(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos Henk Seppen & Marco Stoovelaar)
IN MEMORIAM
...Tom Geestman...
(1955 - 2025)
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
 Former pitcher, Big League & Orarnge Juniors-coach Tom Geestman passed away
Nederlands
 AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Tom Geestman, who had a long pitching-career for different teams in the seventies and eighties, passed away on Wednesday, April 9 at the much too young age of 70.
Geestman played for six different clubs, including three seasons for Rap/Amsterdam Pirates and seven for De Spartaan.
He mainly played in the First Division, but also briefly played in the Dutch big league.
After his playing career, Tom coached at Kinheim (three seasons), Haarlem Nicols, Amsterdam Pirates and DSS at the big league-level.
Besides that, Tom Geestman was the Pitching Coach of the Netherlands National Juniors Team for fourteen years.
The memorial service for Tom Geestman will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 2:30 PM in the Vondel Aula of Herdenkingspark Westgaarde, located at the Ookmeerweg 275 in Amsterdam.
After the memorial service, it is possible to offer condolences to the family.
Tom Geestman was born on February 21, 1955 in Amsterdam.
Tom was a member of a wellknown baseball-family that has a long tie to the sport dating back to the late thirties.
Back somewhere in 1938, father Wim Geestman made his debut in the team of Quick Amsterdam in the First Division, which then was the highest league.
Wim developed into a legendary pitcher, who became known for his effective and tempting curveballs.
Wim Geestman remained as a dominating pitcher through 1953, playing for Amsterdam-based clubs Quick Amsterdam, Ajax and Blauw-Wit.
In the forties and fifties, he belonged to a group of dominating and legendary pitchers, which also included Roel de Mon, Cor Wilders, Boes Meenhorst, Henk Schijvenaar and Han Urbanus.
After having played at a lower level, Wim turned to coaching and also became a well-respected pitching-instructor.
He became the Head Coach of WV-HEDW, which in April 1964 merged with VVA to become HVA, where he continued his coaching.
In April 1967, HVA merged with Rap, which also became the new name and was changed to Amsterdam Pirates in 1974.
Wim continued to shared his pitching-knowledge not only at the before-mentioned clubs, but several others, including Storks and De Spartaan.
Halfway the sixties, Wim became one of the Assistant Coaches of Netherlands Team-coach Charles Urbanus (Sr.), alongside Dolf de Zwart, Fokke Jelsma and Cees Herkemij, who passed away in December at age 90.
In those years, an American coach led the National Team, while Urbanus also oversaw the National Youth Teams.
Wim Geestman not only was a great pitcher, he also was successful in korfball, basketball and fishing.
He went on to play in the National Teams in baseball, korfball and basketball.
Wim and his wife Dien got three sons: Ruud, Wim and Tom.
With a successful pitcher as a father, it was inevitable that they would all become pitchers themselves.
Unfortunately, Wim Sr. unexpectedly passed away on February 21, 1991, which also was the day that Tom celebrated his 36th birthday.
Coincidentally, Wim was 70 years, the same age Tom turned earlier this year.
...The MCB-team of Rap that won the title in 1970...
...Back: Loek Loevendie (coach), Laurens van der Poel, André van Beest,...
...Michael Davidson, Ronald de Bruin, Jeroen Schuil, Harm Schildmeijer,...
...Jan Hijzelendoorn, Martin Meeder, Sjaak Verbij, Tom van Es, Tom Geestman...
...and Wim van der Poel (coach)...
...Front: Marcel Joost (bat-boy), Han Husken (bat-boy), Steven van der Poel (bat-boy),...
...Peter Westen (bat-boy), Martin van der Steeg and Ernst Engbrenghof...
(© Photo: Archive Marco Stoovelaar) |
Ruud was a successful pitcher in the sixties in the highest league for Quick Amsterdam, WV-HEDW, HVA, ABC and VVGA with his father either as teammate or coach at the first three clubs.
Ruud, who also played for the Netherlands Team, also was a very talented soccer-player and became a professional player for Blauw-Wit, Telstar, Go Ahead Eagles (six seasons) and Heracles, all in the highest league.
