Boudewijn Maat

From BR Bullpen

Boudewijn Maat was a Dutch baseball star of the 1960s and 1970s. His brother Robert Maat also was a member of the Dutch national team. Maat had gone to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers at one point in his career but he never played in the US minors.

Maat had his best season in 1962 while playing for Schoten Haarlem. He won a Triple Crown, hitting .451 (the highest average in Hoofdklasse between 1953 and 1972) with 6 home runs and 22 RBI (tied with Simon Arrindell). He also had 37 hits, most in the league. That earned him MVP honors. He led the league in hits three more times with 28 in 1963, 29 for Haarlem Nicols in 1967 and 41 in 1971. In 1976, he won a second MVP award - the 14-year gap is the longest in league history (through 2008). Maat also was MVP of Haarlem Baseball Week twice - in 1968 and 1971.

Maat was named Best Hitter and MVP of the 1964 European Championship. He helped the Dutch national team win at least four European Championships as he was also on winners in 1969, 1971 and 1973.

In 1985, Maat was named Hoofdklasse Coach of the Year while with the Hoofddorp Pioniers. He coached for the Dutch national team in the 1994 Baseball World Cup and 1996 Olympics and managed them in the 1995 Intercontinental Cup.