(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Marco Stoovelaar and archives)
IN MEMORIAM
...Boudewijn Maat...
(1943 - 2023)
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
 Former player/coach Boudewijn Maat, iconic first baseman Nicols, Netherlands Team, passed away
Nederlands
 HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
Boudewijn Maat, who for many seasons was the iconic, powerhitting first baseman for Haarlem Nicols, as well as the Netherlands National Baseball Team, passed way on Sunday, June 11.
Three weeks earlier, Boudewijn Maat had turned 80.
Boudewijn Nicolaas Maat was born on May 20, 1943 in Haarlem.
It was in this city where he started playing baseball and he spent his entire career playing for Haarlem-based clubs.
For 19 seasons, Maat played in the main-squad of a club, seventeen of those seasons in the highest league and became a popular player.
In fifteen of these seasons, Maat was the solid first baseman and powerhitter for Haarlem Nicols, which was the most successful Dutch club since the sixties through the eighties.
Nicols captured the Dutch Championship-title twelve times, the first of them in 1965, the last in 1989.
In 1982-1985, Nicols won the title in four consecutive seasons.
In 1966, Haarlem Nicols was the first Dutch club that won the European Cup and it went on to win the trophy three more times (1974, 1975, 1990).
Maat, who was nicknamed 'Boudie', was a player of six Championship-teams and also played for Nicols when it won the first three European Cups.
In the early fifties, Boudewijn Maat and his oldest brother Harry went on to play for Haarlem-based HHC.
The stay there was brief and the two transfered to HCK (Kinheim).
The entire Maat-family moved, as Boudewijn's other brothers Robert, Boy and Peter also joined the club.
It was Harry who stimulated his brothers to play baseball.
Their father became very involved in HCK and later also at Haarlem Nicols.
The lefthanded hitting and throwing Boudewijn Maat became a trustworthy first baseman.
Besides being a great defensive player, he also was a solid and powerful hitter.
His brother Robert also went on to become a longtime player of Nicols and the Netherlands Team.
In 1960, at age 16, Maat made his debut in the main-squad of HCK, which then played in second highest league (First Divison).
His qualities were noticed quickly, as later that year, he was invited to participate in the practice-sessions of the Netherlands National Team, led by Ron Fraser, who earlier that year had become the first American Head Coach of the National Team.
In 1960, Maat didn't made the team, but he would do so in the following year when he also played for HCK in the First Division.
In 1961, Maat was selected to play for the Netherlands Team during the first edition of the Haarlem Baseball Week.
At an early age, Maat showed that he was ambitious and wanted to move up.
During the 1961 season, he already voiced that he wanted to play the best possible baseball and therefore, after the season, he transfered to big leaguer Schoten, which had won the Championship-title.
In 1962, Maat made a memorable debut in the Dutch big league.
And that would be the beginning of a long, productive and impressive career.
Because of his length (he was listed at 1,86 m), Boudewijn Maat was impressive both as first baseman and as a hitter.
In these early sixties, he also was successful in basketball.
He played for Haarlem-based Flamingo's and there, he was a teammate of Ruud Zijlstra, Jules de Pierre, Martin Jole and Fred Ausma.
They also played baseball and some of them would become Maat's teammates.
On May 7, 1960, thirteen days before he turned 17, Boudewijn Maat played in his first game for the main-squad of HCK, which on that date opened the First Division-season against the renowned team of Ajax from Amsterdam.
HCK surprised by taking a 6-1 lead and it was Maat who contributed with a homerun, as did Henk Biesbrouck.
Ajax went on to win 9-8, but Maat has made his presence known at an early age.
...Boudewijn Maat at Schiphol Airport...
...after returning from Florida (USA) in 1963...
(© Photo: ANP Photo/André van den Heuvel) |
In 1962, Boudewijn Maat made his debut in the Dutch big league playing for Schoten.
In those (early) baseball-seasons, games were mostly only played on Saturday.
But in the 1962 season, an experiment was introduced by the Dutch Baseball Federation.
To come to more games in the regular season, double-headers were introduced.
All teams would play some double-headers in the season, which back then generally opened late April or early May and ended somewhere in late August of early September.
That had to to with the fact that many players also played soccer in the off-season in the winter-months.
