Antwerp Eagles Turns 100
This year, on August 18, Belgium’s oldest baseball club will turn 100. After Quick Amsterdam (founded in 1913), the Eagles may be the second oldest baseball club in Europe. May be… because Paris University Club, PUC for short, was also founded in 1923. But the exact date of the establishment of that club is hard to find.
It all started in the early 1920s, when a couple of Antwerp boys walked along a square in the city, as they noticed a group of Japanese sailors that played a strange game they had never seen. Out of curiosity, the boys decided to have a look.
Eventually, on August 18, 1923, several of these boys decided to establish Belgium’s first baseball club: the Antwerp Black Cats. During the first years, the team may have played games between themselves. In 1930, the Hoboken Pioneers were founded. Back then that club was named Beltelco Baseballclub. Now the Black Cats had an official club as opponent. Even though the General Motors car factory was established in Antwerp in 1925, it isn’t clear when the company’s baseball team was established.
After 1945, baseball spread in the Antwerp region. Unfortunately for the Black Cats, the club did not play any role of importance, but in 1950 the club won the championship in the so-called Reservenreeks (not the Belgian Major League).
Even though the Black Cats managed to reach the highest Belgian league, the club mainly stayed at the cellar of the league. In the early 70s, the Rizla Eagles always were a contender. This club would play a big role in the history of the Antwerp Eagles. In 1973, the Antwerp Black Cats celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and as a result, the club was allowed to add the predicate Royal to its name.
In 1974, both the Royal Antwerp Black Cats and the Rizla Eagles decided to merge, and the Royal Antwerp Eagles Scaldia Shipping Baseball Club was born. One year later, a softball branch was started. Thanks to the success, the club decided to change its name for a final time in 1976: Royal Antwerp Eagles Baseball & Softball Club.
The successful period would come seven years later. In 1983, the Eagles would win their first ever championship since its establishment in 1923. In the next five years, the club would repeat as Belgian champions. In 1991, the Eagles would win the championship one more time.
Unfortunately, the club demoted to the Tweede Klasse (second division) eventually. But thanks to a merger of the Division One and Two, the club returned at the highest level in 2021. But after a not so successful season, the head coach left and so did several players. As a result, the club withdrew from Division One and was demoted to the Fourth Division. But the most important thing is, the club still exists.
Next weekend (Friday, August 18 – Sunday, August 20) the club will celebrate its hundredth anniversary. On Friday, an old timers game will be played. Thirty-nine former players have committed to participate in this game, players like Patrick Vielvoye, Sven Hendrickx, Donald Vertommen, and Frank Lauwers. The first pitch before this old timers game will be thrown out by Frank Mathys, a legend of the club.
After the old timers game (or All Star Game), there will be a reception and a party. On Saturday, several regular competition games will be played in a festive atmosphere. On Sunday, the baseball flagship team will play against the farm team of the Deurne Spartans.
I’d like to thank the chairman of the Antwerp Eagles, Peter Van Ackeren, for the photo’s he provided. I’d also like to thank Vinnie Geldof, who provided the much needed information.
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