(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Fotopersbureau De Boer (Cees de Boer, Poppe de Boer)/Noord-Hollands Archief, Archive Cees Herkemij & Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Cees Herkemij...
(1934 - 2024)
(© Private Photo) |
 Former coaching-icon, stimulator youth-development, administrator and Haarlem Baseball Week-contributor Cees Herkemij passed away
Nederlands
 HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Cees Herkemij, who had a long, impressive and successful career as a baseball-coach, played an important role in the development of youth-baseball and also served as administrator, passed away on Sunday, December 29 at age 90.
Although he had some health problems in the past few years, his passing came unexpectedly.
In his long coaching-career of almost 40 years, Cees Herkemij led several teams on the club-level in the Dutch big league and also coached for both the Netherlands National Baseball Team and National Youth Team.
During his coaching-years in the seventies through early nineties, Herkemij was frequently described as the coach with the best baseball-knowledge.
For his many contributions to the development of (youth) baseball, Cees Herkemij was named Member of Merit of the KNBSB in March 1996.
In 2000, he won the Leen Volkerijk Award, which is handed out annually by the KNBSB to an individual who has made signiticant contributions to the development of baseball.
The memorial service for Cees Herkemij will be held on Monday, January 6 at 1:00 PM in the Aula of Crematorium Haarlem, located at the Vergierdeweg 271 in Haarlem.
After the memorial service, it is possible to offer condolences to the family in the lounge of the crematorium.
It is possible to sent on-line condolences via the website of Ename Uitvaartzorg.
Cornelis Johannes (Cees) Herkemij was born on June 29, 1934 in Vlissingen, but he grew up in Haarlem.
There, Cees became interested in baseball in the early forties, while watching games of Schoten.
Initially, he did track-and-field in the summer and played soccer in the winter, but at age 14 (in 1948), he went on to play baseball for HFC Haarlem.
Cees was originally a pitcher, but became a catcher a few years later.
He also was a very solid hitter.
At HFC Haarlem, Cees played in the junior-team, which was led by wellknown (National Team-player) Joop Odenthal.
Cees also played in a few games of the main-squad.
In an interview with the Haarlems Dagblad-newspaper in May 1962, Cees looked back to his first encounters with baseball in an article that was headed 'Baseball is my passion'.
,,In 1942, we already went to watch baseball.
I lived in Haarlem-Noord at the time.
On the Muiderslotweg, Schoten always played, with Roel de Mon on the plate.
We then climbed on the roof of the dressing-room, so we could have a good view.
We thought it was wonderful', said Cees.
In the early fifties, the Herkemij-family moved to IJmuiden, which had no baseball-club and so, Cees went on to play soccer for Stormvogels.
But in 1956, he returned to baseball, when he joined Terrasvogels, which then played at Sportpark Schoonenberg in nearby Velsen.
As he had developed a big interest in the techniques and tactics of baseball, Cees was given an opportunity by Terrasvogels to follow a coach-course.
And that was the foundation of a long and successful career in coaching.
From 1957, Cees Herkemij was the playing coach of Terrasvogels and continued to do so for ten seasons.
In this span, he led the team to the Second Division, then the First Division, which was the second highest league.
At the same time, Cees developed a passion in training and coaching youth-teams.
While playing in and coaching the main-squad of Terrasvogels, Cees also conducted the practice-sessions of the club's junior-team.
In the early sixties, the club moved to Sportpark De Elta in Santpoort-Zuid, which would be the home-site for the baseball- and softball-section for almost sixty years.
...Cees Herkemij in 1962 overseeing a practice...
...as playing coach of Terrasvogels...
(© Photo: Noord-Hollands Archief/
Fotopersbureau De Boer (Cees de Boer)) |
Amongst his teammates at Terrasvogels were Wim van Berkel, Nico Disselköter, Willem Hurkmans, Jaap Kolkman, Heddy van Mourik, Jules de Pierre, Wim Rijke, Siem Thoolen and Aart Wedemeijer.
A young Guus van Dee was bat-boy.
Van Dee would later become the President of the Organizing Committee of both the Haarlem Baseball Week and Haarlem Softball Week.
Hurkmans would become a longtime member of the Haarlem Baseball & Softball Week-groundscrew, Van Mourik would marry wellknown National Softball-player Ludy Handgraaf, De Pierre would become a longtime (international) administrator and Wedemeijer would become an (international) baseball-umpire.
Unfortunately, all have passed away,
Van Mourik (75), Hurkmans (76) and Wedemeijer (91), all in October 2017 and De Pierre (91) in October 2023.
In 1963, Herkemij was selected for a regional team representing the municipality of Velsen in a game against the regional team of Hilversum at the Schoonenbergsportpark in Velsen, which then was the home-site of Terrasvogels.
Also playing for Velsen were Nico Disselköter and Wim van Berkel.
Amongst the players of Hilversum was Floor Blaauw, who, like Herkemij, would devote a lot of time to youth-development.
Blaauw and Herkemij would also work together in this ffield.
With Hilversum leading 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth and a runner on second base, Herkemij appeared to hit a homerun.
However, Hilversum protested and Herkemij's homerun was changed in a double, but the score was 6-5.
Moments later, Herkemij scored on a drive by Disselköter.
The game ended with a 6-6 score.
