Get to know Boksburg’s former Olympic baseballer

The Advertiser recently caught up with Ian Holness from Bartlett, who was one of South Africa’s stars in the Olympic Games for baseball in 2000.

The 43-year-old explained he played his last season for the Boksburg Cardinals Major A team in 2020.

When and why did you start playing baseball?
My dad was my prime motivator who got me involved in baseball. The game fascinated him and he thought it would be a good idea for me to have a winter sport (baseball) and a summer sport (soccer).

How did your baseball career unfold?
I started baseball when I was six years old. I am left-handed; therefore, my throwing or dominant hand was my left but as baseball in South Africa was a relatively small sport, we could only buy left-hand mitts, so I had to start learning to throw with my right hand. I started in the u-10 C team at Boksburg Cardinals, PG Park and remember clearly being coached every Tuesday and Thursday, with our games being held on Sundays. I struggled initially but with some great coaching from the likes of Margaret Switala, Rob Wentzel and Gavin Bennett, I started to improve gradually until I made the Junior Springbok National Team when I was nine years old.
What are some of the highlights (and achievements) of your career?
Making the national u-10 team, signing a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers (straight out of high school) and playing in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Why do you love baseball so much?
It is incredible how tactical and detailed the game of baseball is. Most people have no idea of what’s involved in the game – when you start playing at a higher level at understanding the intricacies of the game, what direction to hit, when to lay a bunt, what pitch is most likely to be thrown by the opposing pitcher or when to run or stay on your base, that’s when you start loving the game of baseball. A team can win a game based on tactical or analytical thinking over better sporting ability and this is really when you learn to love the game – when you understand it, it’s in your blood. I probably only understood the game in my mid-20s.

When did you join the Cardinals?
In 1984 at the age of six.

Who is your role model?
As a baseball player, I would have to say Cal Ripken – baseball is a tough game, baseball seasons are 162 games long, which mean players are playing day in and day out (and then the post season starts to select the World Series Champions). Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles played 2 131 consecutive games (how is that for longevity?) – that is over 12 years with him not missing a game! Other players are Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, who based on baseball’s ability, are untouchable. Outside of players, my mental coach Jim Murphy at the Syndey Olympics is a huge role model. He taught the team the mental side of baseball (affirmations, belief and visualisation). He has since become an author and has written some amazing books.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Yes, I generally watch the opposing pitcher to see his ‘stuff’. It’s amazing how you can gauge if a pitcher is on form or not based on his warm-up. Before every bat, I take two/three bats to warm up in the circle to make the single bat feel lighter and quicken up the hands and always have a glass or two of water over my head to focus better. I don’t really know if this worked.

Can you tell us a few interesting facts about yourself?
I’m married to Hadi-Anne Holness and have two sons, Sebastian and Benjamin. I’m a born and bred Boksburg ‘boytjie’ who attended Boksburg High School from 1992 to 1996 where I was deputy head boy of sport. I furthered my studies at RAU and received my BA qualification in three years and then graduated from the University of the Free State with a CFP degree thereafter. I am employed as a certified financial planner for Alexander Forbes. My main sporting passion is athletics, not baseball. Other passions are jollying with mates, baseball, Liverpool Football Club and having a blast at every opportunity. I’m also part of Nomads Golf.

You previously represented your country at the Olympics. How did it feel and what does it take to be a South African baseball player?
It was highly unlikely that SA would qualify for the Olympics, as we always had to qualify through the Oceanic zone, which included Australia and they are probably in the top 10 best baseball countries worldwide. SA would generally qualify for the finals of the Oceanic zone by winning the All African Games, but then as soon as we played Australia, they annihilated Team SA. As the hosts for 2000 were Australia, they automatically qualified and we had to qualify against Guam (which is an American Naval base). We beat them in a five-game series and Team SA was off to the Olympics! The experience was surreal, from the opening ceremony, the stadiums, the people and interacting with the best athletes in the world. It was a dream come true. To be a South African baseball player, you first need to have a certain level of talent but then you need to work incredibly hard. You need to understand the intricacies of the game, understand your role. You have to believe in yourself and make sure you are committed both physically and mentally.

What is your advice to aspiring baseball players?
Be motivated, have goals, work hard, listen to the correct people and understand the mental game of baseball as well as the physical side.

Is there anything you can add that you feel is important?
I feel that if a parent of a youngster is reading this article, they will not find a better sport to introduce their children to than baseball. The game teaches children hand and eye coordination, teamwork, hard work, it makes them think and, most importantly, it’s a hell of a fun game for both the children and the parents. You may just have a future professional baseballer in your care.

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