BERKELEY – With his lanky 6-foot-6 frame, Grant Holman is easy to pick out on a baseball diamond.

The Cal freshman stands out even more right now when he takes off his hat and reveals a mop of bright pink hair. But that decision to dye his locks wasn't just an effort to attract attention.

Seven months ago, Holman found out his mother, Kimberly, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I wanted to do something for her for the season," he said.

Shortly before Cal's season-opener in February, Holman decided he would show support for his mother by dyeing his hair pink, the color that universally represents breast cancer awareness.
What Holman couldn't have known is that a teammate would hear about his plan and instantly hop on board.

When the Bears took the field for their opener against CSU Bakersfield, first baseman Andrew Vaughn also was sporting pink hair.

"As soon as he started talking about how his mom had breast cancer and he was gonna dye his hair pink, I was like, 'Dude, I'll do it with you. You don't have to do it alone,'" Vaughn said.

The scenario illustrates the mental toughness of Holman. He's emerging as a two-way threat for Cal - on the mound and as a designated hitter - despite having obvious daily concerns away from the field.

It also reveals the selfless nature of Vaughn, one of the brightest stars in college baseball who is expected to be a top-5 pick in this summer's Major League Baseball draft.

"That's just the kind of guy he is," Holman said. "To jump on board with me to do that and support me and my family, that was cool for him to do that."

Making it even better is that Kimberly Holman showed up to Cal's first game in Tempe, Ariz., with no idea what her son had decided to do. He kept his hat on when he gave her a hug before the game.
It wasn't until the team lined up for the national anthem, and hats came off, that she saw his hair.

"My husband pointed it out," said Kimberly, who teared up recalling the day. "It's just very emotional because I know (Grant) wants to be here. He worries about me. And everything's going to be OK. I'm gonna be fine. It was just a really special gesture."

Holman, unfortunately, has prior experience with breast cancer. A couple years ago, while he was attending Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, he lost a good friend to breast cancer. He and his high school teammates dyed their hair pink back then, and to this day, Holman often wears pink wrist bands during games.

"It's affected the people around me and people close to me," he said. "It sucks. But I mean, you just gotta show support and kick its (butt) hopefully."

Holman quickly has become an important piece for the Bears, who are 6-4 as they prepare for a weekend road series at No. 10 LSU that begins Friday.

He homered in that opening game in Tempe and is hitting .280 with eight RBI, which ranks second on the team behind Vaughn's 18. Holman also claimed his first college win on the mound Sunday with six strong innings against Saint Mary's.

Kimberly, who works in public affairs with the Air National Guard, is about halfway through chemotherapy treatment and feeling good. She and her husband, Douglas, plan to make regular trips from Southern California to Berkeley to watch their son play.

Holman's sister, Emily, who attends college in the San Diego area, has also dyed her hair pink to show her support.

Kimberly Holman said she is touched not only by her kids' gesture but of Holman's teammate.

"For Andrew to take Grant under his wing, he's been so supportive of Grant," she said. "It's a huge gesture."