Wim (Jr.) pitched for HVA, Rap and Thamen and played for the Netherlands B-Team in 1970.
Tom, who was the youngest of the three sons, also became an effective pitcher and began his career at HVA, where he of course learned the trade of pitching from his father.
After the merger with Rap, he continued to play there.
In 1970, Tom played for the successful so-called MC Bakker-team (cadets, age 13-16) of Rap, which captured the National Championship-title after winning 6-0 against Feyenoord from Rotterdam.
The team was coached by Loek Loevendie and Wim van der Poel.
One of the players of that team was Laurens van der Poel, who passed away unexpectedly last month at age 70.
In the early seventies, Tom made his debut in the main-squad of Rap, playing together with his brother Wim.
Back then, Rap played in the First Division, which then was the second highest league.
Tom was one of the pitchers of Rap through 1974, but also saw action as first baseman.
Besides his brother Wim, other players in these seasons included André van Beest, Jan van Beest, Chester Berkel, Mario Berkel, Bert van der Brande, Maurice Cranston, Michael Davidson, Tom van Es, Wim van Es, José Faneyte, Tom Helmers, Albert Husken, Jan Hijzelendoorn, Hans Jansen de Vries, Harold Leslie, Kurt Lourens, Dave Luijdens, Franco Martis, Terry McIntosh, Laurens van der Poel, Louis van der Putten, Frank Ricao, Harm Schildmeijer, Martin van der Steeg, Kees van Vegten, Sjaak Verbij, Jan Visser, Marten Walsma and Jan van Wieringen.
Other teammates in youth-teams of HVA/Rap included Martin Meeder, Piet Meeder and Jeroen Schuil.
In these seasons, Max Rietbergen was the Head Coach of the main-squad.
From 1970 on, he was assisted by Wim Joost and Herman Koot, while Wim Geestman (Sr.) instructed the pitchers.
Team Manager from 1971 on was Coen Stoovelaar, who passed away in October at age 92.
From 1975 on, Tom, and the brothers André and Jan van Beest, went on to play for De Spartaan, which was led by Gerard Stenzler, another legendary coach, like Rietbergen.
Stenzler passed away in January 2023 at age 90.
In 1977, Tom was on the preliminary roster for the Netherlands Team for the European Championship.
However, he was not selected for the final roster by American Manager Ernie Myers.
...Tom as Pitching Coach of Amsterdam Pirates in 2008...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Tom played for De Spartaan for seven seasons.
In 1980, the team promoted to the Dutch big league.
And so, in 1981, at age 26, Tom made his debut at the highest level.
He appeared in five games, hitting 1-for-14, but didn't pitch.
Other players in the 1981 big league-season of De Spartaan included Ritchie Daal, Bob Frishette, Hennie Heijsteeg, Jacky Jakoba, Totti Martina, Paul Mulder, Jan Prinsen, Erik Ronnenbergh, Anthony St. Aubyn, Ron Steward and Jack Zijlstra.
In 1982 and 1983, Tom played for Thamen in Uithoorn, then for De Volewijckers in Amsterdam-North in 1984-1987.
Both teams also played in the First Division.
In 1987, Tom also turned to coaching and was a playing coach at De Volewijckers.
In 1988, Tom became the Assistant of Ruud Koene at Haarlem-based Kinheim, which then played in the second highest league.
Koene and Geestman led the team to second place in the Promotion Pool, resulting in promotion to the big league.
In 1989-1991, Tom was the Pitching Coach/1B Coach of the big league-team of Kinheim, which then was led by Head Coach Boudewijn Maat.
Team Managers were Frank Wiedemeijer and Kees Tromp, who also was Team Scorer, and Ron Dekker was the famous Equipment Manager.
In 1989 and 1990, Kinheim qualified for the Play-Offs.
While being a coach, Tom made his pitching-debut in the big league during the 1990 season at age 35.
He made his debut on May 22 in an evening-game at home against ADO, which won 13-7.
