Eric Soderholm – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Eric Thane Soderholm built a solid nine-year career in Major League Baseball as a third baseman, suiting up for four different teams between 1971 and 1980. He was born on September 24, 1948, in Cortland, New York.

Soderholm faced some tough setbacks, including a brutal knee injury that kept him out for the entire 1976 season.

His most remarkable achievement happened in 1977, when he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award after hitting .280 with 25 home runs for the Chicago White Sox. He showed that determination and skill could beat the odds. His comeback story became one of baseball’s most inspiring tales in the late 1970s. He helped keep the White Sox in the AL West pennant race.

Let’s take a look at Soderholm’s journey, from his early days in amateur baseball through his debut with the Minnesota Twins, that career-defining comeback in Chicago, and his last seasons with Texas and New York. His story shows how a solid player can leave a real mark on the game through perseverance and steady performance.

He wrapped up his career with a .264 batting average, 102 home runs, and 383 RBIs.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Eric Thane Soderholm started his baseball path in New York and then Florida, playing high school ball there. He went from a skinny 150-pound high schooler to a legit pro prospect, thanks to a lot of hard work and some big physical changes during his junior college years.

Family Background

Eric was born September 24, 1948, in Cortland, New York. His family moved to Miami, Florida, where he spent most of his formative years.

That move to Miami opened doors for year-round baseball. Florida’s weather meant he could play a lot more than he could have up north.

Not much is known about his immediate family or their influence on his baseball career. Still, growing up in Miami put him in a hotbed for baseball talent.

High School and College Baseball

Soderholm played baseball at his Miami high school, but he faced some physical limitations early on. At just 150 pounds, he didn’t exactly look like a future pro.

His high school coach saw something in him anyway. The coach helped set up a work-study spot at Southern Georgia Junior College in Douglas, Georgia.

At Southern Georgia, Soderholm juggled classes, baseball, and work to pay for school. The junior college had just come off five straight conference championships before he arrived.

Physical Development at Southern Georgia:

• Starting weight: 150 pounds
• Playing weight: 175 pounds
• Impact: More power, better bat speed

Packing on 25 pounds made a huge difference in his swing. “Balls that used to be looped just over the shortstop were now shooting on a line into the gaps,” Soderholm remembered.

Coach George Cook mentored him during his time at Southern Georgia. Eventually, Cook let him know that pro scouts were starting to notice his progress.

1967 Amateur Draft and Minnesota Twins Selection

The Kansas City Athletics picked Soderholm in the 11th round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft, but he didn’t sign.

The Minnesota Twins drafted him first overall in the 1968 MLB January Draft Secondary Phase. That came after he kept improving at Southern Georgia Junior College.

Soderholm signed with the Twins for $23,500 and a promise they’d pay for the rest of his college. That bonus was way more than he expected.

“I never dreamed that I might play pro baseball,” Soderholm said. “Even as a kid if you asked me what I wanted to be, I would have told you a dentist, not a ballplayer.”

The Twins clearly believed in his potential. Being picked first overall in the secondary phase showed that they were serious about his development.

He went from a small junior college player to a real pro prospect. The mix of physical growth and tough competition got him ready for the minors.

Major League Debut and Minnesota Twins Years

Eric Soderholm made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins on September 3, 1971, at age 22. After four years in the minors, he worked his way into the starting third base job and became a regular for the Twins by 1974.

September Call-Up to the Majors

Soderholm got his first shot at the majors on September 3, 1971, when the Twins called him up for a late-season debut. He played his first game against the Oakland Athletics, went 2-for-1 at the plate, and got a hit.

That hit? It was a home run, and he drove in a run too. Not a bad way to start.

His rookie season in 1971 was short but important. He played in 21 games for the Twins that year.

At the plate, he struggled, hitting just .156 with 10 hits in 64 at-bats. Still, he managed a home run and 4 RBIs in limited time.

The Twins had picked Soderholm first overall in the secondary phase of the 1968 Free Agent draft. Debuting alongside stars like Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, he was just getting started.

Becoming Twins Opening Day Third Baseman

Soderholm spent the early ‘70s working on his skills and fighting for playing time at third. He moved up through the system, gaining experience.

By 1974, his work paid off. He won the regular third base job and started on Opening Day for the Twins.

That promotion was a big deal for him. He’d gone from prospect to everyday big leaguer.

The Twins put their trust in him, and Soderholm delivered steady play at third.

Defensively, he had quick reflexes and a solid arm, both crucial at third base.

