1981 European Baseball Championship

1981 European Baseball Championship
A Netherlands runner reaches base during a championship game against Italy
Tournament details
CountryThe Netherlands
CityHaarlem
Dates11–19 July
Teams4
Defending champions Italy
Final positions
Champions Netherlands
Runners-up Italy
Third place Sweden
Fourth place Belgium
Tournament statistics
Games played17
Best BANetherlands Charles Urbanus Jr. (.522)
Most HRsItaly Mike Romano (3)
Awards
MVPNetherlands Paul Smit

The 1981 European Baseball Championship was held at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, the Netherlands and was won by the Netherlands. Italy finished second. Sweden finished third, winning its first medal in the competition. The championship had four teams for the second consecutive tournament.[1]

Jim Stoeckel, a coach for Harvard University, managed the Dutch team and was named the best coach of the tournament.[2] Prince Claus of the Netherlands attended the opening ceremonies.[1] More than 40,000 spectators attended the tournament.[3]

Standings

Pos. Team Record
1  Netherlands 8–0
2  Italy 4–4
3  Sweden 3–5
4  Belgium 2–6

Sources[1][4]

Awards

Charles Urbanus Jr. (number 14) was named the best hitter of the tournament
  • Most valuable player: Netherlands Paul Smit
  • Best hitter: Netherlands Charles Urbanus Jr., .522 batting average
  • Best pitcher: Netherlands Jan Hijzelendoorn[1][3]
  • Most home runs: Italy Mike Romano, 3
  • Best coach: Netherlands Jim Stoeckel
  • Most popular player: Netherlands Eddy Tromp
  • Most spectacular player: Netherlands Jim Sieval[2][5]
  • Most unlucky player: Belgium Frank Lauwers, who broke two fingers after getting hit by a ball[2][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Chetwynd, Josh (2008). Baseball in Europe : a country by country history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. p. 245. ISBN 978-0-7864-3724-5. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Prijzen". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 1981-07-20. p. 13. Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  3. ^ a b Bakker, Alexander (1981-07-20). "Italiaanse honkballers vallen door de mand STOECKEL DROOMT, ORANJE KAMPIOEN". Het Vrije Volk (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  4. ^ "Archief Europees kampioenschap". honkbalsite archief (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-01-12.
  5. ^ Köhler, Joop (1981-07-20). "Succes honkbalteam kondigt een nieuw tijdperk aan". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 2026-02-09.
  6. ^ "E. K. Baseball Haarlem Groeneveldt was weer razendsnel". Het Vrije Volk (in Dutch). 1981-07-14. Retrieved 2026-02-09.

"Rosters of top three teams at the European Championship". www.sport-komplett.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-01-12.

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