Rob Hoffmann

Rob Hoffmann

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born September 6, 1939 in Bussum Netherlands
• Died September 17, 2010 in Bussum Netherlands

Rob Hoffmann was a star Dutch pitcher of the 1960s.

Hoffmann played for HCAW his entire career, from 1955 to 1972. He helped the team move up the tiers of Dutch ball, reaching the Hoofdklasse in 1966; since then, they have stayed from 1967-1982 and 1984-2010 (and ongoing). While the team was still in the minors, Hoffmann was picked for the Dutch national team numerous times. He helped them win Gold at the 1960 European Championship, played in the 1961 Haarlem Baseball Week, was named best pitcher when the Netherlands won the 1962 European Championship, appeared in the 1963 Haarlem Baseball Week, repeated as best pitcher when the Netherlands won the 1964 European Championship (he teamed with Herman Beidschat on a perfect game against Spain) and wrapped up in the 1966 Haarlem Baseball Week. His perfect game in 1964 was the only one for the Dutch national team for 50 years, until Mike Bolsenbroek also threw one. In between, he missed the 1965 European Championship due to injury. Oddly, his international career ended just as his Hoofdklasse career started.

Rob led the Hoofdklasse in strikeouts (126) in 1967 and in ERA (1.00) in 1969. He finished with a 2.03 ERA in that circuit with 93 walks in 572 innings.

Away from the diamond, he was a member of a dixieland band in his hometown of Bussum. In 1984, he was elected to the Dutch Baseball Hall of Fame.

Primary Source: Hoffmann obituary by Marco Stoovelaar