(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Coen Stoovelaar, Gijs Selderijk & Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Floor Blaauw...
(1934 - 2022)
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
 Longtime Netherlands Youth Team Coach Floor Blaauw passed away
Nederlands
 HILVERSUM (Neth.) -
Floor Blaauw, who has been active for many years as a coach and instructor in the Netherlands National Youth Program, has passed away at age 88.
Unfortunately, the exact date of his passing is not known, but is was known that he suffered from some health problems in the past few years.
Floor Blaauw was the Manager of the Netherlands Cadets Team for thirteen years (1977-1989) and led the team during six European Championships, winning three of them.
Floor Blaauw was born on January 8, 1934.
He became intererested in sports at a young age, especially in baseball, the sport he went on to play himself for several years.
But Floor Blaauw's interest quickly turned to coaching, the field in which he excelled for many years, especially leading talented youth-players.
In his hometown Hilversum, Floor Blaauw became closely involved in local baseball-club Donar, where he played and later also coached.
Halfway the sixties, he went on to handle the administrative duties of the baseball-section (game-secretary) through 1968.
He returned to this activity in 1973 when Nico Dunnebier became the club's new secretary.
In 1965, Donar promoted to the national Third Division and in following years, it promoted to the Second Division and First Division, which in those years was just below the big league.
While playing in the First Division, the team was known as Donar-Jaski.
In those years, Blaauw played for the team, but also became the Assistant Coach of Lucio Victoria in 1969.
Thereafter, he became the Head Coach and led the team through 1974.
After the 1974 season, Donar merged with another club from Hilversum, De Bosbokken, to become baseball- and softball-club Hilversum.
Blaauw handled the baseball-administration for one more year (1975) in which the new team was now known as Cuir 2000 Hilversum, playing in the Second Division.
It was from the early seventies that Floor Blaauw turned more and more to coaching teams, mostly youth.
In 1976, Blaauw was the Head Coach of the baseball-team of De Zuidvogels in Huizen and also was a youth-coach at HCAW in Bussum.
Since the sixties through 1973, the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Association (KNBSB) annually organized successful youth-trainingcamps for talented young baseball-players.
These were held in the month of July in Eindhoven, initially at the site of hockey-club Rood Zwart and in 1973 at the site of baseball/softball-club PSV.
In Eindhoven, the local organization was done by Ronald Boot, while then National Team Coach Charles Urbanus, Sr. led the staff of coaches and instructors.
Amongst the instructors in the early seventies were Wim Hageman, Cees Herkemij, Henny Jenken, Max Rietbergen, Cees Santifort, Bart Seidel, Arnold Smith, Arno Snellenburg and Harry van der Vaart, some of whom were players of the Netherlands National Team.
However, in 1973, the then-Ministry of Education, Culture and Science withdraw its subsidy for these youth-camps.
As organizing the youth-camp by themselves was too costly for the KNBSB, it mark the end of the successful centralized youth-camps.
However, later in 1973, the KNBSB decided to set up regional youth-camps in the different Rayons of the country.
These regional camps, which were less costly, were first organized in 1974.
As mentioned, Floor Blaauw had become a youth-coach at Donar and Hilversum.
His qualities to work with young players were quickly noted and so, he became involved in the youth-camp that was organized in the Rayon Midden-Nederland (Central Netherlands).
The regional camps also led to the creation of the Baseball School, which opened its doors in January 1977 in Zwanenburg.
There, led by Cees Herkemij, talented pitchers and catchers of the National Youth Teams got weekly practices from coaches such as Jan Dick Leurs and Cees Santifort.
The instructions of the latter two led to the development of several strong pitchers and catchers through the years.
In later years, umpires also conducted winter practices there.
In 1978, the new version of the National Youth Camp was set up and led by Cees Herkemij and Wim Hageman.
The latter led the Camp, as well as the National Try-Outs, since 1984 and continued to do so for many years.
Herkemij and Hageman also led the practice-sessions, as did Floor Blaauw, who as Manager of the Cadets Team, belonged to the staff of instructors and coaches.
Others included Huub Kohl, Cees Santifort, Harry van der Vaart and Bart Volkerijk.
In the eighties, they werd joined by Roel Klaassen, Franco Martis and Gijs Selderijk, amongst others.
Through the years, the National Youth Camp was organized at several locations, including Bussum, Papendal and Apeldoorn.
Later, when the camp moved to the fields of Bloemendaal and at the site of Terrasvogels in Santpoort-Zuid, Guus van Dee also joined the staff.
Since the sixties, the National Softball Youth Camp was held for many years at the KNVB-Centrum in Zeist.
...The Netherlands Cadets Team of 1977 at the European Championship in...
...Brasschaat (Belgium), the first time the team was led...
...by Floor Blaauw, who is standing second from right...
