(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by unknown photographers)
IN MEMORIAM
...Ruben Leysner...
(1934 - 2022) |
  Former National Team and big league-player Ruben Leysner passed away
Nederlands
 SAN NICOLAS (Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands) -
Ruben Leysner, who played in nine seasons in the Dutch big league for UVV and Ajax, has been a member of the Netherlands National Team for several years and also has been a coach, passed away on Sunday, January 16 at the age of 87.
Ruben Leysner was a colorful and driven player.
He was a well-respected and successful pitcher and infielder in baseball, but also had a career as a professional boxer in the fifties and sixties.
And he played basketball and soccer at the top-level on Aruba and in the Netherlands Antilles.
Last month, Ruben's nephew and former teammate Roly Wout passed away nine days before he would have turned 80.
Lochay Ruben Leysner was born in 1934 in San Nicolas on Aruba.
He came from a big family, as he had six brothers and four sisters.
From a young age on, he always has been interested in sports and became successful in several of them.
In the forties and fifties, Leysner developed into an allround athlete.
In the meantime, he studied for electrician.
In these years, Leysner became the starting short stop of the National baseball-team of the Netherlands Antilles and also was the goalkeeper of the National soccer-team of the Antilles.
Besides that, Leysner was a good basketball-player and was one of the best table tennis-players of the Antilles.
And he started a career in boxing.
In a 1965 interview, Leysner stated that his mother stimulated his career in baseball, but didn't want him to become a boxer.
But Leysner also loved this sport and so, he took an alias and called himself Curley Kayo.
However, when he signed a professional contract as a boxer at age 17 in 1951, his photo was published in newspapers and so, he couldn't hide his identity longer from his family.
And so, Leysner's career as a professional boxer started.
In the fifties, Ruben Leysner remained succesfull in several of the above mentioned sports and in 1955, he was named the best all-round sports athlete in the Netherlands Antilles.
Despite this all, he remained modest and also continued his study and became a radio-technician.
Leysner made his debut as professional boxer on April 19, 1952 in Willemstad (Curaçao) in a fight that ended in a win on points.
He made his debut on Aruba on June 26, 1954 in San Nicolas in a fight that ended in a draw.
Less than a month later, also in San Nicolas, earned his first win (also on points).
Since 1954, Ruben Leysner, who was a lightweight, participated in twelve fights that took place on either Aruba or Curaçao, the last of them in July 1957.
In a newspaper-article in 1960 it is mentioned that Leysner met Dutch heavyweight-champion Wim Snoek in 1957, who at that moment was on Aruba, while touring through some South American countries.
It was Snoek who then advised Leysner to go to the Netherlands.
|
...Ruben Leysner as boxer Curley Kayo... |
Around 1959, Ruben Leysner indeed decided to move to the Netherlands.
He went on to live in the city of Hilversum, where he started to work there for Philips and also continued his study.
And of course, he continued in several sports.
Leysner became the goalkeeper at soccer-club 's Graveland and went on to play baseball for Donar in the Fourth Division.
He also continued his career as a boxer, training and practicing his skills in Amsterdam at the wellknown school of boxing instructor Piet ter Meulen, who for many was known as 'Uncle Piet'.
In March 1960, Leysner's first fight in Europe was in Ghent (Belgium).
After a fight in 1961 in Vienna (Austria), he had his first boxing match in the Netherlands on February 9, 1962 in Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam.
There, he faced Emile Denaes (France) in a bout that ended in a loss on points.
Since 1960, Leysner kept on boxing in matches throughout Europe through 1965.
He then had one final boxing match on November 1, 1968 in Izegem (Belgium), which he lost via a knockout against Jean Vantorre (Belgium).
In 27 professional bouts, Leysner won five via a knockout.
As mentioned, when Leysner began his boxing career, he called himself Curley Kayo.
He named himself after Curly Kayoe, which was a boxing character in an American strip comic, which was also popular in those years in the Netherlands Antilles.
The comic 'Curly Kayoe' was made by Sam Leff and his brother Mo Leff and was published in newspapers and comic-books in 1946-1961.
When Leysner moved to the Netherlands, his boxing name was changed to Curley KO.
