(Story & Photos by Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...John Barrett...
(1939 - 2022)
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
  Former big league-umpire and coach John Barrett passed away
Nederlands
 BOSTON, Massachusetts (USA) -
John Barrett, who for many years was one of the best umpires in the Dutch big league baseball AND softball, has passed away on Monday (March 21), just over a month after he had turned 83.
John passed away on what was the 58th anniversary of his marriage to his wife Mary, who sadly passed away last December.
After returning to the USA, John Barrett continued umpiring until some three years ago.
Barrett also played baseball for a long time, played softball and has been a longtime basketball-referee.
John A. Barrett was born on February 5, 1939 and was interested in sports from a young age.
He played baseball and basketball himself, but above all, he loved to officiate in different sports.
John was 19 years old when he first umpired games in Little League-baseball in 1958.
From that moment on, he kept on umpiring baseball-games at all kinds of level, which means he officiated in baseball for more than sixty years.
He once told that back in those days, he umpired some fifty games.
Each month!
In August 1963, John Barrett, who then was 24 years old, first traveled to the Netherlands and went on to work and live in Dodrecht.
Despite his height of 5.3 ft (1,62 m), he started to play basketball for a local club.
In February 1964, Barrett married and later got three daughters.
Some years later, the Barrett-family moved to Voorburg (near The Hague), as he worked as an English teacher at the American School that was located in nearby Wassenaar.
From the early eighties, the Barrett's lived in Wassenaar until returning to the USA.
At the American School, John Barrett not only was a teacher, he was also a member of the staff that coached several sports.
Barrett coached basketball as well as baseball.
The American School had its own baseball competition, which was organized by the American Baseball Foundation (ABF), but also participated in Dutch youth-leagues (as ABF).
Barrett later became the director of this school.
Towards the end of the sixties, John Barrett started to play baseball for ADO in The Hague, initially as second baseman, later as catcher.
He was a member of the ADO-team that captured the title in the First Division in 1970, led by longtime Head Coach Leen Volkerijk.
And so, ADO made his debut in the highest league in 1971, as did Barrett.
In his first big league-season, the American played in 20 of his team's 28 games and collected fourteen basehits, which included his lone homerun.
ADO won only four of the 28 games and relegated again.
However, the team repeated as First Division-champion in 1972 (again led by Volkerijk) to return to the big league in 1973.
This time to stay for a longer period of time.
John Barrett kept on playing for ADO through the 1975 season.
...The championship-team of ADO in 1970...
...John Barrett sits fourth from right...
...Standing 2nd from is coach Leen Volkerijk... |
Other players in the ADO-team in those years included Yvo Boersma, Steve Burr, Jaap Bijl, Berry Eijgendaal, Harrie Heikoop, Hans Leenen, Ferry Neuteboom, Gerard Salemink, Hugo Wapperom, Louis Witloks and King Zschuschen.
During the 1974 season, a young and talented 17-year old pitcher made his debut for ADO, being Bart Volkerijk, who went on to play for the team in 21 big league-seasons and was the longtime all-time strikeout-leader in the Dutch big league.
As a player, John Barrett was a solid contact-hitter, who also was a good bunter.
Because of his height, he also walked regularly.
In his brief big league-career as a player, Barrett played in some memorable games.
During the 1971 season, for the first time in big league-history, two teams from The Hague faced each other, being ADO and Storks.
In April of that year, Storks won the first meeting with a 4-1 score.
Playing at home the next day, ADO won 7-6.
In that game, ADO trailed 6-5 in the seventh inning, but came alongside thanks to a double by John Barrett.
Moments later, ADO took the lead on a sacrifice/squeeze-bunt by Berry Eijgendaal, who also was the winning pitcher.
In later seasons, Eijgendaal became more known as an outfielder.
In May of the 1973 season, ADO and Storks again faced each other.
In the first game, Win Remmerswaal went the distance for Storks and threw a No-Hitter and barely missed a Perfect Game.