...Standing at left are Assistant Coaches Mark Stott and Wim Hageman...
...Standing at right is Physical Therapist Rob Wentink and fourth...
...from right is Assistant Coach Herman Thomas...
(© Photo: Coen Stoovelaar) |
In the sixties, a Netherlands National Team was selected for the first time in the age-group of 13-15 years old, which then was called BRL (Babe Ruth League).
The name of the age-group changed to aspirants in 1976, then (internationally) to Cadets in 1978 when the ages also were changed to 14 through 16.
In 1971, led by Manager Charles Urbanus, Sr., the team won the Open European-title at a tournament organized in Groningen (Netherlands), then Cees Herkemij led the team to the same title in 1973 in Wiesbaden (then West-Germany).
The first real European Championship was then organized in 1975 and the Netherlands won, led by Arno Snellenburg.
He stepped down in 1976, then Floor Blaauw was named as his successor in 1977.
For Blaauw, this was his first of thirteen years that he would lead the young group of talented Dutch players.
Through the years, many of the players that were coached by Blaauw in the Netherlands Cadets Team would go on to play in the Dutch big league, as well as in the Netherlands National Baseball Team.
And several of them also became a coach themselves.
In 1977, the Netherlands Cadets Team participated in the European Championship in Brasschaat (Belgium).
Due to the withdrawal of three teams, the schedule was changed several times.
The Netherlands finished in second place.
During the Championship in Belgium, Blaauw was assisted by Herman Thomas and American Mark Stott, who was a player of the California Stags and was a guest-coach.
Wim Hageman, who was one of the coaches of the Netherlands Juniors Team, also was with the team in Belgium as an Assistant Coach.
Jan Kort served as the Team Manager and Rob Wentink was the Physical Therapist.
Wentink was a longtime friend of Blaauw, as he also was active for many years in the baseball-section of Hilversum.
In 1979, the team again finished in second place during the European Championship in Madrid (Spain).
Despite that, Floor Blaauw won the Coach of the Year Award at the end of the year.
In its motivation to hand out the Award to Blaauw, the Netherlands Assocation for Baseball Coaches (NVBC) stated that the Cadets Team had represented the Netherlands the best of all the National Teams.
Also, by giving the Award to Blaauw, the NVBC also wanted to honour all youth-coaches, who do a lot of work, but are not rewarded enough for that.
In those years, the NVBC (which doesn't exist anymore) handed out the Coach Awards to baseball-coaches.
Two years later (1981), the Orange Cadets Team captured the title at the European Championship in Antwerp (Belgium).
The team then participated in the Amsterdam Baseball Series at the site of Amsterdam Pirates in 1982, which was the lone international activity for the team in that year.
In 1983, Floor Blaauw led the team during another European Championship.
But this time, in Borgerhout (Belgium), the Orange Team had to settle for second place.
After having won convincingly against Begium and Germany, the Netherlands lost the Final against Italy with a 9-4 score.
It was the third time in four Championships that Blaauw saw his team finish second behind Italy.
...The successful Netherlands Cadets Team that captured...
...the European Championship-title in 1985 in San Marino...
...Floor Blaauw stands at right besides Wim Hageman...
...Assistant Coach Huub Kohl stands at left...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
After the loss, Blaauw was very disappointed.
After completion of a tournament, Blaauw always looked back to the accomplishments of his team, but this time, he not only voiced his disappoinment, but also criticized the players (in general) in an interview in 'Inside'.
,,We solely lost on errors, dumb, stupid errors'', Blaauw said looking back to the Final against Italy.
,,All little things went wrong, because they were very nervous.
Why? I don't know.
This Italian team was the weakest I've ever seen.
We should have won easily.
In this age group you really get to know the players during a tournament like this.
Then it turns out that some players are not ready at all, despite having enough talent.
But they can't play under pressure.
That is why I would rather play a tournament before the start of a European Championship.
And we have to teach the players to play under pressure again.
Those Italians were more aggressive.
It was different with us.
Mummy and daddy accompany to the field, bring a bottle of drink, those boys are pampered.
They have to learn to eat the gravel again''.
During the Championship, Blaauw had a roster of talented players of whom fourteen would later play in the Dutch big league.
Amongst them were two future Major Leaguers: Robert Eenhoorn and Rikkert Faneyte.
And Clive Mendes (who also briefly played professionally) was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Also in 1983, Blaauw was with the Netherlands B-Team.
He then assisted Manager Jan Dick Leurs during the international Amsterdam Baseball Series at the site of Amsterdam Pirates.
In 1985, Floor Blaauw and his staff had more success, as they led the Netherlands Cadets Team to the title in the European Championship, which then was held in Serravalle (San Marino).
In the decisive game against Italy, the Orange Team won 6-0.
