IN MEMORIAM ...Leo Kops... (1936 - 2026) (© Photo: Private photo)

Haarlem Nicols-icon & former National Team-player Leo Kops ('The Vacuum-cleaner') passed away
Nederlands

HOOFDDORP (Neth.) - Leo Kops, who played in the Dutch big league in three decades (1954-1970), has passed away on Monday, September 28 at the age of 90 in his home-town Hoofddorp. Kops played in the first successful seasons of Haarlem Nicols with whom he won three Dutch Championship-titles and became one of the club-icons. In 1966, Haarlem Nicols wrote history when it became the first-ever Dutch sports-team to win an European Cup. Leo Kops also won a Championship-title with EDO and EHS.

Leo also was a mainstay in the Dutch National Team in the late fifties and sixties, winning six European titles. In those years, Leo was without any doubt the best short stop in the Netherlands and probably all of Europe. He still is considered one of the best ever. His defensive qualities earned him the nickname 'The Vacuum-cleaner'. In 1969, Leo was decorated by the Dutch Baseball Federation.

The memorial-ceremony for Leo Kops will be held on Monday, October 5 at 3:00 PM at Crematorium Haarlemmermeer, located at Hoofdweg 1100 in Nieuw-Vennep. Afterwards, Leo's life will be celebrated in a get-together.

Leonardus Hendrikus Pieter (Leo) Kops was born on January 19, 1936 in Haarlem. It was in this city where Leo not only lived for many years, but also played his entire career. At age eight, Leo began playing soccer at local club EDO, where he started playing baseball some years later. From 1954 on, Leo played in 17 seasons in the highest Dutch league.

In 1954, at age 18, Leo made his debut in the main baseball-squad of EDO. The team was one of several Haarlem-based who played in the First Division, which back then was the highest league. The league was renamed a few years later. Amongst Leo's teammates in his first season were his brother Jan Kops, Jan van der Berg, Sjoerd Feenstra, Andries Mul, Piet de Nieuwe, Gé Smit and Dolf de Zwart.

Later, Hans Arnoldy, Chris Berends, Bud van Leuven and Doby Peters followed as teammate.

As Leo also was a talented soccer-player, he initially was prohibited to play baseball in April 1955, as was teammate Andries Mul. At that moment, the soccer-season was nearing conclusion. However, when the baseball-season 1955 opened in the first weekend of May, Leo Kops was in the starting line-up.

By the way, EDO's then former soccer-chairman Reindert Cats acted as coach during the 1957 baseball-season.

From the start, Leo showed his defensive qualities. He also was one of the pitchers, but quickly became the prime short stop. Besides his defensive skills, Leo also was a solid batter, who not was a contact-hitter, but also could hit for power. And that surely made him an all-round player.

Leo regularly shared his offensive power with his brother Jan. In early May 1957, De Telegraaf-newspaper wrote about a 'six-basehit' during EDO's 5-4 loss against TYBB. With the 'six-basehit', the writer referred to the realization of EDO's fourth run, which was accomplished via back-to-back triples by Jan and Leo. In 1958, when the highest league was renamed Major League (Hoofdklasse), Bud van Leuven was EDO's coach and Roel Hopman and Jan Molleman also had joined the team. And from this year on, Leo's skills as short stop were regularly mentioned in newspaper-reports.

On August 16 of the 1958 season, a milestone was accomplished in EDO's history. On that cold Saturday-afternoon, EDO won 5-0 in a crucial game against OVVO, one of the strongest teams. But it not only was the shutout-win, as 20-year Doby Peters threw a No-Hitter! EDO's defense was great, but so was the offense, as the team collected eight hits off of famed pitching-ace Han Urbanus, who by then already was a legendary pitcher. Dolf de Zwart homered off of Urbanus, who also gave two basehits to Leo, as well as to Roel Hopman and Gé Smit. In the eighth inning, OVVO came close to its first hit. With Max Rietbergen on base, pinch-hitter Aart Kruijs drove the ball into deep centerfield, but there, Jan Molleman ran backwards and made a great catch against the fence to save the No-Hitter!

A few weeks later, EDO captured its first Championship-title and also won the Cup-competition.

In the following year (1959), EDO experienced a disappointing season, as the relegated.

...The infielders of the 1964 Haarlem Nicols-team... ...Boudewijn Maat (1B), Simon Heemskerk (1B), Dolf de Zwart (3B),... ...Herman Beidschat (2B/3B/P), Leo Kops (SS) and Piet de Nieuwe (2B/SS)... (© Photo: Noord-Hollands Archief/Fotopersbureau De Boer (Cees de Boer))

As Leo Kops also had become the prime short stop in the Netherlands Team (since 1957), he wanted to remain playing in the highest league. And so, after the 1959 season, he opted to play for EHS, another team from Haarlem. That team was coached by Gé Hoogenbos, who was known for his innovative ideas.