After the 1959 baseball-season, Leysner decided to play for Utrecht-based UVV, which had promoted and made its debut in the Dutch big league in 1960.
That was the beginning of a succesful career in baseball, both at the club-level as well as in the Netherlands National Team.
At UVV, Ruben played together with his brother Vincent, who also was a talented athlete in several sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer and tennis.
Throughout the sixties, the family name of the two brothers was frequently spelled incorrectly as Leyssner, instead of Leysner with one 's'.
...Cover of a Curly...
...Kayoe comic... |
When he first played for UVV in 1960 and made his debut in the highest league, Ruben Leysner immediately showed his qualities.
He showed his offensive power, his speed on the bases and also his quick defensive reactions.
With that, he attracted the attention of Ron Fraser, who then was the new Manager of the Netherlands National Baseball Team.
The American immediately invited Leysner for the Orange-squad.
In his first season with UVV, Leysner played at third base, but also was a pitcher, as was his brother Vincent.
Ruben showed what he was capable to do on July 16, 1960 in a game against Sparta.
Earlier in the season, Sparta recorded a convincing 11-1 win in an away-game in Rotterdam.
This time, UVV played at home and won 11-10.
In that game, Leysner homered, as did Ike Eigen, who was one of the many American players who played for UVV in the sixties.
In the bottom of the ninth, UVV won thanks to a walk-off homerun by Tom Campbell off of Sparta's pitching ace Jaap de Koning.
UVV made a good debut in its first big league-season, finishing in fifth place.
And Ruben Leysner was the team's best hitter with a .262 batting average.
With that, he was the seventh best hitter of league behind Simon Heemskerk (.407), Herman van der Brugge (.311), Nol Houtkamp (.293), Hugo Walker (.291) (Walker later became a wellknown baseball and softball TV-commentator), Henk Keulemans (.289) and Wim Vrenegoor (.265).
In 1961, UVV had a more difficult season.
The team lost its first nine games.
Back then, the teams played only fourteen games in the regular season.
On August 5, last-placed UVV broke the losing streak and recorded a surprising 3-2 win against OVVO, which at that moment was in second place behind league-leader Schoten.
Ruben Leysner accounted for two runs, including what would become the decisive run.
In this game, UVV faced pitching ace Han Urbanus, who struckout twelve batters and gave up only four basehits.
Playing at home, UVV scored a run in the first and second inning on three errors and a double by Leysner.
OVVO scored its first run in the top of the seventh when starting pitcher Matthew Campbell walked three batters, then hit the next one with a pitch.
Hereafter, Tom Campbell took over and secured the lead.
UVV added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Leysner singled and later scored to make it a 3-1 score.
In the top of the eighth, Han Urbanus homered, which narrowed UVV's lead to 3-2, but this also became the final score.
However, some weeks later, the game was declared invalid, as Matthew Campbell was not eligible to play in this game at that moment.
Some weeks later, Ruben Leysner does something remarkable.
First, at the end of August, UVV meets league-leader Schoten in Haarlem.
In the top of the first inning, Ruben Leysner leads off and hits a homerun on the first pitch thrown by Ruud Zijlstra, who goes the distance for Schoten.
After nine innings, the score is 4-4.
In the top of the tenth, UVV takes a 7-4 lead when Gerald de Vries hits a 3-run homerun.
But in the bottom of the tenth, Schoten recovers and rallies for four runs off of reliever Tom Campbell, thanks to some basehits and errors.
Schoten wins 8-7.
Two weeks after this game, in early September, UVV wins 2-1 against VVGA.
Again, Leysner hits a homerun on the first pitch of the game, this time thrown by Nico Brands.
With that, Leysner might be the lone player who has hit a lead-off homerun on the first pitch of a game twice.
After Leysner's homerun, basehits by Jan Kars and Cees Hiele accounted for the second run.
Despite some good games later in the season, UVV relegates to the First Division.
A remarkable fact is that the team has the best hitter in the league in American Tom Campbell with a .382 batting average.
However, he didn't get an award for that.
When Dutch/American Albert Balink donated several gold and silver medals to the Dutch Federation in 1953 to honor the Best Hitter, Best Pitcher and Most Valuable Player, he stated that these were only to be presented to Dutch players and not to foreigh players.
