[1] However, he was playing in an era when triples were more common than home runs, due to the spacious parks and poor quality of the balls used.

Bill Holbert started his career with the nascent Louisville Grays of 1876.

He sat out the 1877 year and, in 1878, played for the Milwaukee Grays, followed by the Syracuse Stars, and the Troy Trojans (both in 1879).

Holbert is also credited with managing one game, a loss, in 1879 while with the Syracuse Stars.

He stayed with the Trojans, and the National League, until 1883, when he joined the New York Metropolitans of the new American Association.