(Story & Photos by Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Jules de Pierre...
(1931 - 2023)
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
 Longtime (international) administrator Jules de Pierre, Honorary Member KNBSB & Hall of Famer, passed away
Nederlands
 SANTPOORT (Neth.) -
Jules de Pierre, who has been a member of the board of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association for 22 years, passed away on Saturday, October 14, at age 91.
He would have turned 92 in November.
Besides being a longtime administrator of the KNBSB, Jules de Pierre also was a boardmember of both the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and the European Baseball Confederation (CEB).
For many years in the seventies and eighties, he also was the Team Manager, then called the Chef d'Équipe, of the Netherlands National Baseball Team.
For his many contributions, Jules de Pierre was named Honorary Member of the KNBSB and was elected into the Netherlands Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame.
The funeral and memorial service for Jules de Pierre has taken place in private.
Jules François de Pierre was born on November 20, 1931 in Haarlem.
It was in his home-town Haarlem that Jules de Pierre started to play baseball somewhere in the late forties/early fifties.
He went on to play for some twenty years.
While being a player, De Pierre also started coaching and initially combined both.
In 1974, he ended his career after being a coach for some ten years.
It was during his coaching-days, that Jules de Pierre started to develop his organizational and leadership qualities.
In late 1973, he was named Chef d'Équipe, or Team Manager, of the Netherlands Baseball Team.
In 1974, De Pierre was elected as member of the board of the KNBSB, which was the beginning of a long, international career as an administator.
De Pierre went on to serve in the Executive Board of both the International Baseball Association, as well as the European Baseball Confederation.
Overall, Jules was an (international) administrator through early 2001, a period of more than 26 years.
In Haarlem, Jules de Pierre started to play baseball somewhere in the latet forties at HHC, which then was one of the leading baseball-clubs in the country.
He developed into a talented outfielder, who also was a solid hitter and speedy runner.
Jules was more a contact-hitter, moving runners over the bases and regularly delivering runscoring basehits.
In the early fifties, as an outfielder, Jules joined he main-squad of HHC, which in those years played in the highest league or in the second highest league.
Although HHC regularly ended up in the top of the ranking, it never was able to win the title while Jules de Pierre was playing for the Haarlem-team.
HHC came close in 1956, when it had a 4-1 lead against rival Schoten.
However, Schoten came back and won 8-4 to capture the title.
Playing for Schoten then were wellknown players as Teun van den Berg, Joop Geurts, Simon Heemskerk, Henk Keulemans, Frans Klooster, Henk Lukkien, Johan Munsterman and Gerrit Nanne.
In this game, Munsterman threw a complete game for Schoten and gave up only three hits, one of them by Jules de Pierre.
Also in 1956, Jules plays for a Haarlem All Star Team during the Amsterdam Sports Week, as well as in a game in Rotterdam against a team that represented that city.
De Pierre represented HHC, as did Ben Vrenegoor.
Other players included Munsterman, Heemskerk, Nanne, John Bakker, Piet de Nieuwe and Jan Kops.
...Jules de Pierre slides into 3rd base playing for HHC...
...against Blauw-Wit during the 1957 season...
(Unknown photographer) |
A career highlight comes during the 1957 season when he shows his running speed.
In May, HHC, which then heads the league, plays against Ajax and has a 6-1 lead.
But Ajax then rallies for six runs in the eighth inning.
Trailing 7-6, HHC avoids a loss in the ninth inning.
Jules de Pierre then drives the ball deep into the outfield.
In those years, there mostly were no outfield-fences and so, Jules speeds across the bases and scores the seventh run via an inside-the-park-homerun.
With that, the game ends with a 7-7 tie.
Later in 1957, Jules is invited to play for the Netherlands B-Team, which would travel to Barcelona (Spain).
Multi-sports club FC Barcelona opened its huge new soccer-stadium Camp Nou (the biggest in Europe) and organized several sports-activities.
One of them a baseball-tournament.