In 1986, Blaauw and his Cadets-team were to participate in an international tournament at the site of Twins Oosterhout, but that was cancelled.
Instead, the team traveled to Antwerp (Belgium) to play four games against the National Cadets Team of Belgium.
The team then also played against the Junior-squads of Sweden and France for whom these were exhibition-games to prepare for the European Junior Championship in Antwerp.
As it was decided the drop the European Championship in the Cadets age-group, there was no tournament in 1987.
To secure the development of young players and the smooth transfer to the Juniors, the Cadets-team played in some international tournaments.
In 1987, the Cadets-team participated in and won an international tournament in Parma (Italy).
In 1988, it was Floor Blaauw, who was able to set up a tournament in Antwerp, together with Eddy Van Woensel and Paul De Buck, who were new (and active) board-members of the Belgian Federation.
...Floor Blaauw with Major League-legend Bob Feller...
...during a game of the Major League Alumni Team...
...in 1990 in Bussum (Netherlands)...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
As there again was no Cadets Championship in 1989, another constuction was created.
As the Netherlands Juniors Team participated in the World Juniors Championship in Canada, it was decided that the Cadets-team (with the addition of some players of the Juniors Team) would participate in the European Juniors Championship, which was organized in Leeuwarden (Netherlands).
There, Blaauw led the team to the European title.
In the thirteen years that Floor Blaauw was the Manager of the Netherlands Cadets Team, many of his players would continue to play in the Dutch big league and many of them also would play for the Netherlands National Team.
In his first year as Manager, Blaauw led the following sixteen players during his first European Championship: pitchers Remko Blaauw (his son), Rob Hendriks, Erik Otter, Erwin Visser, Geert Wilms and Pim Winkel, catchers Gerlach Halderman and Ronald Stoovelaar, infielders Jurgen van de Hoek, Roel Klaassen, Marcel Kruyt, Marcel Meekers and Ernst van de Ploeg and outfielders Johan de Boed, Frans de Bruijn and Franklin Richardson.
From this group, Hendriks, Winkel, Halderman, Stoovelaar, Klaassen (as pitcher), Kruyt (as outfielder), De Bruijn and Richardson went on to have long careers in the Dutch big league.
Halderman, Klaassen, Kruyt and Stoovelaar also had long careers in the Netherlands Team.
Hendriks, Halderman, Stoovelaar and Klaassen later continued in coaching and all coached in the big league, De Bruijn coached in the women's softball big league.
Next year, Hendriks will make his debut as Head Coach of Twins Oosterhout in the big league, while Stoovelaar will be the Head Coach of the second team of Hoofddorp Pioniers in the First Division in his seventh season.
Another fact of this 1977 Championship: playing in the Italian Team that year were Gianguido Poma and Ruggero Bagialemani, who also went on to become longtime players of the country's National Team and would be active for many years as a player and a coach.
Amongst the players in the following years were pitchers Ben van den Berg, Raymond Beugeling, Danny Bout, Tonny Cohen, Patrick van Doorn, Rikkert Faneyte, Frans Groot, Mike Hofer, Misja Klooswijk, Harry Koster, Jaap Land, Erik Lommerde, Tom Nanne, Caspar van Rijnbach, René Rijst, Danny Scheer and Thijs-Jan Smidt, catchers René van Huffel, Martijn Kant, Alswinn Kieboom, Dave Kohl, Geza Kovacs, Clive Mendes, Floris Smidt and Patrick Vielvoye and position-players Bob van Aalen, Ron Agterberg, Roy Berrevoets, Gijs ten Bosch, Michael Crouwel, André Dalmulder, Marco Diamantatos, Robert Eenhoorn, Edwin Fokke, Sven van der Graaf, Roland de Groot, Michael Halderman, Marco van Hoften, Robert John, Lars Koehorst, Peter Kwakernaak, Sänder Messemaker, Ralph Milliard, Maurice Verdaasdonk, Byron Ward and Michiel Zwinkels.
All of them played many seasons in the Dutch big league and most of them also were selected for the Netherlands Team.
From this group, Faneyte (San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers), Eenhoorn (New York Yankees, Anaheim Angels) and Milliard (Florida Marlins, New York Mets) went on to play in the Major League.
Cohen, Groot, Mendes and Van Rijnbach played professionally in the Minor League.
Kieboom's sons Spencer and Carter (both Washington Nationals) went on to play in the Major League in the past few years.
...Floor Blaauw with Ben de Brouwer and Cees Herkemij...
...in San Diego (USA) for the 1987 Coach Convention...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Faneyte, Groot, Vielvoye, Berrevoets, Crouwel and Groot also went on to become coaches in the Dutch big league.
Faneyte led Amsterdam Pirates to the Championship-title in 2008.