On Saturday, April 28, 1962, (defending champion) Schoten opened the season at home with a double-header against Sparta, which in those years was the most succesful and strongest team from Rotterdam.
The games were played at the site at the Badmintonpad, which then not only was the home of HCK, but also of Schoten.
And as it had been the site of the first Haarlem Baseball Week the year before, this was called the Haarlem baseball-stadium, as the field was surrounded with stands behind both first and third base, as well as behind home plate.
It became a very long day on the field, as it took some six hours to complete the two games.
Immediately, it was voiced that playing a double-header was not a success and that the season-format needed to be changed again.
In the first game, the score was 15-15 after nine innings and Schoten went on to win 19-18 in ten innings in a game that lasted almost 3½ hours!
Boudewijn Maat made his big league-debut by hitting two homeruns in his first game.
Jan Kleijn also homered for Schoten, as did debuting José Faneyte of Sparta.
In the top of the tenth, Sparta took an 18-15 lead, but Schoten then rallied for four runs due to some errors with two outs to win.
In the second game, Sparta won with a 7-6 score.
Back in those seasons, the teams had two (sometimes three) pitchers, who not only would throw the majority of the games, but mostly also would throw complete games.
However, Schoten's regular pitcher Ruud Zijlstra was in military service and therefore, he was not always available in the weekend to play.
Schoten's second pitcher was Johan Munsterman.
But halfway May, both Zijlstra and Munsterman were not with the team.
And so, Schoten's playing coach Henk Keulemans started with Boudewijn Maat as his pitcher against VVGA.
When he was with HCK, Maat also had been used as a pitcher in some games.
In his pitching-debut, Maat strikeouts eight batters, but Schoten loses the game 2-1, thanks to a basehit by Hugo Walker, who later would become a wellknown TV-sports commentator for both baseball and soccer.
Despite being only 18 years, Boudewijn Maat was the prime first baseman at Schoten, where he replaced veteran player Simon Heemskerk, who had transfered to EHS.
1962 became a memorable season for Maat, who immediately accomplished a name for himself.
In his rookie-season, he not only led the Dutch big league in hitting (.451), he also hit the most basehits (37), homeruns (6) and batted in the most runs (22).
With that, he not only became the first player to win the Triple Crown, but also was named Most Valuable Player.
His .451 batting average and 37 basehits were big league-records.
His average was the highest by far and coincidentally, Simon Heemskerk, his predecessor at first base, was the second best hitter in the league with a .333 batting average.
Thanks to his impressive first season, as well as his talent in general, the 19-year old Boudewijn Maat is one of five talented Dutch sports athletes who in early 1963 is given the opportunity by the Leo van der Kar Fonds to improve their skills by participating in trainingcamps abroad.
This Fund annually selected athletes in cooperation with the respective Federations.
In 1963, Maat is one of five athletes selected, together with two fencers and two swimmers.
From March 18 on, Boudewijn trains for three weeks at the Spring Training-site of Major League-club Los Angeles Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida (USA).
One of his instructors there is legendary Duke Snider.
...The first-ever team of Haarlem Nicols in 1964...
...Boudewijn Maat sits second from right...
...Manager Gé Hoogenbos is standing at right... |
On July 17, 1963, the first-ever nightgame under artificial lights is played at the new Pim Mulier Stadium, which was opened shortly before the season and had been the site of the second Haarlem Baseball Week two weeks earlier.
The stadium still is the site of this biennial international tournament, which will be held again in 2024.
In the first lighted game almost sixty years ago, Schoten played an away-game at EHS.
More than 2,000 spectators are in the stands and they see a pitching-duel between EHS-ace Herman Beidschat and Boudewijn Maat.
The game lasts twelve innings and ends with a 4-4 score.
Both pitchers go the distance.
Beidschat, who also was a leading pitcher in the National Team, struckout thirteen batters and gave up ten basehits.
Maat strikes out eleven and gives up six hits.
Schoten's Teun de Groot almost hits for-the-cycle, but misses a single!
With a 2-run homerun, De Groot puts Schoten ahead, 4-3, but Beidschat also homers to make it t 4-4 score.
Amongst Boudewijn Maat's teammates at Schoten were the already mentioned Ruud Zijlstra, Johan Munsterman, Jan Kleijn and Henk Keulemans, but also veteran catcher Joop Geurts, Herman van der Brugge, Teun de Groot, Hil van Maren, Frans Klooster, Fred Ausma and Ton Pols.
