(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Henk Seppen)
 First edition Robert Eenhoorn Classic to be organized in July
Nederlands
 ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
On July 1, the first edition of the Robert Eenhoorn Classic will be organized at the Neptunus Familiestadion, the home of Dutch champion Curacao Neptunus in Rottterdam.
The Robert Eenhoorn Classic will be one of sixteen events to be organized this year by Rotterdamse Sporticonen (Rotterdam Sports Icons).
In an announcement, Rotterdamse Sporticonen stated that its founder and member of the board Pim Blokland discussed the organization of the event with Frans van Aalen, member of the Committee of Heroes of Rotterdamse Sporticonen and former chairman of Neptunus, Ard Buijsen, Wim Boogaard (Neptunus) and Hennie Huigen (Rotterdam United Baseball).
It was decided that the event will be open for youth baseball-teams with players aged 4 through 6, as well as for teams with players aged 6 through 9.
Besides these clubteams, there also will be games for G-baseball and school-teams in cooperation with Rotterdam Sportsupport.
The Robert Eenhoorn Classic will end with a free visit to a home game of Neptunus.
Before that game, there will be a meet-and-greet for the young players with the players of Neptunus.
On July 1, Neptunus is scheduled to play against DSS, starting at 3 PM.
The event is named after Robert Eenhoorn, the first Rotterdam-born player to reach the Major League.
After Win Remmerswaal and Rikkert Faneyte, he became the third Dutch-born and raised player in the Major League.
Eenhoorn played in the Dutch big league for Neptunus and Haarlem Nicols and also played in the Netherlands National Team.
He also was the Manager of the Orange squad for eight years, before becoming Techincal Director Baseball of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association.
In October 2014, Eenhoorn became the Executive Director of professional soccer-club AZ.
Eenhoorn made his professional debut in the organization of the New York Yankees in 1990, playing in Single-A.
In 1994, he made his debut in the Major League, playing in three games for the Yankees.
The short stop played in five more games for the Yankees during the 1995 season.
In 1996, Eenhoorn started the season with the Yankees, for whom he then played in twelve games.
In September 1996, he was acquired by California Angels, where he closed the season and played in six games.
In 1997, Eenhoorn appeared in eleven games for the Angels to give him a total of 37 Major League-games.
The following year, he started in triple-A with the New York Mets, but returned home to the Netherlands after conclusion of the season.
The foundation Rotterdamse Sporticonen wants to honor Rotterdam sports heroes and improve the health of children.
In order to achieve that, the foundation organizes free youth sporting events, named after and in cooperation with Rotterdam sports icons or their relatives.
Other events to be organized this year by Rotterdamse Sporticonen are: Deborah Gravenstijn Classic (judo), Dirk Kuyt Cup (soccer), Coen Moulijn Memorial Cup (soccer), Stefan de Vrij Cup (soccer), Kevin Strootman Cup (soccer), Jan Boskamp Cup (soccer), Bep van Klaveren Junior (boxing), Bep van Klaveren Memorial (boxing), Willem van Hanegem Cup (soccer), Fatima Moreira de Melo Cup (field hockey), Raemon Sluiter Open (tennis), Jolanda Paardekam Classic (table tennis), Joost Luiten Classic (golf), Robert Doornbos (grand prix) and Nelli Cooman Mile (athletics).
(January 27)
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