It was John Barrett, who was the lone ADO-player to reach base off of Remmerswaal, who in 1979 became the first Dutch-born and raised player to play in the American Major League, pitching for Boston Red Sox.
Barrett hit a pop-fly in the infield near the mound, which was catchable.
Although Remmerswaal might have had a chance to catch the ball, the first baseman came over and missed the ball for an error.
The next day, the game between by ADO and Storks was marred by bench-clearing brawl.
Barrett's glasses broke and he sustained a wound above his eyebrow.
Also in 1973, ADO recorded a 4-3 win against Feyenoord.
In that game, John Barrett was 3-for-5 off of pitching-ace Marcel de Bruijn, who passed away on March 11.
During the 1974 season, Barrett got his first experiences in coaching baseball at the highest level.
It was in that year that the regular season was followed by a month-long competition between regional teams.
The All Star Team of The Hague was then led by Leen Volkerijk with Barrett as his assistant.
...John Barrett coaching Haarlem Nicols...
...in 1977 with his neck in a scaffold...
...after his serious accident... |
After the 1975 season, Barrett retired as a player and became ADO's new Head Coach, succeeding Hans van der Lande.
Barrett was assisted by former teammate Yvo Boersma and Jean-Jap Tjong.
Led by Barrett in 1976, ADO won 15 of its 28 games and finished in fourth place.
In the meantime, John Barrett started to expand his officiating career.
He had become a basketball-referee in 1971.
During the 1975-1976 season, he made his debut in the highest basketball league (Eredivisie).
A few years later, he went on to officiate in local soccer-games in The Hague.
In 1975, he became an umpire in women's softball in what then was the Rayon The Hague.
Barrett kept on officiating games at this level through 1982.
Amongst the umpires back then in The Hague in the seventies were John Bakker, Fred Bergenhenegouwen, Robert Bos, Wil ten Bosch, Bert Brebde, Anne de Bruijne, Wim van Damme, Fred Hanou, Gé Hogenbirk, Bram Klijnsmit, André Prins, Ton Verbeten and Al Vogel.
Several of these umpires went on to reach the Dutch big league.
John Barrett got a chance to lead games in the highest league as soon as 1976.
A year later, he was a regular and he remained so until 1981.
Amongst the umpires with whom he then officiated in the highest league were Teun van den Berg, Erik Bokern, Paul Egner, Cor van Elst-van Water, Dirk Jong, Cees Maerten, Roel Meijering, Frits Mulder, Rob Oene, Aad Peperkoorn, Pieter van der Ploeg, Jean Rijksen, Wim Schutterop, Ruud Stolting, Jan Termaat, Ton Verton, Toon Verzijlberg, Jan Vlasveld, Ron Voerman, Co van de Wateringen, Greet van Wijk and Dries de Zwaan, besides the already mentioned Ten Bosch, Brebde, De Bruijne, Van Damme, Prins and Vogel.
As most softball-games in those years were played on weekdays, Barrett was able to continue his baseball-activities in the weekend.
After having led ADO in 1976, he stepped down.
However, early 1977, Barrett returned as a coach, this time leading reigning champion Haarlem Nicols.
Players of Nicols then included Ron Giroldi, Ton de Jager, Henny Jenken, Huub Kohl, Jan Dick Leurs, Boudewijn Maat, Robert Maat, Harry van der Vaart and Americans Gary Holland, Bill Kelley and Douglas Morton.
...Head Coach John Barrett pours champagne...
...into the Championship Trophy after winning...
...the Dutch title with Haarlem Nicols...
...Holding the Cup is Harry van der Vaart...
...Looking on are Boudewijn Maat, Ton de Jager...
...and Henny Jenken...
(© Photo: Nationaal Archief/Anefo/Koen Suyk) |
During the 1977 season, on May 19, a huge shock went through the Dutch baseball- and softball-world when it learned that John Barrett was involved in a serious car-accident, while returning home to Voorburg.