Besides the team from Barcelona and the Netherlands B-Team, Antwerp Eagles also participates and mosly exists of players from the National Team of Belgium.
De Pierre is one of three players from HHC invited for the team, the others are Ruud Jongeling and Wim Vrenegoor.
Fourteen players were selected for the B-Team.
The others were Gerrie Boers, Simon Heemskerk, Frans Klooster, Ruud Koene, Ruud Kok, Jaap de Koning, Herman Nijhuis, Martin Rosenkrantz, Walter Scheermeijer, Joop Schuitemaker and Henk Talens.
The team is coached by Ab Hordijk.
In 1958, because of his lenghth, Jules de Pierre becomes the regular first baseman in the team of HHC.
During this season, there is another highlight in his playing career.
In August, HHC plays against OVVO from Amsterdam.
Netherlands Team-pitchers Jan Smidt and Han Urbanus are on the mound for respectively HHC and OVVO.
In the fourth inning, OVVO scores twice on hits by Hennie Regeling and Max Rietbergen.
Errors lead to a third run in the eighth and a hit by Martin Rosenkrantz lifts the lead to 4-0 in the ninth.
In the meantime, Urbanus is pitching an No-Hitter.
But with one out in the ninth, De Pierre connects well and hits the first basehit for HHC.
Next batter Erik Hendriksen also singles, but the two are left behind.
After the 1960 season, Jules de Pierre transfers to EDO, another leading club in Haarlem.
While playing for HHC, amongst his teammates are Jaap Berendonk, Henk de Bruin, Piet Duinker, Ruud Feenstra, Erik Hendriksen, Gé Hoogenbos, Martin Jole, Ruud Jongeling, Jan Meenhorst, Henk Ringersma, Jan Smidt, Ben Vrenegoor, Wim Vrenegoor and Jan Wemerman.
At EDO, Jules de Pierre remains an effective contact-hitter.
And he also still is a solid baserunner.
In a game against UVV during the 1963 season, with the score at 7-7, Jules leads off the ninth inning with a walk.
He moves to second base via a sacrifice bunt by Wim van Dusschoten and advances to third base on a wild pitch by pitcher Ruben Leysner.
Next batter Gerrie Krooder misses a squeeze, but De Pierre runs towards the plate and collides with catcher Ricky Kersout, who drops the ball.
And so, De Pierre scores the winning run for EDO.
...Jules with Aldo Notari during the 1992 European...
...Championship Softball in Bussum (Netherlands)...
...The two worked together for many years...
...At the time of this photo, Notari was President...
...of the Italian BB/SB Federation, President...
...of the CEB and Vice-President of the IBAF...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Teammates of Jules at EDO include Ruud Feenstra, Wim van Dusschoten, Roel Hopman, Jan Kops, Leo Kops, Gerrie Krooder, Jan Molleman, Piet de Nieuwe, Ton Terneuzen and Dolf de Zwart.
In December 1963, EHS and EDO merge to form Haarlem Nicols.
De Pierre continues to play for the new team in 1964, but he also is playing coach, assisting Head Coach Gé Hoogenbos.
Another Assistant Coach is Jan Schäfer, who later becomes a wellknown politician.
Other players in the star-studded team of Nicols are Fred Ausma, Herman Beidschat, Simon Heemskerk, Roel Hopman, Leo Kops, Boudewijn Maat, Jan Molleman, Piet de Nieuwe, Gé Oosterbaan, Ton Terneuzen, Ben Tromp and Dolf de Zwart.
In 1965, Jules de Pierre plays for Amsterdam-based ABC, but after the season, he returns to Haarlem Nicols, where he continues his playing career in the second team and also is a coach.
Earlier, in 1959, he already coached the Haarlem Junior Team and in 1963, De Pierre led the Haarlem All Star Team during the annual game against Amsterdam.
In early 1969, Jules becomes the new Head Coach of Terrasvogels, where he succeeds Piet de Nieuwe.
The team plays in the second highest league, finishes in first place and then defeats Ajax in three games in the Promotion/Relegation Series to promote to the highest league.