In 1967, Cees Herkemij became a coach for the regional teams of Haarlem.
In the same year, he became one of four coaches that were named to assist then-Netherlands Team Head Coach Charles Urbanus (Sr.).
Besides Herkemij, the others were Wim Geestman (Sr.), Fokke Jelsma and Dolf de Zwart.
Cees was the last surviving coach of this group.
Urbanus passed away in 1980, Geestman in 1991, Jelsma in 2012 and De Zwart in 2019.
In following years, Cees de Bruin and Leo Kops also were assistants.
Herkemij assisted during practice sessions of the National Youth Teams and was also involved with the Netherlands B-Team.
In 1968, he was the Assistant Coach of Manager Charles Urbanus of the Netherlands BRL-Team (age 13-15) during the Euopean Championship in Augsburg (then West-Gemany).
Participating the event were five American teams (league-champions from military bases in Belgium, Italy and West-Germany) and the national teams of Belgium, Italy and Netherlands.
The Orange-squad was eliminated for the Final Round.
One of the pitchers of the team was Win Remmerswaal, who in 1979 became the first Dutch-born and -raised player to reach the professional Major League.
Remmerswaal was one of five players from this team, who went on to play in the Dutch big league.
The others were Hans Jansen de Vries, Jim Sieval, Paul Smit and Charles Urbanus (Jr.).
In 1972 and 1973, Cees Herkemij is the Manager of the Netherlands BRL Team.
In 1973, he leads the team to the European title in Wiesbaden (West-Germany).
For this accomplishment, as well as his many contributions to the development of youth baseball, Cees was named Coach of the Year.
The team won all three games played against the (American) teams from Ramstein (4-2) and Rheinmain (9-1 and 5-2).
A third American team from Wiesbaden was eliminated and therefore didn't play against the Netherlands.
During the event in Wiesbaden, Herkemij was assisted by Arno Snellenburg, while Ed Klokkers was the Team Manager and Jan Hijzelendoorn, Sr. the masseur.
The players of the successful championship-team were Jan Bas, Piet Boer, Frank in den Bosch, Roy David, Gerard Glasmacher, Theo van Hoek, Hans van Holstein, Robert-Jan Kars, Gerard Kenzekamp, Paul Mulder, Ronald Overbeek Bloem, Hans Smits, Arthur Stassen, Peter Stoker and Rob Visser.
Bas, Boer, David, Van Holstein, Kars, Mulder, Overbeek Bloem, Stassen, Stoker and Visser all went on to play in the Dutch big league.
...Cees was Manager of the Netherlands BRL Team in 1972-1973...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
Halfway the sixties, Cees had been one of the initiative-takers of the creation of a youth training-camp in Eindhoven in the south of the country.
These camps were very successful and were led by Herkemij, who was the driving force and was assisted by several coaches and players.
The camps, which were organized by the Netherlands Baseball Federation, ended halfway the seventies after twelve years due to financial reasons.
From the early eighties, a new variant of these camps (National Youth Camp) returned, coordinated by Herkemij and Wim Hageman.
Cees has always been involved in youth-development.
And so, in 1975, he became one of the members of a committee of the Federation to attract more youth-players.
This group introduced peanutball (t-ball) on a national level.
Other members of this committee included Freek Bos, Bas den Breejen, Martin Bremer, Aad van der Elst, Joop Köhler, Ton Schouten (1976), Hans van der Sluis and Charles Urbanus, Sr. (1976).
In 1977, Van der Elst became the chairman of the committee, while Wil Soolsma joined.
From 1978, the name was changed to Committee for Recreation Sports.
Van der Elst remained chairman and Den Breejen, Bremer, Köhler and Van der Sluis also continued.
Elly Bos became secretary and Jannie Koot and Freek Bos both were added in 1979.
Cees Herkemij left this committee towards the end of 1979.
In January 1977, the Netherlands Baseball School officially opened its doors in Zwanenburg for talented pitchers and catchers after preparing and organizational talks had been taken place the year before by Cees Herkemij, (coach) Leen Volkerijk and (KNBSB-boardmember) Jules de Pierre.
Cees heads this school as Manager and also is an instructor, as are Boudewijn Maat, Jan Dick Leurs (who then are Manager and Pitching Coach of the Young Oranje Team) and Cees Santifort.
They would form the core-staff for many years.
For his leadership at the Baseball School and his many preceeding activities in the field of youth development, Herkemij received a decoration from the KNBSB in February 1978.
In the meantime, Cees also remained active in coaching at the senior-level.
In 1970-1974, Cees headed the Netherlands Association for Baseball Coaches (NVBC) as chairman.
As such, he became closely involved in setting up the wellknown coaching-clinics in the early seventies, which then were organized in Noordwijk and from 1972 on in Voorburg with the participation of active Major League-players and umpires and American college-coaches.
Normally, they first traveled to Wiesbaden, where they conducted cilinics for American military personnel, who were stationed in Europe.
Through the years, Cees Herkemij attended several of these clinics in Wiesbaden, many of them together with Charles Urbanus (sr.), Wim Geestman, Sr. and/or Max Rietbergen.
In the five years that Herkemij led the NVBC, the other boardmembers were Henk Kempen (secretary), Leen Volkerijk (treasurer), Jan Prins and Cees Santifort.