In 1963, Maat again leads the league in basehits (28).
With a .322 batting average, he almost is the leading hitter again, but Hamilton Richardson (Sparta) finishes with a .324 average.
After the 1963 season, Boudewijn Maat and catcher Fred Ausma transfer from Schoten to EHS.
However, they will never play for EHS, as a major development occurs in December of 1963.
Gé Hoogenbos, who has been a former player himself in both the big league and the National Team, was the Head Coach of EHS and he has come up with an innovative plan.
In the passed few years, Hoogenbos saw the attendance-figures drop at the home-games of Haarlem-based clubs.
EHS, EDO, Schoten, HCK, SC Haarlem and HHC all played in the two highest leagues.
Hoogenbos stated that there too many clubs in Haarlem and to come to an improvement of qualities and to attract more spectators, he opted to come to a concentration of a group of good players in one team.
He speaks about his plans with the Haarlem-clubs, hoping to bring all clubs together to form one team.
But after several months of talks, only EHS and EDO decide to merge.
The new club becomes Haarlem Nicols, with a main-team in the highest league, a team with some older players and two youth-teams.
But Hoogenbos wanted more.
Looking to the Major League/Minor League-system in the USA, a second club is created.
This team, Spaarne Pioniers, was to play in the Second Division (third highest league) with young and talented players, who would be eligible to move up to the Nicols-team.
The board of the Dutch Federation accepts the cooperation between EHS and EDO.
However, the General Assembly rejects the proposal of putting a shadow-team in a lower league.
With that, Spaarne Pioniers is dissolved again.
In the end, Haarlem Nicols begins the 1964 season with four adult-teams and six youth-teams.
The father of Boudewijn Maat is one of three persons who head the new club.
Besides Boudewijn Maat, the other players of Haarlem Nicols in its first season are Fred Ausma, Herman Beidschat, Simon Heemskerk, Roel Hopman, Leo Kops, Jan Molleman, Ton ter Neuzen, Piet de Nieuwe, Gé Oosterbaan, Jules de Pierre, Ben Tromp and Dolf de Zwart.
All are experienced players and many of them play in the National Team.
With that, Haarlem Nicols immediately is labeled as a star-studded team and becomes the favorite for the title, not only in 1964, but also in years to come.
...Boudewijn playing at 1st base for Haarlem Nicols in 1965...
(© Unknown Photographer/Nationaal Archief) |
Haarlem Nicols indeed attracts more spectators, but has a less convincing start of the 1964 season.
In the opener against OVVO in Amsterdam, Nicols wins only 5-2.
Nicols initially trails 2-0, but comes alongside when Simon Heemskerk homers with Maat on base.
In the ninth inning, Nicols scores three more runs.
A week later in its first home-game, Nicols is unable to take some distance against Ajax and after eight innings, the score is 4-4.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, OVVO-pitcher Herre Kok walks lead-off hitter Boudewijn Maat, then gives up a double to Simon Heemskerk.
With first base open, Ben Tromp is walked intentionally, but Fred Ausma follows with a walk-off single and Nicols wins, 5-4.
Haarlem Nicols finishes in second place in 1964 behind Sparta, but the first Championship-title is then captured in 1965.
In that season, second baseman Robert Maat, Boudewijn's brother, also plays for Nicols.
Up to 1964, Robert had played for HCK.
Like Boudewijn, Robert also becomes a regular player in the National Team from this year on.
In the 1965 season, Nicols and Sparta are the two title-contenders.
Towards the end of the season, Nicols is the league-leader, but Sparta has two make-up games to play and can come alongside to force a tiebreaker.
However, in its final game, Sparta is unable to win against Schoten and that match-up ends in a 5-5 tie after twelve innings.
With that, Nicols captures its first title, finishing one point ahead of Sparta.
As Dutch champion, Haarlem Nicols participates for the first time in the European Cup-tournament in 1966.
Back then, there was a Northern Pool and a Southern Pool.
Playing on home-soil in May, Nicols wins the Northern Pool to advance to the Final.
In its Pool, Nicols outscores Mannheim (West-Germany) and Luchtbal (Belgium) with scores of 8-1 and 11-3.