After the successful season, De Pierre said he initially didn't want to coach.
In an interview with newspaper De Tijd in September, De Pierre said:
,,I wanted to continue playing myself.
Other clubs had asked me to coach, but I rejected them.
Why I choose Terrasvogels?
I don't know.
They had no coach and I was told by the board that the players had really had trained hard in the winter, so I said yes.''
In the same article, De Pierre said that he didn't even knew where the club played.
,,We started the season witn no illusions, but the team was talented and there was a good atmosphere with a lot of enthousiasm''.
As the home-site of Terrasvogels in Santpoort initially was not suitable for the highest league, the team played its first games of the 1970 season in the Pim Mulier Stadium, which was the home of Haarlem Nicols.
It is a tough season, as the team wins only two of its 28 games played.
At the end of the season, the team relegates.
De Pierre stays on as Head Coach for the 1971 season.
Amongst the players at Terrasvogels were Harry van Berkel, Jan-Willem Bruntink, Guus van Dee, Nico Disselköter, Jersey van Doornspeek, Dick Dortmundt, Willem Hurkmans, Hans Janssen, Gerrie Krooder, Heddy van Mourik, Hans Röbken and Marco van Wilpen.
From this group, Janssen becomes a successful softball-coach at Terrasvogels and DSS, Hurkmans becomes a longtime member of the groundscrew of the Haarlem Baseball Week and Van Dee becomes the President of the Organizing Committee of both the Haarlem Softball Week and the Haarlem Baseball Week.
...Jules with Ben de Brouwer at San Diego State...
...University during the ABCA Convention...
...in 1987 in San Diego (USA)...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In 1972, Jules de Pierre is the Assistant Coach of Teun Gaartman at HCK (Kinheim).
However, in early September, the two step down after conflict with the Board, after a player doesn't shows up for practices and some games.
They want a disciplinary action and refuse to coach, awaiting the decision from the Board.
When he plays in their absence, the two step down.
Hereafer, De Pierre coaches one more season in 1974, when he leads the baseball-team of Bloemendaal in the Third Division.
In the meantime, Jules de Pierre also develops his organizational skills.
In 1972, he is he so-called Liaison Officer of Cuba during the international Haarlem Baseball Week.
A Liaison Officer is the contact person between the team and the Organizing Committee.
It is during and after this tournament that De Pierre first voices his opinion regarding the Dutch baseball competitions, as well as international play.
In Trouw-newspaper in July 1972, De Pierre said:
,,There is a big gap between the highest league and the First Division.
That is a big problem.
Furthermore, during the Baseball Week, Cuba, Alaska Goldpanners and Sullivans have shown how baseball is being played and how big the distance is.
In the Netherlands, we will have to accept that we will have to settle for eighth place in the world rankings.
Then we can be very satisfied.
We can never become world champions.
But where is the strong man in the baseball association who sets the big picture and what is our plan?''
With these words, Jules de Pierre sets his first steps towards becoming an administrator, both nationally and internationally.
In late 1973, Jules de Pierre is asked to fill in as the so-called Chef d'Équipe (or Team Manager) of the Netherlands Baseball Team during the upcoming World Championship in Cuba, as Aart Kruijs has stepped down.
De Pierre accepts and would be involved with the National Team for many years.
In Cuba, the Orange, led by Head Coach Charles Urbanus Sr., squad lose all fourteen games.
Despite that, De Pierre is positive in several newspapers.
,,Of course, it is difficult to say that you are satisfied when you lose all games.
You never can say then that you played well.
However, there have been a lot of positive things.
Except for some players, this team had no international experience.
Playing in a stadium with 65,000 spectators, they have handled that very well.
I can conclude that this trip has been very useful for Dutch baseball'', De Pierre said.
In March 1974, Jules de Pierre is elected into the Board of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB).
In his position, De Pierre became responsible for Technical Affairs Baseball and the National Teams.
A position he would held for 22 years!
When De Pierre joined the KNBSB-Board, it was led by Chairman Guus van der Heijden.