Peter van Dalen was the starting pitcher for Kinheim andd was relieved by Michel Reuvers in the third inning.
Tom threw the final 1 2/3 inning and in the ninth, he gave up a homerun to Bart Volkerijk, who was the winning pitcher, threw a complete game and struckout seventeen.
Tom pitched in three games, striking out three batters in 9 1/3 inning and was 1-0.
His lone win came on June 3, when he pitched five innings in relief in a 10-8 win against HCAW.
Roderick Balk started the game, then Michel Reuvers briefly took over.
Erik Lommerde closed the game, which was turned around in Kinheim's favor thanks to a grand slam-homerun by Gerlach Halderman.
Amongst the Kinheim-players in these years were Raymond Beugeling, Maurice de Boer, Giel ten Bosch, Gijs ten Bosch, Darryl Brinkley, Bart Bruin, Peter van Dalen, Gerlach Halderman, Michael Halderman, Robert Knol, Frank Koene, Hans Lemmink, Erik Lommerde, Paul Nanne, Tom Nanne, Elliott Rivera, René Rijst, Floris Smidt, Thijs-Jan Smidt, Haitze de Vries and Jan-Willem van de Wetering.
...Tom as Coach of Amsterdam Pirates in 2008...
...in discussion with Umpire Fred Groenewegen...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In 1992, Tom was a Head Coach for the first time.
He then led the team of Bucs, the farm-team of Amsterdam Pirates.
Unfortunately, the team relegated to the Second Division.
Hereafter, in 1993, Tom Geestman returned to the big league as the Assistant Coach of Mike Baker at Haarlem Nicols.
Han Mars was the Team Manager, Frans Bergman the Team Scorer and Hakkie Nieuwveen the Masseur.
Halfway the season, Nicols and Baker separated.
Geestman succeeded him and was assisted by legend Hudson John.
Nicols finished in fifth place.
Geestman and John also were to coach Nicols in 1994, but then, a month before the start of the season, the club was dissolved due to financial reasons.
Amongst the Nicols-players in 1993 were Michael Crouwel, Martijn Faneyte, Didi Gregorius (Sr.), Frank Groen, Bill Groot, René van Huffel, Eelco Jansen, Robert John, Geza Kovacs and Byron Ward.
From 1998 on, Tom was involved as Pitching Coach of the Netherlands Juniors Team (Under 19, 'Young Orange') for fourteen years.
When he joined the coaching-staff in 1998, the team was led by Manager Roel Klaassen with Paul Smit as Assistant Coach.
The trio also formed the coaching-staff in 1999.
In 2000, Tom was Pitching Coach of the team just under Young Orange with Peter van Dalen as Manager and Roy Berrevoets as Assistant Coach.
In 2001, Tom re-joined the Young Orange-team and remained part of the team though 2012.
From 2001 on, Bill Froberg was the Manager for three years.
Van Dalen then was the Hitting Coach and Tom the Pitching Coach.
In 2001 and 2002, Peter Boon was the Assistant Coach.
In 2003, they led the team to the European title in Capelle a/d IJssel (Netherlands).
In 2004, Peter van Dalen was the Manager with Geestman and Boon as coaches during the World Championship in Taiwan.
Van Dalen returned to his role as Hitting Coach in 2005 when Eric de Bruin became the new Manager.
In 2006, Eddie Dix was added to the staff for the World Championship in Cuba (8th place).
In 2000-2005, Kees Sleegers was the Team Manager and Kees van der Wal the Physical Therapist.
Robert Paulus was the Team Manager in 2006.
...Tom as Bench Coach of DSS in 2015...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In 2007, Froberg was the Manager again, while Ken Brauckmiller was the Pitching Coach.
In this year, Tom acted as Team Manager during the Euopean Championship in Den Bosch (Netherlands), where the team won bronze.
After not being active in 2008, Tom Geestman returned to the coaching-staff.
In 2009 and 2010, the Orange-Juniors were led by Manager Brian Farley.
Tom again was the Pitching Coach, while Peter van Dalen was the Hitting Coach.
