at spring training in 2016 when Bonds was a coach with the Miami Marlins.

Some 67 major-league players placed orders for Sam Bat this season and the Far East continues to be a big playing field for the company.

"Japan is a very big market for us and so is Korea and Taiwan,'' Anderson said.