The other boardmembers were Cees Boer, Sr., Gerard Voogd (both vice-chairman), Theo Vleeshhouwer (secretary), John Oosterbroek (treasurer), Freek Bos and Janke Nijdam.
De Pierre was the last living member of this board after Janke Nijdam passed away on July 22.
Through the years, in his position as administrator, Jules de Pierre became known for his very diplomatic way of saying things.
It was even mentioned by some, that he could have been a good politician.
...Jules de Pierre sits amongst dignitaries during the...
...Opening Ceremony of the 1987 International Baseball...
...Tournament (Chung Hua Cup) in Taipei (Taiwan)...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Despite the tough tournament in Cuba, the Netherlands again participates in the World Championship in 1976 when the event is held in Colombia.
In some newspaper-interviews, De Pierre said:
,,If I have to advise, I say that we will definitely go to a World Championship again.
The Netherlands was one of the weakest countries, but we still belonged there.
But I have become convinced that things can be better and that the team can meaningfully participate in a World Championship.
It is important that we maintain contacts from Europe with the international baseball world''.
In his position as Board-member, De Pierre also is responsible for naming the Head Coach of the National Teams.
During the 1973 World Championship, Head Coach Charles Urbanus, Sr. was criticized by some players for his (strict) way of coaching.
In 1974, American Ernie Myers became the new Head Coach.
Hamilton Richardson and Leen Volkerijk are his assistants.
Earlier in 1973, fellow-American Ron Fraser had led the team.
Myers would the Orange Manager through 1978.
In his first years as Board-member, Jules de Pierre also wants to improve the development of young, talented players.
In the sixties, the Dutch Federation had annual youth-camps in Eindhoven where talented players were instructed and observed by coaches, but that had ended some years before.
Cees Herkemij had been a driving force of the successful youth-camps, but also was active as club-coach.
Eventually, the camps ended due to a lack of funds.
In 1976, Herkemij was approached by De Pierre and Leen Volkerijk with plans to create a development institute.
At that time, Herkemij was also involved in scouting, as well as the development of Peanut-ball (T-Ball).
The three work out the details and in January 1977, the Baseball School opens in Zwanenburg and sixteen pitchers and seven catchers are invited.
Amongst the instructors are Boudewijn Maat and Jan Dick Leurs, who are the Manager and Pitching Coach of the Netherlands Juniors.
Maat passed away in June.
In later years, Cees Santifort and Huub Kohl become closely involved as instructors.
Since becoming a member of the board of the KNBSB, Jules de Pierre almost always has been in favor of appointing an American as Head Coach/Manager of the Netherlands Team.
In a newspaper-report in September 1977, De Pierre said:
,,In the future, we really want to name a Dutch coach, but a timeline has never been mentioned.
Hamilton Richardson is high on our list''.
In 1977, Jules de Pierre, who works as computer systems engineer at Shell in Amsterdam, becomes a member of a committee of the European Federation, which promotes the sport of baseball throughout Europe.
At the end of 1978, De Pierre steps down as Team Manager of the National Team and is succeeded by Bob van den Bergh.
Also, Hamilton Richardson is named Manager of the National Team, succeeding Myers.
Richardson is assisted by Jan Dick Leurs and Leen Volkerijk.
In 1979, the Orange-squad plays a disappointing European Championship in Italy and in 1980, things are not going well during the World Championship in Japan.
According to some newspaper-reports, there are conflicts and arguments during the tournament.
Afterwards, Leurs and Volkerijk step down, while Richardson and Van Bergh also not return.
...Jules during the 1990 World Championship in Edmonton...
...(Canada) with Philip Elhage (then President Netherlands...
...Antilles Baseball Federation (NABAFE) and Federashon...
...di Beisbòl di Kòrsou (FEBEKO, left) and...
...American Tom Ravashiere (who was Umpiring Director) ...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In 1981, Jules de Pierre returned as Team Manager (a position he held through 1988).