In the 'Herkemij-years', several wellknown Major Leaguers traveled to Noordwijk or Voorburg, including players Johnny Bench (1972), Bob Gibson (1972), Sal Bando (1973), Bob Oliver (1973) and Bert Blyleven (1974), manager Red Schoendienst (1971, 1974), pitching coach Red Adams (1970), umpires Emmett Ashford (1970), Nestor Chylak (1971), Tom Gorman (1972), Chris Pelekoudas (1973) and Bob Engel (1974) and executive Al Campanis (1970) and college-coaches Rod Dedeaux (1971), Art Reichle (1972), Lee Eilbracht (1973) and Jerry Kindall (1974).
In later years, Cees, as well as other Dutch coaches, also would attend some coach-conventions in the USA, organized by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
...Cees with Boston Red Sox...
...during Spring Training 1972...
...in Winter Haven, Florida (USA)...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
Cees was always eager to learn more.
Like in 1972, when he was invited to participate in the Spring Training-camp of Major League-club Boston Red Sox in Florida.
During his three-and-a-half week stay in Winter Haven, Herkemij not only gets an opportunity to assist Boston-Manager Eddy Kasko, but also discusses about baseball with wellknown and experienced Major League-players as Carl Yastrzemski, Rico Petrocelli and Tony Conigliaro.
During his stay in Florida, Herkemij was accompanied by college-coach Hal Smeltzly, who had led the Netherlands Team some years ago and had prepared the trip.
Upon returning, Cees compiled booklets with instructions for his Dutch coaching colleagues.
Several years later, he wrote a book about coaching, called 'Basisboek Honkbal'.
And he had an eye for talent, which was underscored in 1974, when Cees recommended Dutch talented pitcher Win Remmerswaal to Boston Red Sox-scout Dick O'Connell during the Haarlem Baseball Week.
Remmerswaal was invited for Instructional League, signed a professional contract and in 1979 became the first Dutch-born and raised player to play in the Major League.
Also in 1974, Cees Herkemij had returned to club-coaching, after having been involved with National (Youth) Teams in the previous seven years.
In October 1973, he became the new Head Coach of the successful team of Rotterdam-based Sparta, which was the reigning champion.
Cees succeeded Jan van de Tol, who became an Assistant Coach, as did Ton Benningshof, who had led the baseball-team of Gouda to the Second Division-title in 1973.
In the preceeding eleven seasons, Sparta had captured the Championship-title eight times, making it the most successful Rotterdam-club of that era.
In an interview with Het Vrije Volk-newspaper in October 1973, Cees Herkemij explained his decision to return to club-coaching.
,,The biggest fun for every coach is coaching games'', Cees said.
,,But I have always enjoyed my work for the Federation.
In the long run, I got involved in everything and that became a bit too much''.
By the way, in November 1973, the Dutch Federation presents a proposal to come to a closed big league, without a promotion/relegation-ruling to stimulate a league with the most talented players.
The propasal was rejected.
In a follow-up (and accepted) proposal, the eight teams in the highest league first will play a round-robin, then are split into a Championship- and Relegation-Pool to create more exicetement.
The team in first place of the Championship-pool is the champion.
In 1972 and 1973, the championship was decided via a best-of-five Holland Series.
This Championship-format returned in 1987 and in 2022 (almost 50 years later), the highest Dutch league indeed became a closed division.
In the 1974 season, which is Herkemij's first in the highest league, Sparta has to do without pitcher Ade Fijth, short stop Harry van der Berg and outfielder Jan Switser, who had left.
Despite that, Cees leads the team to another title in 1974 in his first season, but the team doesn't start well.
On Opening Day, Sparta is shutout 8-0 by newcomer Schoten, which makes its big league-debut, thanks to productive hitting by Teun de Groot (4-for-5), Hans Röbken and Harm Horeman.
The next day, Sparta wins 3-1, thanks to a strong performance by pitcher Koos van der Mark, who throws a complete game No-Hitter, after already having been the closer the day before, when he threw 1 1/3 inning.
It's the lone highlight at that time, as Sparta also ends up short in the next three games.
After nine games, Sparta had won only four games, but then, a turnaround follows, resulting in a 9-game winning streak and qualification for the Championship Pool.
In June, Sparta becomes the league-leader and in July, the team becomes unreachable and captures its ninth title.
...Cees was Head Coach of Sparta in 1974-1975...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
En route to the 1975 season, Herkemij and Sparta faces some new challenges, as veteran catcher Hans Augustinus had retired and first baseman Piet van der Wilk's career came to an end due to a severe accident at his work.
As a result, one of his legs had to be amputated below the knee.
Some years later, Van der Wilk returned on a field as a coach.
Sparta also begins the season without outfielder Jan Kramer Freher, due to an injury.
Besides that, Assistant Coach Ton Benningshof was sidelined after undergoing back-surgery.
On the other hand, veteran player Fred Beckers returned and newcomers Geard Blacquiere (Schiedam) and Jaap Pameyer (SCR) were added, while Augustinus remains active after and re-joins the team early in the season.
Sparta finishes in second place behind Haarlem Nicols.
Earlier in the season, Nicols also had won the European Cup, defeating Sparta 7-6 in the Final.