At EHS, which was nicknamed Bulldogs, Leo became a teammate of some experienced players, such as Nol Houtkamp, Martin Jole, Gé Oosterbaan, Joop Schuitemaker, Ben Tromp and Nico Tromp, but also some upcoming talents, including Fred Ausma, Wim van Dusschoten, Ruud Kramer and Herman Beidschat, who would become the most dominating pitcher of the sixties.

Halfway July in the 1960 season, EHS was unbeaten when it suffered a surprise 3-0 loss against HHC, which was also from Haarlem. Veteran righthander Jan Smidt outduelled Herman Beidschat, dominated and almost held EHS hitless. In the seventh inning, it was Leo Kops who broke Smidt's No-Hitter and accounted for the lone basehit.

In May 1961, Smidt and Beidschat again accounted for a pitching-duel. This time, HHC nipped EHS, 2-1. In the fourth inning, Kops had scored on a basehit by Gé Oosterbaan to put EHS ahead, 1-0. That run appeared to be enough, as Beidschat struckout 13 and gave up only three hits through eight. But in the bottom of the ninth, HHC struck. With one out, Richard van Reyssen singled and Jan Wemerman doubled, just missing a homerun. With two outs, Beidschat had an 0-2 count on powerhitter Henk Talens, who then hit the next pitch through the leftside, just out of reach of short stop Leo Kops into leftfield. That hit tied the score and when an error followed, Wemerman was able to score the winning run.

Two months later, EHS and HHC faced each other again, as did Beidschat and Smidt. This time, EHS won 4-0, as Beidschat struckout 16 (including Talens three times) and threw an one-hitter. Leo Kops played a major role offensively, as he contributed in all four runs. Early in the game, Kops batted in Ben Tromp with a double, then scored himself on a hit by Beidschat. In the fifth, Tromp scored on a bunt by Kops. And in the seventh, it was Kops who scored on a bunt by Beidschat.

On August 26, 1961, Leo Kops played in his second No-Hitter when EHS shutout EDO, 4-0. In this game, Herman Beidschat struckout 19 and missed a Perfect Game due to two errors.

...Leo Kops (center) with Joop Schuitemaker (left) and... ...Boudewijn Maat (right) during the honor-parade after... ...Haarlem Nicols won the Championship in 1965... (© Photo: NH Archief/Fotopersbureau De Boer (Cees de Boer))

In 1962, Leo Kops is named field captain of EHS, which now also included John Busch, Ton van Esveld, Simon Heemskerk, Nico van Heemskerk, Leo Jacobs and Jan van Wijk. It marked the first time in Dutch baseball that a team named a field captain.

In the meantime, Leo also still plays soccer. At Bloemendaal, which plays in the Fourth Division, Leo plays together with Herman Beidschat, Nol Houtkamp and Ben Tromp to stay in shape in the off-season. Bloemendaal wins the championship and advances to a promotion-competition, which coincides with the baseball-season. Tromp opts to play soccer, Houtkamp chooses baseball. Beidschat and Kops like both sports. However, in late May, they get no permission to play soccer from Netherlands Team-Manager Ron Fraser, as the American he wants to avoid them to get injured a month before the European Championship.

With EHS, Kops captures the baseball-title and after the season, he finishes in second place for the MVP Award, behind Boudewijn Maat of Schoten.

Also after the season, Gé Hoogenbos steps down as coach of EHS, due to a conflict of insight with the club's board. And so, in 1963, Joop Schuitemaker coaches the team, assisted by Leo Kops, who both also continue as player.

After the 1963 season, EDO and EHS merged to become Haarlem Nicols. It was Gé Hoogenbos, who proposed the idea to create a competitive and strong team. Haarlem Nicols indeed became very successful and was the leading baseball-team in the Netherlands through the early nineties. In the 1964 season, Hoogenbos becomes the first Manager who coaches from the dug-out. When Nicols was created, the best players of EDO and EHS went on to play for the new club, but also some new players from other clubs were added. Amongst them are Boudewijn Maat, Ton Terneuzen and Jules de Pierre (who also is Assistant Coach). Leo Kops is also re-united with Roel Hopman, Jan Molleman, Piet de Nieuwe and Dolf de Zwart, his former teammates at EDO. Kops is one of the EHS-players in the new team with Fred Ausma, Herman Beidschat, John Busch, Simon Heemskerk, Gé Oosterbaan, Joop Schuitemaker and Ben Tromp. Leo continues as team-captain.