As boardmember, he again opts for an American to lead the National Team and is supported in his decision by the entire KNBSB-board.
And so, in early 1981, American Jim Stoeckel becomes the new Manager and his lone assistant is Cees Herkemij.
They lead the team to the European title in 1981 and also performs well during the 1982 World Championship in South Korea.
In 1983, the team reaches the Play-Off of the Intercontinental Cup in Belgium.
Shortly thereafter, the team finishes in second place during the European Championship, which is a chaotic tournament in Italy.
In 1983, Stoeckel also is active as Minor League Manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers-organization, making him not available the entire year.
Because of this, Herkemij handles the preparations as well as the selection-process in the first months of the year.
At the same time, Herkemij is also active as technical supervisor for the big league-team of UVV.
As UVV's American Head Coach Joe Ross doesn't arrive before May, Herkemij fills in as coach.
However, Jules de Pierre doesn't like that, stating that a Netherlands Team Head Coach or has a leading role, cannot also coach a club-team, this to avoid a conflict of interest.
Herkemij was allowed to help UVV during its season-preparations and exhibition games, but not during the season.
He then has to focus on the National Team, as De Pierre states that a coach needs to watch games from the stands to scout instead of sitting in the dug-out of a team.
After having led UVV in four games, Herkemij leaves the club.
During the 1983 Championship, it becomes clear that Stoeckel will not return in 1984.
He suggests that Herkemij succeeds him, but De Pierre and his fellow boardmembers prefer another American Manager.
Herkemij was not looking forward to a new period with another American, steps down and returns to club-coaching, becoming the new Head Coach of UVV.
Harvey Shapiro, who earlier had coached in the Netherlands at Amstel Tijgers, becomes the new Manager.
One of his assistants is Jan Dick Leurs, who also is the successful Head Coach of Haarlem Nicols.
Shapiro led the team in three years, which includes the first World Championship organized in the Netherlands in 1986.
Hereafter, another American succeeds Shapiro, as Pat Murphy takes over as Manager in early 1987.
Like Stoeckel, Murphy is a young college-coach.
Stoeckel led Davidson College, Murphy was the coach of the baseball-team of Notre Dame.
With his selection of coaches, De Pierre proved to have an eye for quality, as both went on to become very successful in professional baseball.
Stoeckel was a longtime international scout for Los Angeles Dodgers.
And since 2016, Murphy is the Bench Coach of the Major League-team of Milwaukee Brewers.
Led by Murphy, the Orange-squad captures the European title in 1987 in Barcelona (Spain) to qualify for the Olympic Games of 1988 in South Korea.
However, due to his commitments with Notre Dame, Murphy is unable to return in 1988.
Instead, Tom Petroff (who passed away last year) leads the team.
De Pierre still things that there is not enough quality amongst Dutch coaches to become Manager of the National Team.
As boardmember, De Pierre also looks over the competitions and he is in favor of expanding the total of games in the season.
In 1986, teams in the highest league will play three games per week instead of two.
With this, De Pierre states that more players are needed, which forces clubs to invest more time in player development, which will lead to a larger group of candidates for the National Teams.
In the meantime, Jules de Pierre adds an international position to his resumee, as he becomes a member of the Technical Committee of the European Baseball Confederation (CEB) in 1985.
...Jules has a free moment at the Ponte Vecchio in Florence (Italy)...
...after being elected treasurer of IBAF during the Congress...
...preceeding the World Championship...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In January 1987, the Dutch Federation suffers a major blow, as longtime chairman Guus van de Heijden passes away unexpectedly.
Van der Heijden also had two important international positions, as he was the treasurer of the International Baseball Federation (then named IBAF), as well as Vice-President of CEB.
Canadian Cas Pielak is named interim-treasurer of the world federation.
But in August 1988, the important position returns to Dutch hands, as Jules de Pierre (who is the lone candidate) is elected treasurer unanimously during the Congress in Florence (Italy) before the start of the World Championship Baseball.
In March 1989, De Pierre becomes the new Vice-President of CEB.
