by Pim van Nes
All Monday morning newspapers in the Netherlands reported positively about renaissance of Honkbalweek, traditional tournament since 1961 in Haarlem, which after budgetting problems in 2016 was close to disappear for ever. Nevertheless latest 29th edition was a big success and local organisation promised to come back in 2020 with edition 30. Below please read some summaries of the articles.
De Telegraaf (Marco Stoovelaar): Japan clinched Honkbal Week Haarlem title for the fourth time. The strong team beat Taiwan 5-0 in the finale game. Netherlands finished third after having lost 7-5 from Taiwan in semi finale. “We can look back to a successful event”, tournament president Guus van Dee stated on the last day. The event attracted 37.000 paying fans. In December 2016 financial forecast was worse and next edition was found at risk. However a feasability committee and City of Haarlem discovered space for future and agreed for at least three more tournaments. Edition 30 is scheduled for June 26 – July 5, 2020.
De Volkskrant (Guus Peters) – Photo covering 6 columns and 2 thirds of two pages.
HAARLEM TO STAY CAPITAL OF BASEBALL – After some financial measures, Haarlemse Honkbalweek has survived. Netherlands missing the finale was a pity for the tournament, which booked 37.000 visitors in ten days.
It has become a tradition in this biannual tournament that fans may bring their own food and drinks into the stadium. Due to a deficit of 60.000 euro on a budget of 600.000 euro, this tradition and the tournament were considered over and out. City of Haarlem losing its Honkbalweek? Unthinkable, alderman Merijn Snoek decided. City and feasability committee cooperated and sat down with national federation KNBSB. Some routines in the organisation had become too expensive, such as the far away hotel and consequent transport of the teams. This year all teams slept in a new hotel at 10 minutes walking from the stadium. This hotel and several catering companies became partner of the tournament. Additionally also the city sponsored for three more editions under one condition however: the tradition of fans bringing their own food and drinks.
Trouw (Job van der Plicht) – Article of two columns from top to bottom of sports page 4.
SATISFIED ONLY WITH OLYMPIC MEDAL AT 2020 GAMES – Without the stars from Major League, Netherlands national team was unable to reach Haarlem finale. But many talents are emerging here.
Last April Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen was appointed new manager of Netherlands national team. Last week for the first time he worked in a tournament with his team, which last Saturday was eliminated for the finale on Sunday. His team is product of a talented generation, but missed for instance pitcher Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers) and infielders Didi Gregorius (New York Yankees) and Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox). These clubs do not allow their players to appear in their national team during this friendly tournament.
Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen: “We added a few young players from our national league to our team roster and I hope they get better after this new experience and with our hints. We talked a lot with them during the tournament. In the past our national team always consisted mainly of national league players and so it will do during 2020 Olympics. Some roster players here may not make it all the way to Tokyo Games, but for sure they have learned to perform better in their national league clubs. After all, I want to compose a team of national league players reinforced with professional players from the States in order we can grab an Olympic medal. Only then I will be really satisfied! And be honest: would not it be nice to do so?”