1999 European Championships

The 1999 European Championships were played from July 22 through August 1 in Bologna, Parma and Rimini. They served as qualifiers for the 2000 Olympics. The Dutch national team won its 16th European Championship. The Italian national team had won the last 3 Championships held in Italy - it was the first time in 28 years that the Dutch had won a Championship held there.

Round Robin Phase

Group 1

• Italy, 5-0
• France, 4-1
• Russia, 2-3
• Sweden, 2-3
• Great Britain, 1-4
• Croatia, 1-4

Group 2

• Netherlands, 5-0
• Czech Republic, 4-1
• Spain, 3-2
• Belgium, 2-3
• Germany, 1-4
• Slovenia, 0-5

Final Standings and Team Summaries

•  Netherlands finished first with a 8-0 record, with their staff throwing shutouts in all three final round games. Rob Cordemans blanked Russia in the semifinals and Orlando Stewart shut out Italy in the finale on three hits. DH Elston Hansen and 3B Evert-Jan 't Hoen made the All-Star team while Rikkert Faneyte scored the most runs. 't Hoen led in home runs.
•  Italy was 6-2 despite scoring in double digits repeatedly. They could do little in the Gold Medal game against the Netherlands. They had the most All-Stars of any team, with 3 - RF Daniel Newman (the tourney MVP and batting champ), 1B Andrea Castri (a Yankees farmhand at the time) and LF Claudio Liverziani. C Manuel Gasparri led the tournament in RBI.
•  France had a solid 6-2 tournament for their first Medal ever in European Championship history. All-Star RHP Robin Roy led the Championship in ERA.
•  Russia were just 3-5 but came close to their first Medal ever, losing 8-3 in the Bronze Medal game. Andrei Selivanov was the All-Star catcher while former US minor leaguer Alexander Nizov stole the most bases in the tournament.
•  Spain went 5-3 and finished 5th. Carlos Ros was named the All-Star left-handed hurler and had the best won-lost record. Felix Cano was named the tourney's Outstanding Defensive Player.
•  Belgium survived a couple routs to finish sixth at 3-5. Peter Stroobants was named the All-Star center fielder.
•  Sweden went 3-5 and finished 7th. They were the highest-ranked team not to have an All-Star.
•  Czech Republic was 0-3 in the final round after a 4-1 round-robin phase to finish 8th. Thomas Ovesny won All-Star honors at second base.
•  United Kingdom had a 3-0 record in the consolation pool after a 1-4 round-robin to place 9th.
•  Germany was 3-5 and finished 10th, with Jendrick Speer being named the All-Star shortstop.
•  Croatia went 2-6 to finish 11th.
•  Slovenia pulled up the rear by being the only team not to win one game. They lost 15-2 to the Netherlands and 14-4 to Germany.

Sources: Marco Stoovelaar's recount of the 1999 Championship, Harry Wedemeijer's page on the 1999 Championship

Also see 1999 European Championship (Rosters)