Barret was severely injured, suffering a fracture in one of his cervical vertebrae.
Despite that, he was back in the dug-out of Nicols for just over two weeks later.
He immediately became an 'attraction' because of a huge scaffolding around his neck to stabilize his head, bolted in his skull and resting on his shoulders.
Due to his injuries, Barrett was unable to travel with the team to Italy for the European Cup-tournament.
Intially, fellow-American Jim Strong was to fill in, but that fell through.
In that year, Strong led the junior baseball-team of Amsterdam Pirates.
Instead, Huub Kohl, who didn't play due to an injury, coached the team.
The Nicols-team in those year were closely knit and severe accident to their coach underscored that.
The team went on to capture its third consecitive Championship-title.
In 1978, Barrett returned as coach of Nicols, which then added some younger players and had a lesser season.
After the season, Barrett stepped down and was succeeded by Kohl.
At this moment, he was a basketball-referee, soccer-referee and softball-umpire and it was somewhere in 1977 that John Barrett also decided to add baseball to his umpiring list.
He already had umpired in baseball before coming to the Netherlands and did the same for games at the American International School.
Because of his experience and qualities, he immediately was assigned to national league-games.
Back then, the umpiring-corps for baseball was much bigger than nowadays and amongst the group that was eligible to officiate in national league-games at the end of the seventies were some wellknown names.
A lot of them went on to umpire in the big league (or already were in the highest league) and Barrett umpired with several of them, not only in the big league, but also in lower national leagues.
Amongst the umpires in the late seventies were Wim Baas, Paul Barts, Wim van Beek, Cor Blitterswijk, Willem den Boef, Jan Boerendonk, Paul Bokern, Robert Bos, Cees Bouterse, Rob Brink, Wim Broertjes, Jos de Champs, Hans Corpeleijn, Wim Detiger, Hans van Deursen, Taco Dillesse, Huib Donker, Jos Gieskens, Paul Goode, Willem Griebling, Fred van Groningen Schinkel, Hans Haazen, Vincent Hazel, Claus Hellburg, Ton Hout, Gerard Inden, Jan Janszen, Bram Klijnsmit, Fred de Kramer, Jaap Kuggeleijn, Bert Lauer, Jos Loogman, Chris Mast, Aad Mooldijk, Dick Mos, Jan Pauwels, Chris Pieters, Ede Pool, Lex Rimini, Henk Ronnenbergh, Piet van Rijswijk, Hans Schotel, André Schrijber, Guus Slauerhof, Bert Staller, Coen Stoovelaar, Karel van Veen, Theo van den Velden, Franklin Victor, Wim Visser, Piet Vorst, Aad de Vos, Aad Vuik, Theo Walthie, Jan van der Wardt, Aart Wedemeijer, Henk Wolffenbuttel, Karel van Zadelhoff, Leen Zuur and the very talented Belgian umpire François Vermeulen, who unfortunately passed away at a much too young age.
...John arrives at Amsterdam Pirates...
...on a chilly day during the 1983 season...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
From this group, Fred van Groningen Schinkel, Chris Pieters and Barrett not only were the three best umpires in the eighties (both nationally and internationally), they became very close friends.
Frequently, they were called 'The Three Musketeers'.
Van Groningen Schinkel went on to set a record by officiating in 46 seasons in the big league.
Unfortunately, Chris Pieters passed away in 2000.
From 1980 on, several other umpires made their debut in national leagues.
Several of them also went on to reach the Dutch big league and thus became colleagues of Barrett at the highest level.
Amongst these 'new' umpires were Ton Bodaan, Nico Dalmulder, Jan Kooijmans, Jan Kuipers, Henk Meerleveld, André Prins, Ada Reymer, Ton Verbeten, Feiko Drost, Ton van de Wouw, Erick Barkhuis, Sjaak Bonten, Gerard Siep, Leo Spierenburg, Wil Tessers, Harold Waalzaan, Bob Bergkamp and Ted Smets.
