43 years of Zeister Slot Tournament History

9–11 June 1984, Centennial Tournament
The first tournament, then still called the “Centennial Tournament,” experienced a few initial problems. The team from Zweibrücken failed to show up without notice, and at the last moment the KNBSB withdrew several umpires. On Friday evening, the teams were received at the Zeist Castle (Zeister Slot). The winner of this first edition was the Ramstein Rams, with pitcher Jeff Keppner throwing the ball across the plate at approximately 150 km/h. Rhein-Main Rockets and Schweinfurt finished second and third respectively. The Bentwaters Phantoms, led by Earl Hicks, were voted the most popular team.

Alconbury Spartans
25–27 May 1985
In 1985, at the request of the participants, the tournament format was slightly adjusted. On the final day, the top two teams from the round-robin stage played a final. The tournament was opened by Zeist’s Sportswoman of the Year, Leontien van de Lienden. The Rhein-Main Rockets won the tournament, defeating the Bentwaters Phantoms 7–2 in the final. The team from the Canadian base in Lahr (Germany) finished third.

17–19 May 1986, 3rd Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1986, the dominance of the Bentwaters Phantoms began. Led by Earl Hicks, they won the rotating trophy made available by the municipality of Zeist. The Alconbury Spartans were the runners-up, and Rhein-Main Rockets finished third. Phoenix did not participate this year and was replaced by the Midden Nederland Regional Team. This year the tournament was also given its current name: Zeister Slot Tournament.

In the June 1986 issue of the KNBSB magazine Inside, the following was written:
“The National Police did not trust the bus loaded to the roof with suitcases and packed inside with Americans wearing baseball caps for a second, there on the highway toward Hoek van Holland. Would they please pull over? Athletes? the police officer asked incredulously to the driver, whose trousers were richly decorated with grease stains. It all ended without incident on that motorway, but the policeman probably still does not believe that the men of the Alconbury Spartans softball team, on their way back to England after participating in the third Zeister Slot Tournament, were real athletes.”

6–8 June 1987, 4th Zeister Slot Tournament
After three sun-drenched tournaments, the weather did not cooperate in 1987. A cloudburst on the night from Saturday to Sunday turned the fields into one large body of water. Even with the help of a pump from the Zeist Fire Brigade, the field could not be made playable.

From the Utrechts Nieuwsblad, 9 June 1987:
“The softball fields of Phoenix ZC looked desolate yesterday. The three-day international softball tournament ended in an anticlimax due to the wet weather on Whit Monday. Officials and players walked around looking dejected.”

Despite the bad weather, there was once again a champion: for the second year in a row, Bentwaters Phantoms. As in the previous year, they were followed by Alconbury Spartans and Rhein-Main Rockets.

21–23 May 1988, 5th Zeister Slot Tournament
The fifth tournament was won for the third consecutive time by the Bentwaters Phantoms. As a result, the first rotating trophy permanently went to England. Rhein-Main Rockets finished second, and for the first time a European team, the Netherlands, finished third. During this tournament, a camera crew from AFN Television was present. This television station of the U.S. Armed Forces aired a several-minute broadcast on the Wednesday following the tournament. The print media also showed considerable interest, further enhancing the tournament’s reputation.

Action at Home Plate
13–15 May 1989, 6th Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1989, there was the first final that was not entirely American. The Dutch team finished first in the round-robin stage, but in the final they lost 4–2 to the Bentwaters Phantoms. New this year was the Wall of Fame, where people of great significance to the Zeister Slot Tournament could be honored. The first four inductees were Jim Goins, Puck de Haan, Earl Hicks, and Larry Moore. This was the last tournament held at the old complex. The fields underwent a thorough renovation, which took longer than expected.

2–4 June 1990, 7th Zeister Slot Tournament
At the time, no one suspected that the 1990 tournament would be at risk due to the renovation. Because seeding had been done too late, the grass at the official reopening of the complex was not yet strong enough for play. After several weeks of favorable growing conditions and strict rules about where people were allowed to walk, permission to play was eventually granted. The tournament itself was one of the most exciting up to that point. The Midden Nederland team was defeated 4–3 in the final by the Bentwaters Phantoms. International All Stars finished third. Phoenix traditionally finished last. Baron Schlegel and Henk van Zijtveld were inducted into the Wall of Fame.

8–20 May 1991, 8th Zeister Slot Tournament
In 1991, the Zeister Slot Tournament had a first: the bus from Prague brought not only the national team of Czechoslovakia but also the country’s national youth selection. Competing under the name Little Lions, the youth team finished sixth, after victories over Borgerhout Squirrels from Belgium and Phoenix. Once again, the final was between Bentwaters Phantoms and Midden Nederland. With a 7–4 victory, Bentwaters Phantoms took home the second rotating trophy. For several years, badges were awarded to staff and players of the Zeister Slot Tournament. Jan Pors was inducted into the Wall of Fame.

From the Utrechts Nieuwsblad, 21 May 1991:
“The final had not attracted such a crowd in a long time. Around two hundred people stood almost frozen by the biting wind along the sidelines. The organization had done everything to appease the weather gods, but even Saturday’s opening by weatherman Peter Timofeeff proved no guarantee of sunshine.”

De Nieuwsbode, 30 May 1991, reported:
“During the Whitsun weekend, more than two thousand hamburgers and hot dogs were prepared at the sandwich stand…”

6–8 June 1992, 9th Zeister Slot Tournament
This was the year that the dominance of the Bentwaters Phantoms came to an end. In this rain-plagued tournament, much was demanded of the participants. It was a tournament full of tension and excitement. The Netherlands won all its group matches and secured a place in the final. Bentwaters Phantoms had completed their matches and, with only four wins, could only reach the final if Lahr Select lost to Czechoslovakia. Lahr Select lost due to a pitching error. In the final, Bentwaters Phantoms were no match for the Dutch team. With a 9–2 victory, the third municipal rotating trophy was claimed by the first European winner of the tournament: the Netherlands.

29–31 May 1993, 10th Zeister Slot Tournament
The tenth tournament was organized with nine teams, including the national selection of Israel. The Bentwaters Phantoms team, still led by Earl Hicks, had been weakened by relocations and budget cuts and finished only eighth. In the final, the Netherlands—later European champion—lost to the Canadian Selects. The Czech Republic finished third. Phoenix achieved a respectable sixth place. This year, Ton Siedsma and Kristina Graafstal were honored with induction into the Wall of Fame.