Nicols took an early 7-2 lead, but Sparta came back to 7-6 via doubles by Henk Daniels and John Jonkers and a 9th inning homerun by Hamilton Richardson.
After giving up the homerun, Nicols-pitcher Jan Dick Leurs strikes out the next two batters to seal the win.
After the season, it is announced in October, that Ton Benningshof had become the new Head Coach of First Divisionist Feyenoord.
However, shortly thereafter, it was confirmed that Benningshof had switched to Neptunus, where he became Head Coach of the team that also played in the First Division.
Herkemij also leaves Sparta, citing the travel-distance between Amsterdam (where he lives and worlks) and Rotserdam as becoming more-and-more troublesome.
Herkemij was succeeded by Henk Hendriks.
Amongst the players coached by Cees Herkemij in his two seasons at Sparta were Hans Augustinus, Fred Beckers, Ed van der Berg, Gerard Blacquiere, Henk Daniels, John Jonkers, John van der Mark, Koos van der Mark, Henk Meijer, Jaap Pameyer, Hamilton Richardson, Paul Roodenburg, Alfio Troeman, Jan Venema, John van Westrenen and Piet van der Wilk.
In 1976, Herkemij is busy with the preparations for the Baseball School.
After try-outs late in the year, the Baseball School opened in January 1977 in Zwanenburg (as mentioned earlier), with Herkemij as Manager and Jan Dick Leurs, Boudewijn Maat and Cees Santifort as instructors.
In October 1976, Cees Herkemij is named new Head Coach of the big league-team of HCAW, succeeding Jan Schriek.
Herkemij led the Bussum-based club in four seasons, through 1980.
In 1977, his first season in Bussum, the big league is expanded to ten teams.
As HCAW is rebuilding, the expansion is in its favor and the team finishes in sixth place to secure its spot for the following year.
In April 1978, in De Telegraaf-newspaper, Herkemij states that teams play too few.
,,Instead of conducting practice sessions, we can play games.
When we would play on Wednesday- and Thursday-evening and a double-header on Sunday, we could play some 60 games'', Herkemij proposes.
Later, in June, in an article in Het Parool, Cees told reporter Johan Carbo (who passed away in May at age 73) about his first contacts with HCAW.
,,I was 'screened' by three players, André Boddendijk, Arnold Smith and Jos Kervers'', Herkemij said.
,,I remember Jos Kervers asking me how I felt about participation in decision-taking.
Great, I told him then.
I was all for it, but just not on a baseball-field.
In baseball one man has to have the say, the coach.
If that doesn't happen, then it's chaos''.
When Herkemij was named Head Coach, Kervers had left to play for UVV, Smith had transfered to Amstel Tijgers and Boddendijk had retired (but later returned).
...Cees having a meeting regarding youth-trainingcamps in the...
...eighties with Cees Santifort, Wim Hageman and Jules de Pierre...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
In June 1978, the young team won twice against the experienced team of Haarlem Nicols.
Because of this, Nicols was eliminated for the Top-4 Pool, while HCAW qualified with Giants Diemen, Amstel Tijgers and (champion) Kinheim.
HCAW finished in fourth place.
In 1979, the team finishes in sixth place.
In 1980, there are several injuries and HCAW again ends in sixth place.
After the 1980 season, Herkemij steps down and Het Parool reports in August that player Craig Montvidas becomes the new (playing) coach.
In the article, Herkemij said:
,,Neptunus asked me, but I don't feel like driving from Amsterdam to Rotterdam a few times a week.
OVVO also called me.
But I wanted to take it somewhat easier.
The phone call from 'uncle' Loek Loevendie to come and do something again with the youth of Pirates appeals to me more.
But my wife wants to go to America with our family for a month next year, now that the children are still at home.''
But a few weeks later, the situation changes.
In January 1981, it is reported that former Kinheim-coach Ed Pikor was to become the new Head Coach of HCAW (and not Montvidas).
Until the arrival of the American in Bussum, Cees leads the (indoor) practice-sessions.
In March, it is announced that Pikor is not coming.
Herkemij is not available as successor, as he had been appointed as coach of the Netherlands Team.
Instead, American Jeff Archer (who had left UVV a week earlier) became HCAW's new Head Coach.
Amongst the players in three or all four of Cees Herkemij's seasons at HCAW were Frank Baly, René Boin, Wim Hageman, Sidney Hickinson, Alfred de Leeuw, Franco Martis, Bart Seidel, Peter van der Ster and Bart de Wilde.
Amongst the players with one or two seasons were André Boddendijk, Anthony Concencion, Ade Fijth, Albert Husken, Louis Jacobs, Craig Montvidas, Ricky Placidus, Rob Rajsich, Richard Reichle, Ron Steward, Ed Tromp, Eric de Vries, Haitze de Vries and Paul de Wolff.
In his first two seasons, Herkemij was assisted by Nico Born, in the next two seasons by Wil Kitslaar.
From 1978 on, Cees again was a member of two KNBSB-committees.
From 1978 through 1983, Herkemij was one of three advisors of the Committee for Development and Examinations, alongside Leen Volkerijk and Nol Houtkamp (for softball) in the first three years.
Later, Fokke Jelsma became an advisor.
