Joop Geurts

Joop Geurts
Catcher
Born: (1923-02-20)February 20, 1923 Haarlem, Netherlands
Died: February 26, 2009(2009-02-26) (aged 86) Haarlem, Netherlands
Batted: right Threw: right
Hoofdklasse Honkbal debut
March 29, 1938, Schoten Haarlem
Teams
Schoten Haarlem (1938–1967)
Career highlights and awards
4× Holland Champion (1956–1957, 1960–1961) Hoofdklasse MVP (1957) 4× European Champion (1956–1960)

Joop Geurts (February 20, 1923 – February 26, 2009) was a Dutch professional baseball player for Schoten Haarlem of the Hoofdklasse Honkbal or Major League Baseball in Dutch. He was also a member of the Netherlands national baseball team.^[1]

Career

Geurts made his debut in the Dutch national team in 1938 as a catcher, only 15 years of age. In 1957 he was named Most Valuable Player of the Main Class. Between 1956 and 1960 he scored the European title four times with the Dutch team. Geurts appeared in 36 games over 23 years for the national team. In 1956 he was part of the selection that came out for the first time against the United States team and was also named a team captain.^[2]

Geurts was also known by the so-called "ball incident" of 1948 with American ambassador Baruch. The ambassador was invited to throw the first ball at the start of the main class baseball season. Baruch threw the ball to Geurts, who then offered it to the members of the board that were present. They said they had no interest in the ball and that Geurts had to keep him. Geurts asked if the ambassador wanted to sign the ball. However, a few days later, the bondsofficials changed their mind and asked the ball back from Geurts. However, he refused because he suggested that the bond had told him that he had to keep the ball himself. A scandal arose and Geurts decided to travel to the embassy and asked Baruch to sign a second ball. He then went to the chairman of the federal government, the man showed the two signed balls and asked him to choose one.^[3]

Years later, Geurts was asked by the administrators of the National Baseball Museum if he still had the ball in question. He sent his son Tom Geurts to the attic to search and the ball was found. Ironically, the band could not find their copy on request, so only one signed ball is exhibited at the museum today.

Death

Geurts died on February 26, 2009 at the age of 86 in Haarlem. Geurts had some health issues in the final years of his life, however the exact cause of death was not released to the public.

References