After completion of the 2022 season, Crouwel retired after being the Head Coach of the big league-team of DSS/Kinheim in three seasons, which had followed four seasons in charge of the Kinheim baseball-team.
Kwakernaak was recently named Technical Director of the KNBSB.
After having led the Netherlands Cadets Team for the first time in 1977, Floor Blaauw's staff changed regularly in the following years.
As mentioned, Floor Blaauw was assisted by Herman Thomas and Wim Hageman in 1977.
Thereafter, his Assistant Coaches were Rien Siervogel (1978-1983), Hans van Rooden (1981-1983) and Huub Kohl (1984-1987).
In 1986, Wim Hageman joined the staff as Assistant Coach.
He would assist Blaauw through 1989, then succeeded him as Manager in 1990.
In 1988, Fred Mäkel, a talented pitcher and promising coach himself, was the Pitching Coach of the team.
Unfortunately, in August of that year, Mäkel unexpectedly passed away at age 24.
In the supporting staff, Dave Sanders served the longest as Team Manager, handling the administrative duties around the team for seven years.
Erik de Hooge was the longest-serving Physical Therapist of the Cadets Team, as he looked after the players for five years.
In many of these seasons, Gerard Wijbrandts was the very dedicated Equipment Manager of the team.
While being the Manager of the Netherlands Cadets Team, Floor Blaauw also coached abroad in two seasons.
Halfway the 1986 season, Blaauw succeeded Luxembourgian Adri Garnich as Head Coach of Antwerp Eagles in the highest Belgian league.
Garnich has been the successor of another Dutch coach, Cees de Bruin, who had led the Antwerp-team in four seasons (three titles).
Blaauw returned to the team in 1987, but then didn't complete the season.
With the team in first place, having won 18 of its first 20 games, Blaauw stepped down after the first round of the regular season after the team had relegated to the B-Pool during the European Cup-tournament in Paris (France).
Blaauw cited a lack of discipline in a number of players during the tournament as the reason for his departure.
After completion of the 1988 season, Floor Blaauw was a member of the coaching-staff of the Netherlands National Team when it participated in the Chung Hua Tournament in Taiwan.
It was the fifth consecutive year that the Orange Team traveled to Taiwan to play in an international tournament there.
In 1988, Blaauw and Berry Eijgendaal assisted Henny Jenken, who led the team during the tournament.
During the 1989 season, Floor Blaauw became the interim Head Coach of HCAW-Tijgers in the Dutch big league.
He then succeeded Dave Daniels, with whom the Bussum-club separated.
Blaauw led HCAW to six victories in fourteen games.
...Floor with Amsterdam Pirates-icon Loek Loevendie...
...during a baseball-game in Amsterdam in 2019...
(© Photo: Gijs Selderijk) |
For his longtime activitities, coaching, giving instructions and his contributions to player development in youth- baseball, Floor Blaauw was decorated by the Dutch Federation in 1986.
Through the years, Floor Blaauw always wanted to learn something new in the field of coaching.
In the seventies and eighties, he already attended several coach-clinics at American military bases in Frankfurt or Ramstein in what was then West-Germany, but also during several clinics in the Netherlands.
During these clinics, Blaauw always was an interested listener to the lectures of former Major League-players/coaches.
In 1987, he also attended the Coaching Convention in San Diego (USA).
When the World Championship Baseball was held in Cuba in October 1984, Floor Blaauw tried something, which was completely new to him.
During the event in Cuba and a preceeding tournament on Curaçao, Blaauw was a journalistic colleague of mine, as he wrote some articles for De Waarheid-newspaper.
It was to be his lone journalistic activity.
For many years, Floor Blaauw was a longtime follower of American Major League-baseball.
He not only spent many hours listening to radio-broadcasts, but he was also able to watch TV-broadcasts of Major League-games.
As he lived in Hilversum, he could pick up the TV-signal of the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) in Europe via the nearby located military base in Soesterberg.
And so, a dream came true when he was able to meet legendary Major League-pitcher and Hall of Famer Bob Feller in 1990 at the site of HCAW in Bussum.
The former pitcher of Cleveland Indians (1936-1941, 1945-1956) then was a member of the Major League Alumni Team that visited the Netherlands and played two games.
Floor Blaauw always appeared to be modest, but when needed, especially as a coach, he could go into arguments when needed or voice his criticism regarding the national youth-program or the quality of (international) tourmaments.
However, he always showed that characteristic smile and fun-eyes, both on and of the field.
After having retired as a coach, Floor remained a frequent visitor of baseball-games, mostly at the sites of HCAW and Amsterdam Pirates.
The last time that Floor attended a baseball-game was somewhere in 2019 when he was at a home-game of Amsterdam Pirates.
Besides following the game, he spent several hours talking to another baseball-great, Pirates club-icon Loek Loevendie, who passed away in February last year.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Floor's family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(November 2)
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