Chairing the committee was Piet van Deenen, while Henny Oosterhof (1978-1980) and Feiko Drost (1981-1983) served as secretary.
Other members included Harold van Duinen, Dick Kors, Henk Kempen, Jannie Koot, Lex Rimini, Joop Santifort, Hans Schotel and Dries de Zwaan.
In the same period (1978-1984), Cees a member of the Accomodations Committee, which was chaired by Cees Boer, Sr. (1978-1980) and Piet van Ruitenburg (1981).
From 1982 on, the committee had a separate baseball-section, chaired by Jan Kars, and a softball-section with George Presburg as chairman.
Other members in 1978-1981 included Henk Dorenbos (secretary), André Prins and as advisors Hans Konings, Jan Meijer and Aart Wedemeijer.
From 1982, Theo Ederveen was the secretary for both sections, while Fred de Kramer and Joes Gewald joined as softball-members.
As Cees Herkemij is a coach with a lot of knowledge and experence, his name is frequently mentioned as a candidate for Manager of the Netherlands National Baseball Team.
Like in 1978 when it becomes clear that American Ernie Myers will not return after having led the Orange-squad for five years.
He is succeeded by (former player) Hamilton Richardson, who had been an Assistant Coach of Myers.
After the 1980 World Championship in Japan, Richardson's tenure as Manager ends.
Herkemij's name is mentioned as a possible successor, but the KNBSB again opts to go with an American coach.
...Cees Herkemij in 1981 as Assistant Coach of the...
...Netherlands Baseball Team during preparations for the...
...European Championship in Haarlem (Netherlands)...
...Standing at right is Manager Jim Stoeckel; Standing at left...
...are catchers Ronald Stoovelaar and Ron van Zuilichem...
(© Photo: Noord-Hollands Archief/
Fotopersbureau De Boer (Poppe de Boer)) |
However, Cees Herkemij will wear the Orange uniform after all, as in 1981-1983, he is the Assistant Coach of the Netherlands Baseball Team, which then is led by American Manager Jim Stoeckel and they form a 2-man coaching-staff.
In 1981, they led the Orange-squad to the European title in Haarlem (Netherlands).
As Stoeckel is new in Dutch baseball, Herkemij, who knows the players, does the preparations and conducts the practice-sessions until the American arrives.
En route to the European Championship, Herkemij is called 'the architect of the team' in some newspapers.
He knows the players, makes the first selection and advises Stoeckel.
During the Championship, the headlines read: 'Orange entertains audience' (Het Parool), 'Orange grows' (Het Vrije Volk), 'Orange close unity' (De Telegraaf) and 'Grandiose baseball in Haarlem' (De Waarheid).
In 1982, Stoeckel and Herkemij were successful again, as the Netherlands Team finished in sixth place during the World Championship in South Korea, which was the highest ranking ever up to that moment.
Marco Stoovelaar, the author of this In Memoriam, made a documentary of this Championship and Cees provided the narration.
Earlier in 1982, the Netherlands reaches the Play-Offs of the Haarlem Baseball Week, but is eliminated by the Sullivans.
In 1983, the Orange Team plays a good tounament in Belgium, reaching the Play-Offs in the Intercontinental Cup.
Later in the year, the Netherlands is dethroned as European champion by Italy in a chaotic tournament in Grosseto (Italy).
Playing for the Netherlands in most of the tournaments in these three years were Gerard Blacquiere, Frank Bos, Bertil Haage, Sidney Hickinson, Jan Hijzelendoorn, Hennie Jenken, Marcel Joost, Robert Knol, Ed Kruijs, Jim Sieval, Paul Smit, Ronald Stoovelaar, Ed Tromp, Charles Urbanus, Jan Venema, Thijs Vervaat, Bart Volkerijk, Eric de Vries, Haitze de Vries, Arnold Whitfield and Ron van Zuilichem.
Rob Groeneveldt, Henk van 't Klooster, Don Wedman (1981), Ron Giroldi, Wim van den Heuvel (1982), Bill Groot, Gerlach Halderman, Harm Horeman and Jerry Remmerswaal (1983) played in one year or one tournament.
The supporting staff was formed by Maarten Koper (physical therapist), Gerard Wijbrandts (equipment manager) and Jules de Pierre (team manager).
Rob Gruppelaar also was a physical therapist in 1981.
While being active for the Netherlands Team, Cees also continues to work with youth-players.
In 1982, he leads the practice-sessions of the Amsterdam Pirates cadets-team.
A year later, he coaches the juniors of Pirates.
Cees Herkemij returned again to club-coaching in 1984 after American Harvey Shapiro was named as new Manager of the Netherlands.
From 1984 on, Cees was the Head Coach of big league-teams UVV (1984-1985), Giants Diemen (1986-1987), Almere Giants '24 (1988) and HCAW (1990-1992).
In 1989, Cees was the technical director of Haarlem Nicols.
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...who's who?...
...Left: Higgins in the TV-series 'Magnum, P.I.'...
...Right: Cees with Haarlem Nicols in 1989...
(© Photos: Publicity-photo 'Magnum, P.I.' (left),
& Archive Cees Herkemij (right)) |
It was in these early eighties, when he was coachiing the Netherlands Team, that Cees first became known under his notable nickname, which was used more and became more common in following years when he returned to club-coaching.