Key Stats and Performances with the Twins

Soderholm had two good seasons as the Twins’ starting third baseman in 1974 and 1975. Those years helped him establish himself as a reliable big leaguer.

He improved a lot from his rookie struggles. By then, he was a steady bat in the lineup.

But then came the knee injury. It happened after his solid 1975 season and changed everything.

He missed the entire 1976 season because of the knee. That was a tough blow.

The Twins kept him from 1971 through 1975, but he lost a year to injury. Altogether, he spent five seasons in Minnesota, though one was wiped out.

When he was healthy, Soderholm showed flashes of the player he’d become with other teams. His time in Minnesota set him up for that big comeback later.

Career-Defining Moments and Comeback with the Chicago White Sox

Eric Soderholm’s career hit its peak with the Chicago White Sox, where he bounced back from a serious knee injury to become one of baseball’s great comeback stories. He went from injured and uncertain to a power-hitting star, helping shape the “South Side Hit Men” identity.

Signing as a Free Agent

The Chicago White Sox rolled the dice on Soderholm as a free agent on November 26, 1976. He was still recovering from that knee injury, and his future looked shaky.

Bill Veeck and the White Sox front office saw something in him. They offered a contract, even with the risk, and it turned out to be one of their smartest moves of the decade.

Soderholm had played out his option with the Twins before coming to Chicago. His recent injuries made most teams wary, but the White Sox gave him a shot to revive his career.

1977 AL Comeback Player of the Year

Soderholm’s 1977 season with the White Sox was the highlight of his career. He hit .280 with 25 home runs and 67 RBIs, earning the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award from The Sporting News.

Given what he’d been through, those numbers were pretty amazing. The 25 homers were a career high and made him a key contributor for the White Sox.

Fans loved him as part of the “South Side Hit Men.” His determination and ability to overcome adversity made him a symbol of grit. The team’s aggressive, power-hitting approach fit Soderholm’s game perfectly.

Impactful Seasons and Power Hitting

After his comeback year, Soderholm kept hitting for power with the White Sox. In 1978, he batted .258 with 20 home runs and 67 RBIs in 143 games.

Putting up back-to-back 20-homer seasons showed he was fully healthy. In an era where power hitters were gold, Soderholm’s numbers stood out.

His most memorable moment? A game-winning home run off Doug Bird. Years later, he said, “That was the most powerful, impacting moment I had in my career. As you were asking the question, I was thinking about it and I still get goose bumps.”

He stayed with Chicago until mid-1979, when they traded him to the Texas Rangers. Still, his impact on the White Sox and his comeback story left a lasting legacy in the game.

Late Career: Texas Rangers and New York Yankees

Soderholm’s final years in the majors saw him bounce between two American League teams. He went to Texas in mid-1979, then wrapped up his career with the Yankees in 1980.

Trade to the Texas Rangers

The White Sox traded Soderholm to the Texas Rangers on June 15, 1979, for pitcher Ed Farmer and Gary Holle. The move came midseason as Chicago looked to shake things up.

Soderholm didn’t stay long in Texas, but he made an impact. He brought veteran leadership and some solid offense for the rest of the 1979 season.

The Rangers valued Soderholm for his flexibility at third base and as a designated hitter. His experience and power made him a useful addition.

Final Season with the New York Yankees

The Rangers shipped Soderholm to the New York Yankees on November 14, 1979, for cash and two players to be named later. The Yankees sent Amos Lewis and Ricky Burdette to finish the deal in December.

Soderholm put up one of his best seasons with the Yankees in 1980. He hit .287 with 11 home runs in what turned out to be his final year in the majors.

The Yankees mostly used him as a DH and part-time third baseman. His veteran presence and knack for clutch hits made him a valuable piece of their lineup.

Even late in his career, Soderholm showed he could still play at a high level.

Retirement from Major League Baseball

Soderholm played his last game on October 5, 1980, ending a nine-year run in the big leagues. He finished with a .264 batting average, 102 home runs, and 383 RBIs in 894 games.

The 1980 season marked the end of his playing days. At 32, Soderholm decided to retire from the game that had shaped his adult life.

His career stats show steady power and solid offense for every team he played on. Even after missing all of 1976 with injury, he put up numbers any player would be proud of.

After baseball, Soderholm became a ticket broker in Chicago before opening Soderworld, a healing arts center in Willowbrook, Illinois.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Eric Soderholm wrapped up his career with a .264 batting average, 102 home runs, and 383 RBIs in 894 games. He’s part of a rare group of players who homered in both their first and last major league games—a pretty cool distinction in baseball history.