On September 3, Nicols meets Europhon Milano from Italy in the Final, which is also played in Haarlem.
The Nicols-team plays a strong game and wins 10-4 to become the first Dutch club to win the European Cup.
Ton ter Neuzen is the winning pitcher and also hits one of four homeruns hit by Nicols.
Herman Beidschat and the Maat-brothers account for the others.
After the game, a trophy is handed out to team-captain Leo Kops by Wout Posthuma, who is the President of the Dutch Federation and also the Vice-President of the European Federation.
However, this is not the real European Cup, which at that moment was still in Italy at Nettuno, which had won the Cup in the previous year.
Prince Steno de Borghese, the President of Nettuno, as well as the President of the European Federation, had announced that he would be in Haarlem for the Final to personally deliver the Cup, but he didn't travel to the Netherlands.
Instead, Postuma handed out a 'fill-in trophy' that belonged to the collection of Boudewijn Maat.
After the ceremony, the trophy was returned again to Maat.
The official Cup was finally handed out to Nicols five years later.
...Haarlem Nicols is honored in Haarlem for...
...winning the Dutch Championship-title in 1965...
...Boudewijn Maat walks in the center...
(Unknown Photographer) |
Haarlem Nicols opens the 1967 season with a surprise 3-0 loss against Storks, which makes its debut in the highest league.
Playing at home in the Pim Mulier Stadium, Nicols is limited to only four basehits by pitcher Ron Renooy.
Storks scores its first run in the first inning, then adds the second run in the sixth at bat.
The team from The Hague scores another run in the eighth inning when short stop (!) Herman Beidschat makes two errors.
Through 1966, Beidschat had been the pitching-ace of the team.
In the 1967 season, the righthander will pitch in relief of starters Ton ter Neuzen and Jan Dick Leurs.
Nicols records two of its four basehits in the ninth inning.
Piet de Nieuwe and Boudewijn Maat open the at bat with singles, but a force out and a double play end the game.
By the way, Boudewijn and Robert's cousin Harry van der Vaart also plays for Nicols for the first time this season.
Haarlem Nicols, coached in his second season by Ben Tromp, captures its second Championship-title in 1968, finishing ahead again of Sparta, which was dethroned.
Nicols secures the title by recording a 9-0 shutout-win against HCK.
Nicols opens the score in the first inning on a 3-run homerun by Herman Beidschat.
Robert Maat homered twice and outhit his brother, who was not productive in this game.
However, Boudewijn (who this season has become the team-captain) was on base when Robert hit his second homerun in the eighth at bat.
Boudewijn Maat, who has several multi-homerun games in his career, continues to play for Haarlem Nicols through 1978.
In 1970, he celebrated the third Championship-title of the team, which is led again by Ben Tromp, who is assisted by former player Leo Kops, who in 1971 becomes the new Head Coach.
Maat wins the Silver Medal for being the second Best Hitter in the league with a .400 batting average.
After having led the league in basehits in 1962 and 1963, he did so again in 1967 (29) and 1971 (41).
Also in 1971, Maat was the second Best Hitter (.387) behind Wim Crouwel (.416) and he was named second Most Valuable Player behind Fred Beckers.
While playing in the seventies, Maat remains a successful player with Haarlem Nicols.
The team wins another European Cup (1975) and four more Dutch Championship-titles (1970, 1975, 1976, 1977).
In 1976, Maat was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career.
Although he still was a solid defensive player, Maat no longer was the prime first baseman in his final season (1978).
Instead, he was also used in a newly introduced position, the designated hitter.
After the 1978 season, the 35-year old Maat, who is a physical education teacher (he later becomes director of a school in Hoofddorp), retires.
He explains his decision that he wants to retire while he still is one of the better players.
,,I'm not the type that will player at a lower level each time'', he then stated in Het Parool-newspaper at the end of the season.
In 17 big league-seasons, Boudewijn Maat played in 398 games.
In his long and impressive career, Maat hits three homeruns in one game twice in the same season.
...Haarlem Nicols after becoming the first Dutch club to win...
...the European Cup in 1966...
...Boudewijn Maat stands third from left...
...Standing in the middle is Leo Kops with the 'fill-in Cup'...