That nickname was 'Higgins', after character of that name from the popular TV-series Magnum, P.I., the crime/action/comedy-drama covering the adventures and investigations of Hawaii-based (Oahu) Private Investigator Thomas Magnum, played by Tom Selleck.
Magnum lives in the guesthouse of an estate, called 'Robin's Nest'.
Caretaker of the estate is Jonathan Quayle Higgins, who had strict rules and looks the properties with his two Dobermanns Zeus and Apollo.
Higgins was played by John Hillerman, who passed away on November 9, 2017 at age 84.
The physical resemblance of Herkemij and Higgins was striking.
Both even had a similar, small moustache.
Both Selleck (Best Actor, Television Series Drama, 1985) and Hillerman (Best Supporting Actor, Television Series Drama, 1982) won a Golden Globe for their roles as Magnum and Higgins.
They also won a Primetime Emmy Award, respectively in 1984 and 1987, for their work in this series.
Also starring in the series were Roger E. Mosley and Larry Manetti, who respectively played the roles of helicopter pilot Theodore (TC) Calvin and nightclub-manager Orville (Rick) Wright.
Mosley passed away on August 7, 2022 at age 83.
Magnum, P.I ran for 158 episodes from December 11, 1980 through May 1, 1988 (eight seasons), which were broadcast on CBS.
The series debuted on Dutch television on June 10, 1981 and was broadcast by Veronica.
For-the-record, Amsterdam Pirates had an American pitcher named Kevin Spicer in the 1983 season who was nicknamed 'Magnum', due to his resemblance of the character.
Long after the series had ended, Cees Herkemij still was regularly called Higgins, especially by his former players in club-teams and the National Team.
In his first season with UVV (1984), Cees Herkemij leads the Utrecht-based team to third place.
A more difficult season follows in 1985 after a lot of players had left, including experienced veterans Carlos van Heyningen, Louis Jacobs, Douglas Morton and Martin Ronnenbergh.
The team finishes in eighth place.
Amongst the players in these two UVV-seasons were Reinier Abrahamsen, José Acebal, Judsel Baranco, Willem van den Braber, Ernst Engbrenghof, Marlon Fluonia, Leo Geerlings, Carlos van Heyningen, Louis Jacobs, Hennie Jenken, Robert-Jan Kars, Jos Kervers, Danny McNurlin, Rob van Montfoort, Douglas Morton, Paul Mulder, David Paul, Rudsel Paulina, Erik Ronnenbergh, Martin Ronnenbergh and Olav Starreveld.
Herkemij is assisted by Roley Wout (1984) and Nico de Bie (1985).
From this group, Kars and Mulder also played for Herkemij more than ten years earlier in the Netherlands BRL-Team that captured the European title in 1973.
...Cover of Cees' book...
...'Basisboek Honkbal'... |
In July/August 1986, the World Championship Baseball was organized in the Netherlands for the first time.
During the event, Herkemij's book Basisboek Honkbal is presented.
In the book, Herkemij gives advices and tips for practices and game-preparations.
Also during the World Championship, Cees is one of the head-instructors of the three 'Baseball Basics' youth-camps in Eindhoven, Oosterhout and Santpoort.
These youth-camps were organized by Rotterdam-based Fastplay, which was created by Ton Benningshof, Cees' former Assistant Coach when he was active for Sparta.
Besides Ton and Cees, the staff of instructors consisted of coaching-colleagues, as well as some players.
Amongst the special guests were former National Team-players Hamilton Richardson and Ed Tromp, as well as National Soccer-player Ruud Gullitt.
In 1987, Fastplay also organized soccer- and basketball-camps.
In January 1986, Cees Herkemij had becomes the new Head Coach of Giants Diemen, whom he led for two seasons.
With Giants, Herkemij finished in third place in 1986 and fourth in 1987.
Amongst the players of Giants Diemen in these two seasons are Judsel Baranco, Dan Belinskas, Dave Bisceglia, Frank Bos, Marcel van den Bosch, Danny Bout, Edwin Bout, Bart Bruin, Frans de Bruijn, Peter Callenbach, Frank Koene, Frank Koot, Roland Maria, Steve Matthew, Craig McGinnis, Danny McNurlin, Jacco Mossel, Ruud Schnitker, Orlando Stewart and Ron van Zuilichem.
In his first season, Herkemij is assisted by Franco Martis and in his second season by Flip le Cuivre.
After the 1987 season, the main-squad of Giants Diemen moves to Almere, where it merges in March 1988 with local club Polmerians (First Division) to become Almere Giants.
The big league-team will play as Almere Giants '24, the First Division-team as Almere Giants '82 with the numerals referring to the years that Giants and Polmerians were founded.
The remainder of the Giants Diemen-club stayed in Diemen and continued under the name Survivors.
The main reason for the move were ambitious plans of some Giants-boardmembers.
In April 1988, it was announced that a new, partially covered, stadium with a backstop of unbreakable glass was to be built at the Hannie Schaft Park.
Construction would begin in August 1988 and would be opened in April 1989.
The new stadium would never be realized.
In the 1988 season, Giants played its home-games at the home-site of Polmerians, which was not really big league-worthy.
Several players moved with Giants to Almere, as did Head Coach Cees Herkemij.