Halfway the eighties, Henri van Heijningen, Ben Lens, Piet Sterk, Johan Brandsma and Hennie Jansen joined the group of national level-umpires.
These latter umpires learned from the experiences of John Barrett, who also was a lecturer during the annual umpiring clinics.
Later, they also reached the big league.
Yes, this is a long list of names (as is the softball-list above), but this is to show how big the umpire-corps was in those years for both baseball and softball.
From 1979 on, John Barrett officiated regularly in the Dutch big league-baseball.
He combined that with umpiring in the softball big league during the week.
Another umpire who did the same in those years was André Prins, who also lived in Wassenaar and became a close friend.
Barrett, Prins and Bert Brebde were very active softball-umpires in those years.
Sadly, Brebde (another close friend) passed away while officiating a game in 1990.
All three were known for their rule-knowledge, but also for their 'showman-ship' on the field.
Barrett loved to put on some kind of a show during a game (for example very clear and loud safe-calls), but it never interfered with his judgments or rulings.
Barrett also attracted attention while officiating in basketball, however, their it was less liked, as it was labeled 'too American'.
After having stepping down as coach of Haarlem Nicols, Barrett rejected an offer to become the coach of Neptunus for the 1981 season, choosing for his umpiring career.
Looking back to that offer, Barrett stated in an interview in 1980 in Trouw-newspaper that coaching simply takes too much time compared to what you get back in return financially.
However, he did return to playing baseball (and coaching) himself again at a lower level in the early eighties, as he played baseball for Squeeze and softball for ADO (both in The Hague), playing in evening-games.
And he regularly gave instructional clinics for youth-players at ADO and was a coach at the International School in Wassenaar.
And through the years, John also played softball for Wassenaar, VUC and Hygiea, the last two clubs also located in The Hague.
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...John's colleagues and close friends...
...Bert Brebde, André Prins, Fred van Groningen Schinkel & Chris Pieters...
(© All Photos: Marco Stoovelaar) |
But after the 1981 season, John Barrett had to make a decision and choose between baseball and softball.
He was assigned to only one big league baseball-game per weekend, as the softball-games in the highest league were more and more getting scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays.
And so, before the start of the 1982 season, Barrett choose for baseball and from that year on, he was a regular in the big league.
He felt sorry to leave softball, but through 1988, he continued to be an umpire observer during weekday-games.
Oh, in 1981 and 1982, Barrett also was a member of the Softball Rules Committee of the Dutch Association, together with Piet van Deenen (chairman), Theo Vleeshhouwer (secretary), Teun van den Berg, Wim van Sorge and Dries de Zwaan.
And in 1983 and 1984, John was a member of the Umpiring Committee in the Hague, chaired by Wil ten Bosch.
Although Barrett was one of the best umpires in the big league from the beginning, he was not put on the list of international Dutch umpires who were eligible to officiate in tournaments abroad.
That was because of his American nationality, despite already being in the Netherlands for many years and speaking the language (okay, with an American accent).
But he was an umpire in several international events that were organized in the Netherlands.
In 1981, Barrett officiated during the European Softball Championship and European Cup Softball-tournament, when these organized in Haarlem.
In 1980, Barrett already has been an umpire during the Haarlem Baseball Week for the first time, joined by Hans Corpeleijn, Ton Hout, Jan Janszen, Fred de Kramer, Jan Pauwels, Chris Pieters, Henk Ronnenbergh, André Schrijber, Bert Staller and Antillian guest-umpire Silvio Leonora.
Although Fred van Groningen Schinkel was an umpire in most 'Weeks' since 1974, he was not one of the umps in 1980, as he was in Belgium for the European Junior Baseball Championship.
But in 1982, 1984 and 1988, Van Groningen Schinkel umpired in the 'Week' with Barrett, as well as with Pieters.
There was no 'Week' in 1986.
...John Barrett in discussion with Head Coach...