(Unknown Photographer) |
Amongst his teammates in fifteen seasons with Haarlem Nicols (1964-1978) were Fred Ausma, Nol Beenders, Herman Beidschat, Arnoud Blom, Frank Bos, John Busch, Ferry de Clercq, Karel Crouwel, Jersey van Doornspeek, Bob Estavillo, Ron Giroldi, Simon Heemskerk, Gary Holland, Roel Hopman, Jan Hijzelendoorn, Ton de Jager, Fokke Jelsma, Henny Jenken, Wade Jensen, Johnny Jonkers, Bill Kelly, Huub Kohl, Leo Kops, Cees Kuijer, Hugo Kuijer, Hans Lemmink, Jan Dick Leurs, Robert Maat, Jan van Markus, Jan Molleman, Douglas Morton, Leo Naaktgeboren, Ton ter Neuzen, Piet de Nieuwe, Gé Oosterbaan, Joop Peeters, Jules de Pierre, Ricky Placidus, Dassy Rasmijn, Frank van Rest, Harm Schildmeijer, Joop Schuitemaker, Steef van der Sluis, Darryl Southwick, Steve Steitz, Ben Tromp, Harry van der Vaart, Ron Vader, Bouke Vakkers, Thijs Vervaat, Henk Vissers, Ron van Wilpen and Dolf de Zwart.
In April 1961, Boudewijn Maat, who at that moment plays for First Divisionist HCK, is invited to take part in the practice-sessions of the Neherlands National Baseball Team.
Later that year, the Orange Team travels to the USA for a series of games.
Boudewijn is not part of that group, but at age 18, he is selected as one of the players of the team that participates in the first-ever Haarlem Baseball Week, which follows the American trip.
Coincidentally, that event is held at the home-site of Maat's club HCK.
Some years ago, Maat once told the author of this In Memoriam that he was initially was to be one of the operators of the manually updated scoreboard during the tournament and never had expected to be one of the players instead.
During the first Baseball Week, the Netherlands plays against club-teams that are compiled of American Air Force-personnel who are based in West-Germany, France and England.
A few weeks after completion of the tournament, the Netherlands Team plays an international game against Belgium.
In that game, Boudewijn makes his international debut and accounts for the lone run.
The team, led by American Head Coach Ron Fraser, scores the run in the sixth inning.
Jan Bruning then hits a single, steals second base and moves to third base on a grounder by Roel Hopman.
Moments later, Bruning scores on a single by Boudewijn Maat.
Rob Hoffmann is the winning pitcher and strikes out nine batters.
A long career then also follows in the Netherlands Team.
In 1962, Maat already becomes more-or-less a regular in the team and plays alongside veterans and accomplished players as Simon Arrindell, Herman Beidschat, Simon Heemskerk, Henk Keulemans, Ruben Leysner, Hennie Regeling, Hamilton Richardson, Jan Smidt and Han Urbanus.
Maat shows his skills, is a trusted defensive player and succeeds Regeling as first baseman.
During the European Championship in 1964 in Italy, Maat is the first baseman when the Netherlands shuts out Spain, 10-0.
This game is one of the highlights in Dutch international baseball, as pitchers Rob Hoffmann (four innings) and Herman Beidschat (five) throw a combined Perfect Game!
Maat plays a great defensive game at first base, while centerfielder Hamilton Richardson and rightfielder Hudson John make great running catches.
Third baseman Simon Arrindell makes a strong throw for the final out of the game.
Offensively, Maat contributes with four basehits, including a double and triple.
In the second inning, Maat scores the first run on a single by leftfielder Ruben Leysner.
In the third inning, catcher Wim Crouwel delivers a 2-run double, then scores on a triple by Maat.
For-the-record, the other players in this historic game are Han Urbanus (2B), Dolf de Zwart (3B), Leo Kops (SS), Ben Tromp (RF) and Peter van 't Klooster (SS).
After completion of this Championship, Maat is named Best First Baseman of the tournament, as well as the Best All-Round Player (MVP).
...Boudewijn with Ruud Zijlstra at the...
...reunion of former National Team-players...
...during the 2010 Haarlem Baseball Week...
...Seated in front are Wim van Dusschoten,...
...Robert Maat and Simon Heemskerk...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
After making his debut in the Netherlands Team in 1961, Maat plays for the Orange-squad annually through 1971.
In that span, he participates in five European Championships, which are all won by the Netherlands.