But the new club had a small roster.
Despite that, Almere Giants played well and shared first place regularly with Amsterdam Pirates and/or Haarlem Nicols.
In the end, Giants finishes in second place.
Nevertheless, it becomes a messy season, also due to unclear administrative agreements and a bumpy field.
After the season, it became clear that the announced stadium would never come.
However, the playing site is not acceptable for the highest league and therefore, Giants played its home-games in 1989 at the site of Falcons in Lelystad.
In June of that year, the club changes the name to New Giants.
Two months later, the club is dissolved and withdraws from the league.
Cees is not with Giants in 1989, as he then was active for Haarlem Nicols.
The players who moved with the club to Almere were Baranco, Koene, Matthew, Stewart and Van Zuilichem.
The other players in the 1988 season were Wismar Ansjeliena, Mitchell Cobussen, Marc Handwerger, Jacky Jakoba, Julian Kenepa, Edsel Martis, Franklin Richardson and Tom Willerson.
...Cees Herkemij was named Member of Merit of the KNBSB...
...in March 1996; On the photo, he poses with his fellow-honorees...
...that day (left to right) André Prins, Theo Walthie, Jules de Pierre,...
...Jan Dick Leurs and Marco Stoovelaar...
...De Pierre was named Honorary Member, Prins, Walthie and...
...Leurs were also named Member of Merit and Stoovelaar was...
...awarded the Slugger for his promotional activities...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
In September 1988, it is announced that Cees Herkemij will be part of the technical staff of (reigning champion) Haarlem Nicols in 1989.
He will be in uniform as the technical manager, while Jan-Dick Leurs (who was the Head Coach) and Leo Naaktgeboren will continue as coach.
In April 1989, the roles change.
Initially, Herkemij and Leurs both oversaw the main-squad.
Both also would share the coaching, which would create some relief for Leurs, due to his busy regular job.
But in the new set-up, Leurs will become responsible again for the team as Head Coach.
Herkemij becomes the non-uniformed technical director and will be responsible for the technical coordination and scouting.
In the Opening Weekend (two games), Herkemij fills in for Leurs, who is in Japan for his work.
In May, Herkemij fills in for one game when Leurs is sick.
Cees leads Nicols to three wins.
Halfway the season, he gets a new title, general manager.
In 1989, a Play-Off format was introduced in the big league.
In the best-of-seven series, Nicols eliminates Amsterdam Pirates to advance to the Holland Series.
In the best-of-seven Final, Nicols defeats Neptunus to become champion again.
Playing for Nicols are Frank Bos, Michael Crouwel, Jamie Doughty, Mark Giroldi, Ron Giroldi, Gerlach Halderman, Frank Koks, Richard Kranenburg, Edsel Martis, Craig McGinnis, Han Prinsen, Danny Scheer, Maurice Verdaasdonk, Haitze de Vries and Byron Ward.
From 1990 on, Cees Herkemij is involved again with HCAW for three seasons.
A year earlier, the club-name had changed into HCAW/Tijgers after a merger with Amsterdam-club Amstel Tijgers.
Cees is the Head Coach of the big league-team and also heads the top section of the club, while Floor Blaauw oversees the youth-plans.
Former pitcher Craig McGinnis is Herkemij's Pitching Coach and Hugh Glavin is his assistant in his first season.
In 1990, HCAW/Tijgers finishes in sixth place.
A year later, the Bussum-team is more successful.
HCAW/Tijgers ends in third place to qualify for the Play-Offs.
In the best-of-five Play-Off, HCAW/Tijgers eliminates Haarlem Nicols, but the team is then left empty-handed in the best-of-five Holland Series, as it is swept by Neptunus.
The 1992 season is tougher.
When it becomes clear that HCAW/Tijgers will be eliminated for the Play-Offs, Herkemij and McGinnis decide to change the coaching-duties late July.
McGinnis becomes Head Coach and Herkemij will coach from third base, while Reinier Abrahamsen and American Steven Russell continue as playing coach.
It already was planned that McGinnis would be the future Head Coach.
In the Algemeen Dagblad-newspaper in early August, Herkemij said 'that this appeared to be the right time' to make the coaching-move.
Later, Herkemij, who then is 58, announces his retirement from coaching.
In December, he becomes a member of the board of the KNBSB.
In Herkemij's three seasons in Bussum, amongst the HCAW/Tijgers-players were Reinier Abrahamsen, Gilbert van den Bergh, Roy Berrevoets, Jeffrey Cranston, Patrick van Doorn, Frans Groot, Roland de Groot, Paul van Heykoop, Mike Hofer, Frans van Huffel, René van Huffel, Jurjan Koenen, Edsel Martis, Clive Mendes, Ralph Milliard and Caspar van Rijnbach.
Playing in one of these three seasons were Nico Adam, Mikeo Aoki, Eduard van Bennekom, Jeffery Calderone, Jan van Gorkum, Raymond Hofer, Lars Koehorst, Geza Kovacs, Richard Kranenburg, Peter Kwakernaak, Mayo Noerdlinger, Nelson Orman, Steven Russell, Patrick Tensen and Ron van Zuilichem.
In his long career, Cees Herkemij coached teams of six clubs in fifteen big league-seasons, winning more than 250 games.