In 1989, Jim Stoeckel returns as Manager of the Netherlands Team.
In the same year, Dutch big league-teams voice some criticism against the format of the season (with three games per week) and some National Team-players are not available, stating that they are exhausted.
In an interview with Joop Köhler in NRC Handelsblad-newspaper in June 1989, De Pierre said:
,,When three games indeed prove to be too much for most clubs, we have to return to two games, how bad this will be for the development of top-baseball.
It is weird, as clubs proposed themselves to play on Friday-evenings.
Now, this is used as an exuse by some players to withdraw from the Netherlands Team.
But this is not a big problem, as most of them probably would not have been selected or, based on their age, would have played a minor role in the upcoming goals of the coaches, which are the important European Championship in 1991 and the Olympic Games in 1992''.
1989 is a tumultuous year within the board of the KNBSB.
Earlier in the year, a new construction is announced for a 5-person board instead of nine persons.
They will form the executive council, being supported by several board-members.
In the new board, there is no place for Theo Vleeshhouwer, who had been the secretary for 18 years.
In the new set-up, this position of secretary will be handled professionally by Ben de Brouwer as Director of the Head Office.
Vleeshhouwer had been active for many years in softball, but the position of vice-president softball goes to Dick Bliek, who already handled softball.
In August, Vleeshhouwer steps down effective immediately.
In the new set-up, Jules de Pierre remains in the board and becomes vice-president for baseball-affairs.
Paul Moerman succeeds Peter Laanen, who had succeeded Van der Heijden as chairman.
Jules de Pierre always wanted to improve the quality of the Dutch big league, as well of the National Team.
In 1990, he presents a new plan of conditions a club has to comply with to play in the highest league in order to have a more professional set-up.
This includes the financial and organizational situations of a club, but also the guarantee the existence of the club in the future.
It also proposes to bring the league back to eight teams instead of ten.
The plan, which has to come into effect in 1992, was not only created by De Pierre and the KNBSB, but also by the National Team-coaches to make players better.
A new crisis in the KNBSB-board comes in September 1990 when Paul Moerman steps down as chairman after only eleven months.
Jules de Pierre takes over as interim-chairman and a search for a new chairman begins.
In November, Henk den Duijn is proposed.
He is a longtime and experienced administrator, is Mayor of Rozenburg, is chairman of the Netherlands Red Cross and has been very active at baseball- and softball-club Alphians in Alphen aan den Rijn.
Den Duijn wants to improve communication within the KNBSB.
In April 1991, Den Duijn is elected as chairman and he leads the board for eight years.
...Jules de Pierre with Osvaldo Gil Bosch (then President of...
...Puerto Rican Baseball Federation (FBAPR) and...
...Chairman Technical Committee IBAF) during the 1992...
...Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem (Netherlands)...
...In the back are Jules' wife Suze and Osvaldo's wife Leticia...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Also in 1991, De Pierre is working hard in his international positions (but on behalf of the KNBSB) to change an IBA-rule for the re-instatement of former professional players to become eligible again for a National Team.
According to IBA-rules, once a player has played professionally (in the past), he cannot play anymore for a National Team.
Later in 1991, the Orange-squad is not successful at the European Championship in Italy, which ends the second tenure of Jim Stoeckel as Manager.
In December, Jan Dick Leurs becomes the new Manager, the first Dutch Manager since Hamilton Richardson in 1980.
Through the years, it was frequently reported in newspapers that there was a conflict between Leurs and De Pierre, as the latter continued to be in favor of appointing an American Manager.
Since 1981, as Head Coach of Haarlem Nicols, Leurs had been very successful and led the team to six titles.
,,I've always said that a Dutch coach is a good as the calibre of American coaches who are appointed, but I've never said that I needed to be the Manager'', Leurs said in Trouw-newspaper in December 1991.
Leurs is appointed by KNBSB-boardmember Frans van Aalen, who had become the General Manager of the National Team and also handles technical affairs in the KNBSB-board.