Cumulative Stats Overview

Soderholm put together a solid career as a middle infielder, giving his teams steady offensive production. Over nine seasons from 1971 to 1980, he racked up 764 hits and scored 402 runs with a .335 on-base percentage.

He really found his stride with the Minnesota Twins in 1974 and 1975. In 1974, he played 141 games, hit .276, and knocked out 10 home runs with 51 RBIs.

The next year, he raised his average to .286, added 11 home runs, and drove in 58 runs over 117 games.

An injury kept Soderholm off the field for all of 1976, but he made a big comeback in 1977 with the Chicago White Sox. That season, he set career highs with 25 home runs and 67 RBIs, batting .280, and finally reached the 20-home run milestone for a season.

Notable Batting Records

Soderholm carved out a quirky spot in baseball history as one of only three players to homer in both their first and last regular season games. He hit his first home run on September 3, 1971, against the Minnesota Twins and his last on October 5, 1980, with the New York Yankees.

He ended up with a career slugging percentage of .421, which showed decent pop for a third baseman from his era. Over his career, he picked up 120 doubles and 14 triples, proving he could hit the ball to the gaps.

That 1977 season in Chicago was really his peak. Those 25 home runs made up almost a quarter of his career total, and he posted an .850 OPS that year, far above his career .756 mark.

Defensive Performance

Soderholm usually played third base, though he also spent some time at designated hitter and first base. He logged most of his innings at the hot corner, taking on the tough defensive work that comes with the position.

He didn’t stand out as a gold glover, but he handled third base just fine and his steady glove backed up his bat.

Later in his career, especially with the Yankees in 1980, he shifted more into a designated hitter role. The move made sense with his age and the team’s focus on keeping his bat in the lineup without pushing him defensively.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

When Soderholm retired in 1980, he launched into a new chapter that took him from baseball instruction to ticket brokering and eventually into spiritual wellness. His biggest post-baseball impact came from founding SoderWorld, a healing arts center in Willowbrook, Illinois, where he’s helped countless people through holistic wellness.

Coaching and Scouting Roles

Right after he left the majors, Soderholm started sharing his experience through baseball instruction. He teamed up with the Darien Park District to run baseball camps for kids.

He brought in former players like Bill Buckner and Ron Kittle to help out, and the camps drew plenty of interest from local families.

Soderholm also opened a private hitting school. He stayed busy, giving one-on-one lessons at $50 an hour to young hitters.

He kept at this for about three or four years in the early 1980s. The camps gave him a decent living and a chance to pass on what he’d learned.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

In 1983, a random night at a Michael Jackson concert steered Soderholm into ticket brokering. He stumbled into the business after struggling to find tickets for the sold-out Comiskey Park show.

He started Front Row Tickets, making the most of Chicago’s sports scene. The timing couldn’t have been better, with the Bears making the Super Bowl after 1985.

The 1990s, with Michael Jordan’s Bulls, brought a windfall. Soderholm once said the money was “coming in in wheelbarrows” during those years.

His company ran strong for 30 years, but online platforms like StubHub eventually changed everything. Family worked in the business too, which made closing up shop even tougher.

Front Row Tickets finally closed after losing $30,000 to $40,000 a year. Soderholm put the rest of his money into his next big project, the wellness center.

Healing Arts Center and SoderWorld

When he turned 52, Soderholm’s daughter started working for Deepak Chopra, and that opened the door to alternative healing for him. He dove into spiritual books, sometimes waking up at 3 AM to read, and spent three years soaking up everything he could.

That journey changed how he saw the world and his own life.

SoderWorld opened in Willowbrook as a full-service wellness center. The place offers a mix of healing options and, as Soderholm puts it, a “safe space” for people to grow.

“This is more about teaching people how to heal themselves,” Soderholm said. He finds this work more rewarding than anything he did in baseball.

The center has meditation spots, healing rooms, and even a koi pond. Soderholm talks with clients every day who say the place helped them let go of old emotional burdens.

Influence on Future Generations

Soderholm’s impact goes way beyond typical baseball mentoring. He puts a lot of emphasis on heart-centered awareness, rather than letting ego call the shots.

He really wants people to see how much power they have in shaping their own reality. That mindset tends to draw in folks who aren’t satisfied with the usual self-help scene.

Now at 71, Soderholm still runs SoderWorld. He talks about living his “dharma,” and says baseball was just the warm-up for what he’s meant to do.

These days, the wellness center feels like his main legacy. It offers healing services to the Chicago area, and his shift from athlete to spiritual guide shows how much you can reinvent yourself, no matter your age.