...Cees was active as scout for Baseball Academy Rabbits Kennemerland...
...His son Peter (center) was a longtime coach and coordinator and...
...grandson Cris was a player...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
In 1991, Cees Herkemij got an honorable invitation, as he was named as one of the Assistant Coaches for Team East for the second IBA World All Star Game.
This game, organized by the International Baseball Association, is played in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California (USA).
Pitcher Bart Volkerijk, infielder Bob van Aalen and outfielder Marcel Kruyt are invited as player.
In December 1992, Cees joined the board of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) and becomes responsible for technical affairs baseball.
Cees succeeded former National Team-player Thijs Vervaat, who has to step down five weeks after being elected, due to working commitments.
Cees is officially elected in March 1993, but he steps down again in May 1995.
Other boardmembers at that time are Henk den Duijn (chairman), Wil Kitslaar (vice-chairman finances), Jules de Pierre (vice-chairman baseball-affairs), Jos Gieskens (vice-chairman softball-affairs/competition-affairs softball), Wijnand Agterberg (vice-chairman organization), Egbert van der Sluis (technical affairs softball), Jan Esselman (competition-affairs baseball), Paul Bokern (umpire-affairs), Harry Meijers (recreation-sports), Peter Foppen, Ed Klokkers, Jan Lensselink and Jan Prins (all district-chairmen).
Unfortunately, two members of this group unexpectedly passed away recently.
Henk den Duijn on September 16 at age 78 and Jan Esselman on October 28 at age 81.
Another member also passed away not that long ago, being Jules de Pierre on October 14, 2023, at age 91.
In 1997, Cees Herkemij became involved again with the Netherlands Baseball Team, as he had become the so-called National Teams Commissioner.
In this position, he oversaw all National Baseball Teams and was the righthand of Peter van 't Klooster, who was the chairman baseball-affairs in the board of the KNBSB in 1997-1999.
In 1997, Cees is with Orange-squad during the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and the European Championship in France.
In his new function, Cees also accompanies the team a year year later during the Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem (Netherlands) and the World Championship in Italy.
In 1999, Cees also is the Business Manager of the national squad during the World Port Tournament and the Intercontinental Cup in Sydney (Australia).
In these years (1997-1999), the team is led by Manager Jan Dick Leurs.
In the following year, Cees had the same roles during the Haarlem Baseball Week when American Pat Murphy was the Manager.
Murphy currenty is the Manager of the Major League-team of Milwaukee Brewers.
Some years ago, Cees also was closely involved with Baseball Academy Rabbits Kennemerland as a scout.
Since this Academy was founded in 2008, son Peter had been a coach for many years.
Since 2017, Peter is the Manager of the Netherlands Under-12 Team.
...Cees Herkemij watching a game...
...in a relaxed pose...
(© Photo: Archive Cees Herkemij) |
Both Cees and Peter also have been involved with the Haarlem Baseball Week.
In 1974, 1976 and 1978, Cees was one of the Public Address Announcers of the international tournament.
In 1978, 1980 and 1988, he was a member of the Awards Commission and in 2002, Cees was the Tournament Director of the Baseball Week when he also was a member of the Organizing Committee.
Since September 2023, Peter is a member of the Organizing Committee as the Tournament Director and debuted during the Baseball Week that was held in July of 2024.
With that, Peter made a comeback.
In 1980, he debuted as a member of the group youngsters that did the copywork of the daily magazine of the event.
Peter later would head this group for many years.
Cees' daughter Yvonne also was involved in the tournament.
In 1982 and 1984, she was a member of the Press Commission and also was active in the tournament-office.
Maartje, the mother of Yvonne and Peter and the first wife of Cees, was a longtime official scorer.
In the sixties, she was one of the scorers of the Baseball Week.
From the early seventies, she oversaw the tournament-statistics, was the liaison officer for the official scorers and was a member of the Awards Commission.
Maartje (Nierop Groot) passed away in July 2017 at age 82.
During the Baseball Week of 2024, Peter's wife Saskia made her debut as Public Address Announcer.
Their daughter (and thus the granddaughter of Cees) Kiki was active in the hospitality crew during the event.
Besides being named Coach of the Year in 1973 and getting a decoration in 1978, Cees Herkemij also won the Slugger of the KNBSB for promotional activities, which was handed out in March 1974.
For his many contributions, Cees was awarded the Silver Honorary Medallion of the KNBSB in March 1986.
In March 1996, he was named Member of Merit of the KNBSB.
And in 2000, Cees won the Leen Volkerijk Award, which is handed out annually by the KNBSB to an individual who has made signiticant contributions to the development of baseball.
Through the years, especially when he was coaching, Cees was regurlarly called a perfectionist, but also a very fanatical and passionate coach.
He indeed prepared very well for everything he did.
While being a coach, he had a special manner of approaching umpires.
And Cees indeed was very passionate, especially in the development of youth baseball.
Cees, who mostly had a smile on his face, was always interested in others and the people, players and coaches with whom he worked.
Cees will be missed by many of us.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Cees' partner Wil, daughter Yvonne, son Peter, son-in-law Scot, daughter-in-law Saskia, grandchildren, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(December 31)
(with thanks to Peter Herkemij for supplying and giving permission to publish photos from the private-archive of Cees Herkemij)
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