In the same article, Van Aalen said:
,,I thought that someone as Leurs was needed and not a new American.
He has proven to be a real tournament-coach and the Netherlands team plays tournaments.
There has been no discussion within the board''.
Leurs is the first Dutch Manager in eleven years.
A week later, De Pierre states in De Volkskrant-newspaper:
,,I never had a conflict with Leurs, but in the past, I found him not the right person for Manager.
But Dutch baseball has improved and so have Dutch coaches''.
In 1992, De Pierre and Van Aalen agree to bring back Leurs as Manager.
De Pierre states that Leurs functions well, so there has to be no discussion to extend his contract.
Leurs leads the Netherlands Team through early 2000.
In his eights years as Manager, the Orange-squad captures three European titles, finishes in sixth place in the 1998 World Championship and qualifies for the Olympic Games of 1996 and 2000.
After the team qualifies in 1995 for the 1996 Olympics, De Pierre states in Trouw-newspaper:
,,In the past, I wanted an American coach, as Leurs is the only Dutch coach who can do this.
But I think that after someone will come again from abroad''.
Early 2000, Leurs is succeeded by Pat Murphy (who then is the Head Coach of Arizona State University), who becomes Manager for the second time and heads the Orange-squad during the Olympic Games in Sydney (Australia).
In the meantime, Jules de Pierre continues with his proposals for re-instatement of former professional players.
But that decision is postponed several times, despite the fact that professional players are already allowed in several Olympic sports.
In 1995, it is decided that former pros can play again for their respective country.
Later in the year, De Pierre announces that he will step down as board-member of the KNBSB during the upcoming election.
In March 1996, De Pierre is succeeded by Peter van 't Klooster.
Since 1974, Jules de Pierre had been a member of the KNBSB-Board for 22 years, making him one of the longest-serving boardmembers ever, joining legendary administrators such as Emile Bleesing (who has the record with 34 years), Dick Beets, Jan Hartog and Guus van der Heijden, who are the others with 20-plus years as boardmember.
Representing the KNBSB, De Pierre also is a member of the Board of the Netherlands Baseball and Softball Museum in 1990-1996.
Thanks to his background and his work, De Pierre plays an important role in updating the computer-systems at the KNBSB Head Office which is then located in Santpoort in the eighties and nineties, as he develops administrative and communicative software.
...Jules de Pierre hands out the trophy for...
...second place to Netherlands Team-captain...
...Johnny Balentina at the 1997 European...
...Championship in Paris (France)...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In his 22 years in the KNBSB-Board, Jules de Pierre had many administrative colleagues.
Through October 1990, they included Frans van Aalen, Dick Bliek, Cees Boer, Sr., Ronald Boot, Freek Bos, Aad van der Elst, Wim Endel, Joop van Hattem, Guus van der Heijden, Rob Hoogkamer, Wim Kerkhoven, Dick van der Klaauw, Peter Laanen, Fred Lindeman, Janke Nijdam, John Oosterbroek, Truus Ruiter, Egbert van der Sluis, Wil Soolsma, Theo Vleeshhouwer, Nico van der Vlugt, Gerard Voogd, Frank Voskuilen and Dries de Zwaan.
After the re-organisation of the Board late 1990, more members joined (or returned), including Frans van Aalen, Wijnand Agterberg, Dick Bliek, Paul Bokern, Frans Cleeren, Henk den Duijn, Jan Esselman, Jos Gieskens, Bert Groenink, Cees Herkemij, Josephine Hofsté, Wil Kitslaar, Wil Koet, Rob Kruijk, Olga Lablans, Harry Meijers, Paul Moerman, Rolf Moll, Truus Ruiter, Egert van der Sluis, Ton Smit, Willem Wolters and Dries de Zwaan.
Of this latter group, Van Aalen, Bokern and Esselman would also be very active in the European Baseball Confederation (CEB), while Bliek, Gieskens and De Zwaan held several positions within the European Softball Federation (ESF).
Esselman was chairman of the Technical Committee in 2005-2013 and then CEB-President in 2013-2017.