This to stimulate and honors accomplishments of Dutch players.
With that, the gold batting medal was not presented to Campbell, but to Nol Houtkamp, who batted .305 to finish in second place.
In later years, foreign players also became eligible for awards.
In the 1961 season, Ruben Leysner batted .286 to finish in twelfth place, but was second in runs scored with 16, trailing only Henk Keulemans, who scored 17.
...The baseball-team of UVV in 1962 - Ruben Leysner stands second from left...
...Standing: Rickey Kersout, Ruben Leysner, Don Campbell,...
...Vincent Leysner, Matthew Campbell and Gerald de Vries...
...Sitting: Les Myers (Assistant Coach), Cees Hiele (playing Head Coach),...
...Jan van Ewijk, Arie Hagen and Wim van der Ster... |
In 1962, UVV played in the First Division, captured the title and promoted back to the big league.
In the deciding game against HCK (Kinheim), UVV won 7-0 and Ruben Leysner hit a 3-run homerun off of Bert Paalman.
However, in 1963, UVV relegates again, finishing in last place.
Ruben Leysner, who now mainly played as short stop, contributes to three highlights in this season against higher placed teams.
Early May, UVV trails 2-0 against Sparta halfway the first inning.
Moments later, Vincent Leysner, Aldreck Victoria and Ruben Leysner hit three consecutive homeruns off of seven pitches thrown by Jaap de Koning.
The game ends with a 3-3 score.
A week later, EHS-pitching ace Herman Beidschat dominates against UVV in a 6-1 win.
However, he lost both his shutout and No-Hitter.
Ruben Leysner scores the lone run when he is hit by a pitch and scores on a sacrifice fly by Jan van Ewijk.
Aldreck Victoria accounted for the lone hit.
Later in the season, UVV leads against VVGA, thanks to two homeruns by Leysner.
However, the team ended up empty-handed again.
While playing for UVV in these years, besides his brother Vincent, amongst Ruben Leysner's teammates were Matthew Campbell, Tom Campbell, Jim Duncan, Ike Eigen, Jan van Ewijk, Arie Hagen, Steve Harriman, Cees Hiele, Jan Kars, Ricky Kersout, Hayward Meredith, Tom Stamer, Wim van der Ster, Aldreck Victoria and Gerald de Vries.
Hiele also is one of the coaches in these seasons.
After the 1963 season, both Ruben and Vincent Leysner decide to play for Amsterdam-based Ajax, which captured the First Division-title and returns to the higlest league in 1964.
Catcher Ricky Kersout, teammate of the Leysner's at UVV, also transfered to Ajax.
However, he doesn't play for the team.
Kersout works in what was then West-Germany and decides to play there.
With Ajax, the Leysner-brothers play through 1972.
In their first four seaons (1964-1967), Ajax plays in the big league.
The team then relegates, but returns to the big league in 1971.
In its opening-game of the 1964 season, Ajax impresses by winning 5-1 against Schoten and the Leysner-brothers immediately show their impact.
Ajax opens the score in the third inning on a 2-run double by Theo van Ham.
In the sixth, Ajax adds a run when Hubert Naar scores on a double by Ruben Leysner.
After scoring another run in the seventh on a hit by Herre Kok, Ajax lifts the lead to 5-0 in the eighth at bat.
Ruben Leysner and Rob Tromp delivers singles and Vincent Leysner follows with a runscoring single.
Schoten scores its lone run in the bottom of the ninth on a hit by Henk Keulemans.
Later in the 1964 season, Ruben Leysner delivers four basehits in a game against HHC.
In a 2-game series against Haarlem Nicols, Leysner homers on both Saturday and Sunday off of National Tean-pitchers Herman Beidschat and Ton ter Neuzen.
In its first season back in the highest league, Ajax initially is listed at the bottom of the ranking with VVGA, HHC and Schoten.
But in July, Ajax records two small and crucial 2-1 victories against Schoten to secure its stay in the big league.
In the second game, Ruben Leysner is the winning pitcher.