He also plays in six Haarlem Baseball Weeks (Best Dutch Hitter in 1963, Dutch MVP in 1971) and in 1970, Maat is with the team when it plays in the World Championship in Colombia.
Although Boudewijn Maat by now was an experienced player in both the highest league and in the National Team, he acknowledged that he still was nervous sometimes when entering the field.
In an interview with De Waarheid-newspaper in 1969, just before the start of the Haarlem Baseball Week, Maat said:
,,You are particularly nervous the day before the opening games.
You live all the way to that series of games.
You don't think about anything else anymore.
I am also nervous during competitive games.
One time more than the other, for example especially against my old club HCK.''
After the 1970 World Championship in Colombia, several players of the National Team voice their criticism towards Head Coach Charles Urbanus, Sr. and some of the them resign from the team.
Urbanus is not active as the National Team's Head Coach in 1971.
Maat also voices criticism, but he believes that Urbanus has a tremendous baseball-knowledge and could continue coaching the team is some changes would have been made.
Moreover, Maat voices his criticism towards the technical leaders of the Dutch Federation, who don't listen to the players or advices from the group of players.
As a result, Maat steps down as team-captain and resigns from the team after the 1971 season.
During the Baseball Week in 1972, catcher Wim Crouwel becomes the new first baseman, while 37-year old former first baseman Simon Heemskerk makes his comeback in the team.
Maat returns in the National Team in 1973.
In that year, the Netherlands Team again captures the title at the European Championship.
Afterwards, Boudewijn and catcher Wim Crouwel retire from the National Team.
Both get a decoration from the Dutch Federation.
Both were regulars in the team since 1962.
However, at the same time, both said that they are willing to come back when needed, as they remain active for the respective club-team.
And that is what happens.
In 1975 and 1976, Boudewijn continues to be a dominating hitter in the regular season and so, he makes another Orange-comeback in 1977 and 1978.
In 1977, the Netherlands Team participates in the European Championship in Haarlem (Netherlands) and this time has to settle for second place.
Also in 1977, the Netherlands plays an exhibition-game against the American All Stars, compiled from American players who are active in Dutch leagues.
Guest-player in the Netherlands Team is Major League Homerun King Hank Aaron, who visits the Netherlands.
In 1978, Maat participates in his seventh Haarlem Baseball Week, as well as the World Championship in Italy.
During the event in Italy, Maat again shows that he still is one of the best hitters, as he records four basehits in a 6-5 victory against Mexico.
However, Maat then definitively retires after the 1978 season.
When Boudewijn Maat retires, he has played in 88 official international games of the Netherlands Team, which at that moment was the all-time record.
On April 30, 1979, a few months after he had retired as active player, Maat gets a Royal Decoration and is Knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
...Boudewijn at the reunion of former National Team-players...
...during the 2011 World Port Tournament in Rotterdam (Neth.)...
...From left: Simon Heemskerk, Ton Bodaan, Boudewijn Maat,...
...Ruud Zijlstra, Hudson John, Karel Crouwel and Leo Kops...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
After having retired as a player, Maat went into coaching.
It was a logical decision for him.
Already back in 1970, he stated that he wanted to continue in coaching, followed several courses and coach-clinics and obtained his coaching-permit.
While being an active player, Boudewijn already did some coaching-work in the sixties, as he gave hitting instructions to players of the Netherlands Women's Softball Team.
Also, while being a player himself, Boudewijn is involved in the coaching of the Netherlands Juniors Baseball Team in 1973-1977.
Boudewijn is the Manager of the team and is assisted by Wim Hageman, while Jan Dick Leurs and Ton ter Neuzen serve as Pitching Coach.
They also are active players themselves.
As Boudewijn returns to the National Team as a player in 1977, he is succeeded as Manager
of the Juniors by veteran coach Leen Volkerijk, who also is the Pitching Coach of the Orange-squad.
In 1979, Boudewijn became one of the instructors of the Baseball School, which was led by Cees Herkemij.
Other instructors then were Jan Dick Leurs, Cees Santifort and Charles Urbanus, Jr..
From 1980 on, the latter was succeeded by Harry van der Vaart.
In 1980, Boudewijn becomes the new Head Coach of the baseball-team of Hoofddorp Pioniers in his home-city Hoofddorp, where he lived since the early seventies.