In the meantime, Jules de Pierre continues his international activities and other administrative positions.
Since the late seventies, De Pierre annually visited the Convention of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
Not only to talk with possible candidates for the Managers-position, but also to improve and maintain the international contacts, which would regularly led to commitments of colllege of national teams to participate in the Haarlem Baseball Week.
After completion of the Haarlem Baseball Week in 1978, Gerard Voogd steps down as President of the Organizing Committee, after having led the tournament in all ten editions so far.
Jules de Pierre is named as a possible successor and alongside Piet Tromp and Hans de Bie, he forms an interim committee, while Voogd continues as advisor.
From 1980 on, Tromp is the President, De Bie is Vice-President, while De Pierre becomes responsible for international contacts.
Jules de Pierre is a committee-member through 1983.
Besides Tromp and De Bie, the other members in these years are Rita Schrijber and Gonny Wedemeijer (secretaries), Wim Ascherman (treasurer), Ben de Brouwer, Henk de Bruin, Piet van Deenen, Theo Vleeshhouwer and Frank Voskuilen.
Later, in 1991-2001, Jules de Pierre is the secretary of the foundation that organizes the international baseball/softball-events in Haarlem.
Other members include Wim van der Ster, Peter Jager, Rolf Moll, Jan Esselman and Ab van Schooten.
...Jules de Pierre during his induction into the Netherlands...
...Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame in 2008, also inducted then...
...was Wim Oosterhof (center) during the Haarlem Baseball...
...Week in Haarlem (Netherlands); On the photo, they pose with...
... fellow-Hall of Famers Herman Beidschat, Ludy van Mourik,...
...Hamilton Richardson and Theo Vleeshhouwer...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In 2000, he is the Tournament Director of the baseball-tournament during the Olympic Games in Sydney (Australia).
Earlier, De Pierre also is the Tournament Director during Junior World Championships in Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan.
Besides his 22 years as member of the board of the KNBSB, Jules de Pierre was the treasurer of the International Baseball Federation (IBA, later IBAF) for 12½ years and was First Vice-President of the European Baseball Confederation (CEB) for eleven years.
Both Federations were presided for many years by Italian Aldo Notari (who passed away in 2006) with whom De Pierre closely worked together.
In February 2001, during the CEB Congress in Bonn (Germany), De Pierre was succeeded by Frans van Aalen.
In May 2001, Van Aalen also succeeded De Pierre as treasurer during the IBA Congress in Lausanne (Switzerland).
Since the eighties, Jules de Pierre always had a good relationship with members of the media.
He was always avaible for a talk and regularly, he informed them of the latest developments.
In those years, there was a small group of reporters, who always was there during most international tournaments, both at home and abroad, including Joop Köhler (NRC Handelsblad/Inside), Pim van Nes (Inside), Johan Carbo (Het Parool), Guus Mater (ANP). Donald Bax (Rotterdams Dagblad), Theo Plasschaert (NOS Radio), Andy Houtkamp (NOS Radio/TV), Richard Dubbeld (Algemeen Dagblad), Jan van der Nat (Haarlems Dagblad), Pauline Blom (Haarlems Dagblad) and Marco Stoovelaar (Nieuws van de Dag/De Telegraaf).
Jules de Pierre was a charming personality, with a lot of (international) contacts.
Through the years, he has been very passionate and driven in all positions he held.
De Pierre has done a lot to improve the quality of baseball in both the Dutch big league, as well as the National Teams.
For his many contributions, Jules de Pierre received a Royal Decoration.
In 1996, when he stepped down as board-member, De Pierre was named Honorary Member of the KNBSB.
He then also won the Leen Volkerijk Award for his contributions to player development.
In July 2008, Jules de Pierre is inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Netherlands Baseball and Softball Museum, alongside Wim Oosterhof, who was a longtime (international) softball-administrator, as well as being involved in all editions of the Haarlem Baseball Week since 1961.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Jules' wife Suze, his son Cécile, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(October 26)
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