Leysner has another fine offensive season, as he finishes in fourth place with a .338 batting average, behind Hamilton Richardson (.438), Herre Kok (.371) and Boudewijn Maat (.350).
Leysner shares second place with 23 basehits, along with teammates Herre Kok and Hubert Naar.
Richardson has the most hits with 28.
In the next three seasons, Ajax again plays in the big league.
After the team is led by Joop Nusse in 1964 and 1965, Ruben Leysner is the playing coach in 1966.
He is succeeded by Aart Kruijs in 1967.
In that year, the team has a disappointing season and relegates.
Despite that, the Leysner-brothers continue to play for the Amsterdam-based team in the First Division.
In 1969, Ajax comes close to capturing the title in the First Division and thus promotion back to the big league.
However, on August 30 of that year, the team ends up short in the deciding game against Terrasvogels.
Thanks to homeruns by Ben Richardson and Boy Balinge and a double by Dick van der Berg, Ajax leads 4-0.
As pitcher, Richardson is throwing a No-Hitter when the bottom of the ninth inning begins.
But then, the game suddenly turns around.
Richardson walks two batters, then the bases got loaded when Harry van Berkel connected for the first basehit of the Santpoort-team.
An infield-hit then accounts for the first run.
With the bases still loaded, a comeback grounder appears to end in a force play at the plate.
However, a hard collission between baserunner Gerrie Krooder and catcher Dick van der Berg follows.
The ball is not under control, Krooder scores and a benchclearing brawl follows.
Ruben Leysner, who is the third baseman for Ajax, is ejected.
When the game resumes, Jersey van Doornspeek connects for a baseclearing 3-run double and Terrasvogels wins 5-4.
A week later, Terrasvogels, coached by Jules de Pierre, records a comfortable 12-3 win against Ajax and promotes to the big league.
...The baseball-team of Ajax in 1972 - Ruben Leysner is sitting at right...
...Standing: Reggie Smith (Coach), Leo van Wijk, Marco Nagelkerken, Jacques Cousin,...
...Bram Vermeer, Ben Richardson, Jan van Wieringen, Hennie van de Bovenkamp...
...and Ed Klokkers; Sitting: John Ludenhoff, Peter Hendriks, Herman Vegter,...
...Hans Walraven, Dick van der Berg, Jessie de Lanoy and Ruben Leysner... |
In 1970, Ajax is more successful, captures the title and promotes, while Terrasvogels relegates from the big league.
But in its first season back in highest league in 1971, Ajax finishes in last place and has to play a deciding series against First Division-champion Giants Diemen.
In the first game, Ben Richardson is the winning pitcher and hits 4-for-4 with a grand slam homerun.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Marco Nagelkerken delivers a walk-off basehit and Ajax wins 11-1.
The next day, Ajax wins 6-1 to remain in the big league.
In both 1971 and 1972, Ruben Leysner continues to be a productive batter for Ajax, which is then coached by Herre Kok and Reggie Smith respectively.
Besides that, he is used several times as a pitcher when needed.
1972 is the final season of Ajax, as the team merges with Giants Diemen thereafter.
After this season, which was his ninth in the highest league, Ruben, who was now 38 years old, retired.
While for Ajax, Ruben against plays together with his brother Vincent.
Amongst his other teammates are Boy Balinge, Dick van der Berg, Hennie van de Bovenkamp, Theo van Ham, Peter Hendriks, Herre Kok, André Kraan, Jessie de Lanoy, Franklin Lindesey, John Ludenhoff, Gerrie Mossing Holstein, Hubert Naar, Marco Nagelkerken, Douwe Offringa, Herman van Os, Ben Richardson, Irwin Richinsin, Ruud Schitker, Ab Slaman, Cas Tromp, Rob Tromp, Herman Vegter, Bram Vermeer, Hans Walraven, Jan van Wieringen and Leo van Wijk (who is the future President of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines).
Another teammate of the Leysner's was their nephew Roly Wout, who came to the Netherlands in 1964 and a year later went on to play for Ajax.
Shortly thereafter, Roly's younger brother Harold also came to the Netherlands.
Roly Wout played for Ajax in 1965 and 1966, then transfered to UVV.
