Peter Callenbach

From BR Bullpen

Peter Callenbach

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 6' 1", Weight 209 lb.

Olympics Sports-Reference page

Biographical Information[edit]

Pitcher Peter Callenbach led the Hoofdklasse in strikeouts three times and was once named Pitcher of the Year. He was a two-time Olympian who pitched in around two dozen events for the Dutch national team.

Callenbach debuted in 1983 with the Giants Diemen, allowing four hits and two runs in 1/3 of an inning. Back in 1985, he was 1-5 with a 4.33 ERA for the Giants then improved to 5-3 in 1986 and 9-5 in 1987. He debuted for the Dutch national team in the 1987 World Port Tournament and remained with them for the 1987 European Championship, when they won Gold.

Peter had a 5-7, 4.90 record for OVVO in 1988. He played for the Netherlands in the 1988 Haarlem Baseball Week, 1988 Baseball World Cup (0-3, 12.64, 29 H, 10 BB in 15 2/3 IP; he led the Netherlands in losses and had the second-worst staff ERA after Haitze de Vries) and 1988 Olympics.

Back with the Giants in '89, the 26-year-old struggled to a 3-9 finish. He played in the 1989 World Port Tournament then was named the Best Pitcher in the 1989 European Championship though the Dutch finished second to Italy. In 1990, he joined the Amsterdam Pirates and had a 8-4, 4.08 season. He was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in the Holland Series. He was in the 1990 Haarlem Baseball Week. In the 1990 Baseball World Cup, he led the Netherlands with 13 2/3 IP but was 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA, surrendering a whopping 28 hits.

The Amsterdam native was 7-6 with a 5.19 ERA for the 1991 Pirates. He played in the 1991 World Port Tournament and 1991 European Championship (the Netherlands took Silver). He was 9-6 with a 3.96 ERA in 1992 and fanned 147 in 145 1/3 IP. He led the Hoofdklasse in whiffs and was named Pitcher of the Year. He was in the 1992 Haarlem Baseball Week.

Callenbach fell hard in 1993, going 5-14 with a 5.76 ERA. He played in the 1993 World Port Tournament and 1993 European Championship (the Netherlands won Gold). In the 1993 Euros, he allowed one run in nine innings, going 1-0. He tied teammate Patrick Klerx for 4th in the event in ERA. In '94, he rebounded to go 11-5 with a 2.88 ERA for Quick Amsterdam, leading the Hoofdklasse with 122 strikeouts. He played in the 1994 Haarlem Baseball Week and 1994 Baseball World Cup, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in the latter event.

In 1995, Callenbach was 5-12 with a 3.77 ERA but did fan a league-high 103. He pitched in the 1995 World Port Tournament, 1995 European Championship (1-0, 4.50) and 1995 Intercontinental Cup (0-1, 12.60; only Eelco Jansen had a higher ERA for the Orange).

Peter switched clubs yet again in 1996, moving to the Hoofddorp Pioniers and going 3-4 with a 4.71 ERA. He still played for the Netherlands in the 1996 Haarlem Baseball Week and 1996 Olympics to end his international career. In the 1996 Summer Games, he was 0-2 with a 19.29 ERA, allowing 17 hits in 35 at-bats. He took losses against Cuba and South Korea.

Callenbach's career on the international scene was over, but he remained active in the Hoofdklasse for several more years. He was 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA for the 1997 Pioniers then had a 1-0, 2.00 record in the Holland Series to take his second career pennant (following 1990 with Amsterdam).

Peter was 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA for Hoofddorp in 1998 and 12-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 1999. That season, he was second to Rob Cordemans in ERA, led the league with 136 2/3 IP, was second to Cordemans in wins and tied Jurriaan Lobbezoo for second in strikeouts, behind Patrick Beljaards.

Through 1999, Callenbach had a career 91-95, 4.26 record in the Hoofdklasse regular season.

In 2000, Callenbach was 6th in the Hoofdklase with a 2.32 ERA and third in strikeouts. He was 8th with 72 strikeouts for Almere in 2002 then was 9th with 87 K for the same club in '03. In 2004, he coached for Almere.

He retired with 1,636 career strikeouts, second in Hoofdklasse history behind Bart Volkerijk.

Despite only having spent several years with them, his number 7 was retired by Almere, the first number the team ever retired.

Sources[edit]

Retrieved from "https://www.baseball-reference.com/bpv/index.php?title=Peter_Callenbach&oldid=1022717"