Bill Groot

• Born August 28, 1961

Biographical Information

Bill Groot played in the Hoofdklasse and for the Dutch national team.

Groot was with the Netherlands for the 1980 Amateur World Series, turning 19 during the tournament. He was with the Dutch for the 1983 Intercontinental Cup and won Silver with them in the 1983 European Championship. He played for the Netherlands in the 1984 Amateur World Series and was the starting first baseman when they won the 1985 European Championship.

Bill played in the 1986 Amateur World Series. He was again at first for the Netherlands when they won the 1987 European Championship. He hit .326/.341/.465 in the 1988 Baseball World Cup, with 7 runs and 7 RBI in 11 games, while fielding .990 at first. He led the Dutch in runs (tied with Robert Knol), hits (14, one ahead of Gerlach Halderman), slugging (.015 ahead of Halderman), average (.001 ahead of Halderman) and RBI while his OBP was second on the team to Knol. He had one homer (off Ronny Inecia of the Netherlands Antilles, one of four players to tie for the team lead in dingers. He was 3 for 12 with 3 runs and 2 RBI in the 1988 Olympics, getting the lone Dutch run against Japan.

Playing for Haarlem Nicols, he won MVP in the Hoofdklasse in 1985; Haarlem was the dominant team of the decade and he played his role in their success.