After the 1972 season, Ruben Leysner returned to UVV.
There, he became the Head Coach for the 1973 season when the team played in the second highest league.
One of Leysner's players in the UVV-team then was Roly Wout, who had returned after having played for HCAW.
In 1973, Leysner led UVV to the championship in the B-Pool of the First Division.
However, in the following overall First Division-championship series against Schoten (Pool A winner), UVV was swept in two games, meaning the Haarlem-opponent promoted.
Hereafter, UVV had a second chance in a promotion/relegation series against HCAW, but again ended up empty handed.
With that, HCAW stayed in the big league and UVV in the First Division.
As mentioned, Ruben Leysner made an impressive debut in the Dutch big league when he played for UVV in 1960.
Halfway the season, Ron Fraser, who had been appointed as the first American Manager of the Netherlands National Team some months earlier, invited Leysner to participate in the practice sessions of the Orange-squad.
At that moment, the team prepared for the European Championship, which was to be held in Barcelona (Spain).
Leysner made the final roster as a back-up infielder and during the event, he was one of the first two Antillian players who made their debut in the National Team, the other being Simon Arrindell.
Also selected for this Championship was Leysner's teammate at UVV and catcher Cees Hiele.
Besides Leysner and Hiele, Manager Fraser and his Assistant Coach Charles Urbanus, Sr. also selected pitchers Herman Beidschat, Flip le Cuivre, Rob Hoffmann Sr., Jan Smidt and Ruud Zijlstra, catchers Joop Geurts and Nico Tromp, infielders Simon Heemskerk, Henk Keulemans, Leo Kops, Piet de Nieuwe, Henny Regeling and Han Urbanus and outfielders Simon Arrindell, Ton Fabrie, Nol Houtkamp, Ben Tromp and Wim Vrenegoor.
In Barcelona, the Netherlands played against Italy, West-Germany and Spain, gave up only one run and captured the European title.
In 1961, Ruben Leysner is one of the players selected by Ron Fraser for the trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the USA.
There, the teams plays a series of games against the semi-professional team of Sullivans, which became a frequent participant of the international Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands from 1963 on.
Although he plays in the second highest league with UVV in 1962, Ruben Leysner has a fine year playing for the Netherlands National Team and once more shows his offensive power.
He hits a 3-run homerun in an exhibition game against the American military team of Spangdahlem Pioneers.
Two weeks later, he is 3-for-3 with a 2-run homerun against Wiesbaden Flyers, which also is an American military team coming from West-Germany.
The homerun against Wiesbaden is important as it is the difference in the final score, a 5-4 win.
|
...Ruben Leysner in action in 1960... |
Also in 1962, Leysner again participates with the Orange Team in an European Championship, which is played in Dutch capital Amsterdam this year.
Leysner's teammates in Amsterdam are pitchers Herman Beidschat, Flip le Cuivre, Rudi Dom, Ruud Geestman, Rob Hoffmann, Ton ter Neuzen, Jan Smidt and Ruud Zijlstra, catchers Wim Crouwel, Martin Gaus and Ricky Kersout, infielders Roel Hopman, Henk Keulemans, Leo Kops, Boudewijn Maat, Doby Peters, Henny Regeling and Han Urbanus and outfielders Simon Arrindell, Teun de Groot, Nol Houtkamp, Henk Talens, Ben Tromp and Hugo Walker.
In the opening game in Amsterdam, the Netherlands wins 20-1 against France.
The Orange Team rallies for eleven runs in the first inning, highlighted by a grand slam homerun from Leysner, who adds a 3-run homerun in the third at bat.
The team closes the event (round-robin) with the deciding game against Italy.
The Netherlands wins 9-4 to again celebrates capturing the European title.
However, the score after seven innings is 4-4 after Italy had led 4-2.
Despite not being completely recovered from a fever following a bout of the flu, Herman Beidschat starts the game as pitcher and throws the first five innings.
Rob Hoffmann completed the game.
Italian legend and pitching ace Giulio Glorioso goes the distance for Italy.
Trailing 1-0, the Netherlands scores twice in the second inning.
With Simon Arrindell and Leo Kops on base, batter Herman Beidschat misses a squeeze.
