Jos Robijn

Jos Robijn

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born 1937 in Antwerp Belgium

Biographical Information

Jos Robijn was a long-time star in Belgium.

Robijn made his debut in the First Division in 1952 with the Antwerp Royal Greys at age 15, winning Rookie of the Year. He was named the league's MVP four times (1955, 1956, 1968, 1969), best pitcher seven times (1954-1956, 1961-1963 and 1966) and best hitter twice (1960, 1969). He led in home runs in 1955-1956, 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1969 and in RBI in 1964. He won the Triple Crown in 1969 and also threw the first perfect game in Belgium during his career. He was named top pitcher of the 1966 European Cup as well.

He was also a long-time member of the Belgian national team (1954-1969). He was the first reliever for Belgium in a European Championship game, when he took over Vital Verbert in the 6th inning against Italy with a 5-1 deficit in their opener of the 1954 European Championship, the first European Championship. He pitched 3 innings, allowing two hits, two walks and an unearned run while striking out three. Belgium won the Bronze Medal.

He beat Italy in the 1955 European Championship for a major upset; Belgium won a Silver Medal. They repeated with a Silver in the 1956 European Championship.

In 1971, he was on a Pan-European team that toured South Africa.

Off the field, he was a teacher.

Sources

• Box score from his 1954 debut with the national team
• Baseball in Europe by Josh Chetwynd
• Dutch Wikipedia