...Cees Herkemij of Giants Diemen in 1986...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Early 1983, a big wish of John Barrett came through, as he was placed on the international umpiring list and now also could be assigned to tournaments abroad.
His first tournament abroad came later that year, which was the Intercontinental Cup in Antwerp (Belgium).
It was only fittingly that the top-three of Dutch umpires, the 'Three Musketeers' were assigned to this event: Barrett, Van Groningen Schinkel and Pieters.
Also in 1983, Barrett was one of the umpires during the European Baseball Cup-tournament, which then was organized jointly by Neptunus and Haarlem Nicols in Rotterdam and Haarlem.
In 1984, John Barrett was the Dutch representative during the European Junior Baseball Championship in Spain.
The following year, he belonged to the group of Dutch umpires that came into action during the European Championship in Haarlem, together with Van Groningen Schinkel, Pieters, Cees Bouterse, Ton Hout, Fred de Kramer and Jan Pauwels.
Another highlight came in 1986 when for the first time the World Baseball Championship was organized in the Netherlands, which was the reason that there was no Haarlem Baseball Week that year.
Barrett was one of twelve Dutch umpires assigned to this global event.
The others being Bouterse, Van Groningen Schinkel, Hout, De Kramer, Pauwels, Pieters, Ton Bodaan, Dick Mos, Franklin Victor and Ton van de Wouw.
But also André Prins, who like Barrett officiated internationally in both baseball and softball.
This group was led by former umpire Aart Wedemeijer.
In November 1986, John Barrett traveled with the Netherlands National Baseball Team to Taiwan, where the Orange-squad annually participated in the Chung Hua Tournament for some years.
In 1987, Barrett is one of the eleven umpires assigned for the second edition of the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam.
The others were Bodaan, Van Groningen Schinkel, Hout, De Kramer, Pieters, Van de Wouw, Wim van Beek, Wim Detiger, Vincent Hazel and Karel van Veen.
Also in 1987, John was one of the umpires in the first Holland Series (new version) between Amsterdam Pirates and Neptunus.
Back then, the Championship Final was a best-of-three, which was won by Pirates.
It was during the 1988 Haarlem Baseball Week that John Barrett unexpectedly announced that he would return home to the USA, which came as a big surprise to most.
As he didn't like goodbyes and parties, Barrett announced his decision to leave only a few days before the end of the tournament.
Chris Pieters was assigned as the Home Plate Umpire for the Final, but he gave up his assignment and handed it to Barrett as a goodbye-game.
On the last day of the event, Barrett was handed the Silver Honorary Medal of the Dutch Association for his many contributions through the years.
...John Barrett throws the ceremonial first pitch...
...on Opening Day 1983 before the first home-game...
...of Amsterdam Pirates; Barrett has been handed the...
...ball by Pirates-treasurer Maarten van Erk (left)...
...Looking on the back are Umpire Guus Slauerhof...
...and Pirates-players Harm Wilms, Marten Walsma,...
...Frank Baly and John Ludenhoff...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Some years earlier, Barret had become a teacher in history and geography at the International School in Amsterdam.
In an interview in De Telegraaf-newspaper during the 1988 'Week', Barrett (who would turn 50 in February of 1989) explained his decision:
,,A few years ago, salaries at the school were frozen due to some kind of measure.
I've been getting the same for five years, while as a senior teacher I'm entitled to a higher salary.
With a family and three daughters studying, this is just costing me money.
So, I'm returning to Boston''.
After he had returned to the USA permanenty early 1989, John Barrett started to work for Harvard University in Cambridge, which is part of the Boston metropolitan area.
There, he continues in teaching, but also becomes an editor-in-chief of a science newspaper of the University.
And of course, he steps back to a baseball- or softball-field to umpire.
In baseball, he led games in Little League, at the college-level, semi-professional teams or just friendly games.
He averaged some ten games per week!
But he also came back to the Netherlands a few time for visits.
In 1989, he was invited to be a guest-umpire duringt the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam.