Assistant Coaches in 2009 and 2010 respectively were Elliott Rivera and Tim Miner.
Rivera is the current treasurer in the KNBSB-board.
Pepijn van Ingen was the Physical Therapist.
In 2009, the team finished in second place in the European Championship in Bonn (Germany).
In 2010, in Thunder Bay (Canada), the Orange-Juniors finished sixth in the World Championship, the best result ever.
In 2011 and 2012, Eric de Bruin was the Manager again of the Juniors.
Tom Geestman and Peter van Dalen returned as coaches, while Ivan Rodriguez and Martijn Nijhoff were added.
In 2011, the Juniors captured the title at the European Championship in Gijon (Spain).
A year later, the team was less successful during the World Championship in Seoul (South Korea), finishing in eleventh place.
In these years, many played for the Young Orange Team including current big league-players Dennis Burgersdijk, Kevin Dirksen, Lars Huijer, Dwayne Kemp, Raoell Kortstam, Stijn van der Meer and Kaj Timmermans.
Amongst the pitchers besides Burgersdijk, Huijer and Timmermans also were Jerremyh Angela, Reggie Bomberg, Bayron Cornelisse, Ian Delamarre, Kevin Geestman, Mika de Lincel, Jose Moreno, Jim Ploeger, Maickel Rietel, Scott Ronnenbergh and Robin Schel.
In 2008, Tom also was active again in the big league, as he was the Pitching Coach of Amsterdam Pirates in the staff of Head Coach Rikkert Faneyte, the son of his former teammate José Faneyte.
Other coaches then were Randell Hannah and Tim Miner, while Peter Meijers was the Team Manager and Annechien Faneyte the Team Scorer.
Pirates captured the Dutch Championship-title, defeating Kinheim in the Holland Series.
...The new coaching-staff of DSS in 2016...
...Ivan Rodriguez, Tom Geestman, Nick Stuifbergen, Rik Geestman and Jerry Breek...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Amongst the Pirates-players in this Championship-season were Fausto Álvarez Rizo, Maikel Benner, Kenny Berkenbosch, Marvin Bleij, Wesley Connor, Remco Draijer, Björn Henrichs, Bas de Jong, Jos de Jong, Sidney de Jong, Ryan Murphy, Raban Schalm, Nick Stuifbergen, Pim Walsma and Pavèl van Zaane.
Tom made another comeback as big league-coach in 2015 when he was the Bench Coach of Lennart Stut at Haarlem-based club DSS.
Tom's son Rik then was the Pitching Coach.
The same trio also initially led the team in 2016.
However, the coaching then changed in early August.
Nick Stuifbergen took over as Head Coach, while Jerry Breek and Ivan Rodriguez were added as base-coaches.
Tom continued as Bench Coach and Rik remained the Pitching Coach.
Peter Vink was the Team Manager/Scorer.
Amongst the DSS-players were his sons Kevin and Rik Geestman and also Donny Breek, Mitchel Dautzenberg, Mark van Deursen, Tino van Erk, Mike Groen, Koen Halderman, Tim Halderman, >b>Joffrey Heus, Mitchell Koot, Menno Lenting, Lex Leijenaar, Ryan Miner, Melvin Perdue, Max Ploegstra, Sven van de Sanden, Tommy van de Sanden, Mark Smit and Seb Visser.
Kevin and Rik Geestman also played for Amsterdam Pirates, as did Marvin Geestman, the son of Wim Jr., whose daughter Cynthia played softball for Pirates.
Tom never put himself up front and always was modest.
Also while coaching a game.
When he disagreed with an umpiring call, he slowly walked to an umpire to argue.
Mostly with a soft-spoken voice.
However, in more recent years, an argument could heat up and sometimes resulted in an ejection.
Though the years, he always had a good connection with his players, of course especially with pitchers.
He always was available to share his knowledge in the field of pitching.
Like father, like son.
Tom will surely be missed by many of us.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Tom's wife Jacqueline, daughter Kim, sons Rik and Kevin, son-in-law Dirk, daughters-in-law Morgan and Noa, grandchildren, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.
(April 11)
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