In that year, Pioniers sets up a working agreement with Haarlem Nicols, where Maat is the technical coordinator.
At Pioniers, Maat succeeds Ruud Zijlstra, who had been his teammate in his first seasons as Schoten in the early sixties.
In 1985, Boudewijn guides Pioniers to the title in the First Division and thus promotion to the highest league.
For that, he was named Coach of the Year.
Maat also led the Pioniers-team in the big league-seasons of 1986 and 1987.
The team relegated back to the First Division in 1987.
After not having coached in 1988, Maat was the Head Coach of Kinheim in 1989-1991.
He led the team to the Play-Offs in his first two seasons.
One of the players he instructed was his son Benno, who also went on to play in the Dutch big league.
In 1992, Boudewijn Maat joined the coaching-staff of the Netherlands National Team, which then was led by Jan Dick Leurs, his former teammate at Nicols and in the Orange-squad.
Maat was a member of the Orange coaching-staff in 1992-1997.
Steve Matthew also is one of the coaches and in 1993, Mike Baker joins the staff.
In 1997, Huub Kohl and Dave Daniels succeed Matthew and Baker.
In those years, the team captured the title at the European Championship in Sweden (1993) and on home-soil (1995), but finishes second in 1997 in France.
The team also participated in 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA) and the World Championship in Nicaragua (1994), as well as
three Haarlem Baseball Weeks and three World Port Tournaments.
In 1995, Maat fills in as Orange-Manager during the Intercontinental Cup in Cuba, as Leurs is unable to be with the team due to work commitments.
...Boudewijn with Jan Smidt (left) and Han Urbanus (right)...
...during the presentation of the Netherlands Baseball and...
...Softball Museum and Hall of Fame in 1983...
(© Unknown photographer/Algemeen Dagblad-newspaper) |
In the meantime, Boudewijn Maat did something else.
In November 1983, the Netherlands Baseball and Softball Museum and Hall of Fame is founded and Maat becomes the first chairman.
In that year, Maat and his fellow boardmembers begin collecting all kinds of memorabilia which were to be exhibit when the Museum opened in 1986 during the World Championship Baseball, which is then held in the Netherlands for the first time.
Other board-members include Hans de Bie, Guus van der Heijden, Gé Hoogenbos and Greetje Immers.
Maat is chairman through early 1987.
He is then succeeded by Jan van Riessen, who heads the board for one year and is then succeeded by Hoogenbos.
Until the end, Boudewijn Maat remained closely involved in the activities of Haarlem Nicols.
In good times and in bad times.
At the end of the 1993 season, thirty years after it was created, Nicols has some financial problems when the contract with the then main sponsor ends and the clubs doesn't reach the Play-Offs.
Several former players are invited by the club-chairman Fred Lenderink to join a sponsor-committee, including the Maat-brothers, Jan Dick Leurs, Simon Heemskerk, Leo Kops and Leo Naaktgeboren.
At that moment, Haarlem Nicols still is the most successful Dutch baseball-club and best known Dutch baseball-club abroad.
,,Nicols must not disappear.
Through the years, Nicols has made a name for itself, not only in the Netherlands, but in European baseball.
We want to attract some smaller sponsors for a better continuity'', Maat said in an interview with Marco Stoovelaar (the author of this In Memoriam) in De Telegraaf-newspaper in September 1993.
Unfortunately, Nicols is unable to attract enough sponsoring and a few weeks before the start of the 1994 season, the team withdraws from the highest league.
Shortly thereafter, the club is dissolved.
Throught the years, Boudewijn Maat has developed into a driven and passionate player, who knew what was best for the team, but also always wanted to improve.
Boudewijn was not only a feared hitter and a more than solid first baseman, he was also known for his dry sense of humor.
And he also clearly was the leader in the dug-out and in a team, which led to him being named as team-captain of both Haarlem Nicols and the Netherlands Team.
He always gave tips and advice to players, told them what to do and knew what the situations were in a game.
Maat represented the group of players in talks with the Federation or with boardmembers.
Boudewijn was someone with a lot of baseball-knowledge, which he also underscored in his days as a coach.
Boudewijn simply was one of the best players in Dutch baseball-history.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Boudewijn's wife Sicca, son Benno, daughter Gytha, their partners, grandchildren, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(June 23)
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