As mentioned, John Barrett loved to umpire games, he loved to be on a field on a daily basis.
,,I simply want to keep busy'', he said.
But there was another reason.
,,The more games you do, the better you get, you're learning from each game you do'', he said.
Needless to say, Barrett was always available to officiate a game or to fill in when needed.
How well Barrett was liked was underscored on Opening Day 1983 during the first home-game of Amsterdam Pirates, who then played against Quick Amersfoort.
As always, Amsterdam Pirates organized a pre-game ceremony before the home-opener.
In those years, Pirates regularly organized special evenings for its club-members in the off-season, including carnival.
And so, on Opening Day 1983, the three umpires were accompanied onto the field by Prince Carnival and his Council of 11.
After the players, coaches, staff-members and umpires were introduced to the Prince and his Council, John Barrett (who was the Home Plate Umpire for that game) was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to open the new season.
Of course, John did so.
Right from the beginning, John became a fan-favorite during his first Haarlem Baseball Week in 1980.
Because of his height, the fans tenderly nicknamed him 'Pinkeltje' after the popular character of the children-books written by Dick Laan (29 books, first published in 1939).
In the books, Pinkeltje is described as a small person with the height of a pinky.
The nickname stuck to him thoughout his career.
As said, he liked to make somewhat of a show while making a call.
However, once, his showmanship also led to a suspension.
Back in the years that Barrett officiated in the Dutch baseball big league, there was only one site with lights to play in the evening, which was the Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem.
But some evening-games were scheduled.
And so, at a home-game of Amstel Tijgers in Amsterdam, being the Home Plate Umpire, Barrett showed up on the field wearing white gloves.
His explanation was simple.
By wearing the gloves, his fingers to signal the ball-strike count would be better visible to not only the pitcher, but also the spectators, especially when it would darken during the evening.
But that personal initiative was not liked by the Umpiring Committee, which stated that it distracted too much and Barrett was suspended for a game.
...John Barrett as Home Plate Umpire behind catcher...
...Ronald Stoovelaar (Amsterdam Pirates) with Bill Groot...
...(Haarlem Nicols) being the hitter during the 1985 season...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
One of John Barrett's characteristic examples how he focused during softball-games came between innings.
Back then, the Official Scorer was seated right behind the backstop and not all fields had scoreboards.
After the third out was made, Barrett always walked backwards to the scorer, often with a big smile.
''Inning and score, please'', he then asked.
With that question, he not only stayed focused in the game himself, but also kept the scorer sharp.
John also had a great memory.
After completion of a game, whether it was baseball or softball, while sharing a drink with the officials, he often again turned the Official Scorer.
,,What did you score in that situation in that inning?'', he then asked.
Another example how he was involved.
Whether or not he agreed with the scoring decision, he always respected the call made by the Official Scorer.
John always was on top of the action and 'sold' his call, leaving no doubts that he must have seen it right, meaning he didn't had many discussions.
Above all, he had a constact strikezone throughout the game, which was much-liked by pitchers, catchers and hitters.
He loved the game between a pitcher and a hitter.
Although he remained calm during a game, John never backed away from a discussion or a player, or a coach and always gave an explanation on the ruling he made.
And when needed, he loved to go into a heated discussion with a coach, 'Major League-style' (cap-to-cap), when needed.
And yes, he then yelled back when he had to do so.
But after a game, there always was a handshake, as John Barrett was one of the most respected and loved umpires.
He stated that a discussion belonged to that specific game, that was history.
Tomorrow was another day, another game.
John Barrett loved to officiate games, most of all baseball.
He continued to do so until some three years ago!
John was a colorful person on (and off) the field and always was in good fun.
He was loved and well-respected by colleague-umpires, official scorers, players, coaches and fans.
John always loved to talk and discuss about rules, tell stories and just having fun.
John will be missed by many.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to John's daughters Rachel, Erin and Catherine, grandchildren, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this huge loss.
(March 24)
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