In 1964, Haarlem Nicols opens with a 5-2 win against OVVO. In May, the team shuts out reigning champion Sparta 5-0 in front of 4,000 spectators in Rotterdam. Leo Kops has a major contribution. Nicols opens the score in the sixth inning when Herman Beidschat scores on a triple by Simon Heemskerk, who then scores on a squeeze by the speedy Leo Kops, who also reaches base himself. Moments later, Leo scores on an error. In the seventh, Heemskerk and Kops score on a hit by Ben Tromp.

In 1965, Robert Maat and Ricky Placidus join Nicols, which captures the Championship-title for the first time.

...In 1966, Haarlem Nicols was the first team with player-names... ...on the uniform, a shown by Ricky Kersout and Leo Kops... (© Photo: unknown photographer)

A year later (1966), Bob Estavillo, Mink Ferwerda, Johnny Jonkers, Ricky Kersout, Cees Kuyer and Jan-Dick Leurs are newcomers in the team. In the season-opener, Nicols nipped Schoten, 1-0. In that game, Leo faced his brother Jan. In the fourth, Jan came to bat with the bases loaded, but flied out. In the eighth, Leo scored the lone run. He reached on a single, advanced on sac-bunts by Beidschat and Heemskerk, then scored on a hit by Placidus.

In August 1966, Haarlem Nicols accomplishes a spectacular feat when it becomes the first-ever Dutch sports-team to win an European Cup. At home, in the Pim Mulier Stadium, Nicols defeats Europhon Milano (Italy), 10-4. Ton Terneuzen is the winning pitcher and hits a 3-run homerun. Robert Maat, Herman Beidschat and Boudewijn Maat also homer.

In 1967, Ben Tromp is the new Head Coach. Leo moves to the outfield, as Johnny Jonkers becomes the new short stop. Also, Jan-Dick Leurs becomes the prime starting pitcher.

In 1968, Ferry de Clercq, Harry van der Vaart and Steef van der Sluis are new regular players. And Leo also plays at short again regularly. In this season, Nicols captured its second Championship-title.

Initially, Leo Kops hinted that he would retire, but he returns in 1969. In February of that year, Leo is decorated by the Dutch Federation for his sportsmanship on and off the field, alongside Dolf de Zwart and Rob Hoffmann.

In 1970, Leo becomes the Assistant Coach of Ben Tromp and plans not to play. However, in February, Johnny Jonkers announces he would sign a soccer-contract with RCH in Heemstede. In 1969, Jonkers had led the league with ten homeruns. At RCH, he was to succeed Johan Neeskens, as it was expected, he would transfer to a bigger club. Neeskens, who passed away in 2024, went on to become one of the best Dutch soccer-players, who played for Ajax (1970-1974) and FC Barcelona (1974-1979), amongst other clubs. With Jonkers gone, Kops returned to the short stop-position. Amongst his new teammates were Nol Beenders, Fokke Jelsma and Dassie Rasmijn. Nicols becomes Dutch Champion for the third time. Jonkers is back with Nicols in 1971.

Also in 1970 (and also in 1971), Leo Kops becomes an Assistant Coach of the Dutch Federation, with Cees de Bruin. They join Wim Geestman, Sr., Cees Herkemij, Fokke Jelsma and Dolf de Zwart, who already had been appointed in 1969 to assist Charles Urbanus, Sr. during practice-sessions of the National Youth Teams.

...Team-captain Leo Kops (with the trophy) celebrates with (from left)... ...Ton Terneuzen, Boudewijn Maat, Jan Molleman, Joop Schuitemaker,... ...Dolf de Zwart and Jan-Dick Leurs after Haarlem Nicols... ...has won the European Cup in 1966... (© Photo: unknown photographer)

After having assisted Ben Tromp in 1970 and 1971, Leo Kops is the Head Coach of Haarlem Nicols in 1972 and is assisted by playing coaches Herman Beidschat (pitching) and Boudewijn Maat (hitting). Amongst the new regulars in 1972 are Arnoud Blom, Ton de Jager, Leo Naaktgeboren and Joop Peeters.

In 1972, as new Head Coach, Kops leads Nicols to the first-ever Holland Series, but the Haarlem-team loses the best-of-five against Sparta.

In 1973, Kops is assisted by Dolf de Zwart. But halfway the season, they step down as coach. American player Darryl Southwick takes over with teammate Jack Leurs (the brother of Jan-Dick) as his assistant.