Because of this, Arrindell gets into a rundown, but a throwing error follows and both runners score.
In the fifth inning, Giulio Glorioso hits a homerun and thanks to two more hits, Italy takes a 4-2 lead.
The Netherlands adds a run in the fifth on a homerun by Wim Crouwel, then comes alongside in the seventh on an error.
Although Glorioso gets less effective, no pitching change is made and that costs the Italians the game.
The Orange Team then strikes with a 5-run rally in the eighth inning, while the team's physical therapist Otto Sterman acts as cheerleader for the thousands of spectators.
With two runners on base, Boudewijn Maat hits a line drive, but outfielder Giampiero Faraone makes a great catch.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Ruben Leysner is the next hitter for the Netherlands.
With an 0-2 count, he then delivers a 2-run double that puts the team ahead 6-4 and with that Italy's resistance was broken.
Moments later, Simon Arrindell drills the ball over the fence for a 3-run homerun that lifts the lead to 9-4.
Besides delivering the deciding basehit, Leysner also plays a solid game at third base.
Short stop Leo Kops also shows his defensive skills by making some great plays.
Leysner is the best Dutch hitter with a .467 batting average.
In 1963, now with Bill Arce as new Manager, Ruben Leysner belongs to the group of players that participates in the second edition of the Haarlem Baseball Week, which then is held for the first time in the new Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem (Netherlands).
During the first edition in 1961, Leysner is not with the team.
This time, Leysner also shows his running speed.
In the game against Sullivans (USA), Leysner reaches base on catcher's interference and steals second base.
Next batter Wim Crouwel drives the ball deep into the outfield where it is caught.
However, Leysner is able to score all the way from second base to put the Orange Team ahead, 1-0.
Sullivans eventually won 3-2.
Later in the tournament, the Netherlands wins 14-0 against England Spartans, an American military team from England.
Leysner accounts for the offensive highlight by hitting a grand slam homerun.
As was common in those years, American coaches were succeeded halfway August to lead the Netherlands Team.
After Archie Allen had succeeded Bill Arce, the Orange team plays a game against Italy in Grosseto in September 1963, winning 6-3.
In the Italian city, the Netherlands breaks a 3-3 tie when Leysner delivers a 2-run double in the seventh.
He then scores an insurance run himself in the ninth on a basehit by Boudewijn Maat.
In 1964, Ruben Leysner wins the European title for the third time with the Netherlands Team, this time led by Allen.
In Milan (Italy), the team dominates in its first game against Spain, winning 10-0.
Rob Hoffmann (4 inn.) and Herman Beidchat (5) combined on a Perfect Game!
The Netherlands opens the score in the second inning when Boudewijn Maat leads off with a single, steals second base and scores on a single by Leysner.
Great catches by Hudson John (line drive, 4th inning) and Hamilton Richardson (5th inning) and a strong throw from third baseman Simon Arrindell (9th inning) account for the defensive highlights that secured the Perfect Game.
In 1966, Leysner participates in his second Haarlem Baseball Week.
To prepare for the event, the Netherlands Team (led by Howard Fetz) plays an exhibition game against Bitburg Barons, another American team from West-Germany.
The Orange Team wins only 1-0.
Again, Ruben Leysner is playing an important role.
In the first inning, he leads off with a walk, advances on a wild pitch, then scores on an infield-hit by Peter van 't Klooster.
Pitching for the Netherlands in this game are Ben de Brouwer, Marco Nagelkerken and Harry van der Vaart.
The games in 1966 were the last he played for the Netherlands National Team.
In total, Ruben Leysner played in 21 official international games.
In all the seasons he played baseball for UVV, Ajax and the Netherlands Team, Ruben Leysner showed that he was a very driven and passionate player.
He was a great and powerful hitter, speedy runner and a solid defensive player.
And yes, he sometimes could disagree with umpires and got into discussions, showing his temperament.
However, Leysner always conducted a sportsmanlike behavior and was always respected.
Because of his passion for the sports he participated in, Ruben Leysner was a colorful player and made many positive contributions to the teams he played for.
Ruben will surely be missed by many.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Ruben's family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this huge loss.
(January 22)
|
