by Pim van Nes
KNBSB announced today that Ge Hoogenbos died at the age of 86. In 1960 he initiated a baseball tournament and inspired municipality of Haarlem to erect a baseball stadium. Together this produced in 1961 the first Haarlemse Honkbal Week, the most traditional baseball tournament in the Netherlands and apparently in Europe. He also belonged to the founding fathers of new baseball club Haarlem Nicols, multiple winner of national and European titles. The fusion club was a merge from two older reputed Haarlem clubs EDO and EHS. Hoogenbos also promoted baseball in the Netherlands as a journalist of Dutch main newspaper De Telegraaf.
Hoogenbos – who also developed Netherlands Honkbal and Softbal Museum – was recognized by federation KNBSB as Member of Merits and as Hall of Famer in same Museum that he had developed earlier. Since 1935 Hoogenbos was active in baseball as a player and during 15 years in Dutch Major League called Hoofdklasse for two Haarlem clubs HHC and EHS. In 1953 he became the bester hitter in Hoofdklasse. Hoogenbos was an international in 18 Oranje games and participated in the national team clinching first European title. As a coach he lead EHS to first European Cup win in 1966.
by Pim van Nes
Baseball writer for
www.honkbalsite.com
www.sporttribune.nl
www.baseball.it