As mentioned, Leo Kops showed his defensive skills from the beginning and he is generally known as the best short stop of his era. And that was also noticed by the National Team-coaches.

Leo Kops made his debut in the Orange-squad in 1957 when the team was led by Henk Keulemans, who also played himself. Leo debuted alongside his EDO-teammates Piet de Nieuwe and Dolf de Zwart. In that year, Leo participates in the chaotic European Championship in Mannheim in what then was West-Germany. Despite all kinds of organizational problems, the Netherlands captures the title. As European Champion, the Netherlands was invited for the Global World Series in Detroit. Leo is one of the players, who travels with the team to the USA.

In 1958, Kops captures another European title when the tournament is held in Dutch capital Amsterdam. Leo doesn't play, as he is recovering from a fractured fibula, an injury he sustained while playing soccer. Despite that, he is with the team as one of the players.

In 1960, Ron Fraser is the first American Head Coach of the Netherlands Team. In June of that year, the team plays its second of the annual two games against Belgium. In Antwerp, the Netherlands records a huge 43-5 win on 35 hits, while the Belgian defense commits 22 errors. Leo Kops is 4-for-8 and leads the team with eight RBI's, while scoring six runs. Han Urbanus is 5-for-8 and scores seven runs. Kops and Urbanus are the only two who play in the entire game.

Later in 1960, the Netherlands captures another European title in Barcelona (Spain).

In 1961, Leo travels with the team to Michigan in the USA, where it plays a series of games against the Sullivans. In the fifth game, Leo accounts for the lone Dutch basehit. Leo, Han Urbanus and Henk Keulemans play in all eight games. A month after returning from the States, Leo participates with the Netherlands Team in the first edition of the Haarlem Baseball Week.

In 1962, the European Championship is organized again in Amsterdam. Leo captures his fourth title and is named MVP for his outstanding defensive plays.

After having played in the second Haarlem Baseball Week in 1963 under the guidance of Bill Arce, Leo is part of another successful team in 1964 when the Netherlands captures another European title. This time in Milan (Italy) with Archie Allen as new Head Coach. In the deciding game against Italy (3-1 win), Leo scores the first run on a hit by Han Urbanus.

In 1965, the Netherlands is led by Glenn Gostick and captures its seventh consecutive European title in Spanish capital Madrid, which is the sixth for Leo.

In 1966, Howard Fetz is the new American Head Coach of the Netherlands Team. But there is no chemistry between Fetz and the players. During the Haarlem Baseball Week, there is much tension and Leo leaves the team. He doesn't return the following year.

In his ten years in the Netherlands Team, Leo Kops plays in 43 official international games.

...Leo at a 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 his years with Haarlem Nicols, Leo Kops is the coach of First Divisionist Thamen in 1975. One of his players is former big leaguer Peter van 't Klooster, the father of future longtime big leaguer and National Team-player Dirk van 't Klooster. Earlier, while playing himself for Nicols, Leo already had coached the baseball-team of SC Haarlem in 1968. And in 1969, he led the practices of HCTIW, which was coached by Henny Roerdink.

Later in the seventies, Leo Kops is active as player again himself, as he is the pitcher in the men softball-team of Kennemerland.

In the eighties, Leo returns to coaching. In 1986 and 1987, he is the Head Coach of RCH in the First Division. And in 1989, Leo shares the coaching-role with Ruud Zijlstra at OVVO, also in the second highest league.

Leo's son Roger followed in his father's footsteps. He became a successful and effective pitcher, a position his father initially also played. Roger began playing baseball at Kinheim, played one season for Thamen and then made his big league-debut with RCH in 1997. After one season with ADO, Roger played several seasons for Hoofddorp Pioniers since 2000. And he pitched in the Netherlands Team in 2002-2005, winning the European title in 2003. In 2019-2021, Roger was the General Manager of Pioniers with Mark Duursma.

Several years ago, Leo and his wife Martha (with whom he was married for 64 years), moved to Hoofddorp. In the past years, both were regular visitors of Pioniers-games, Leo always wearing a Pioniers-cap, but also attended games of RCH. Leo also was a frequent visitor of the Haarlem Baseball Week and always attended reunions of former Netherlands Team-players.

Leo Kops always was good-natured and never on the foreground. He played in a very successful era of Dutch baseball and forever will be The Vacuum-cleaner. Leo will surely be missed by many of us.

The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News offers his condolences to Leo's wife Martha, daughter Denise, son Roger, son-in-law Robert, daughter-in-law Nanda, grandchildren Jamie, Ralph and Zara, other family and friends and wishes them a lot of strength with this big loss.

(October 2)