Sherwin Cijntje
| Sherwin Cijntje | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: March 2, 1964 Curaçao | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left |
Sherwin P. Cijntje[needs IPA] (born March 2, 1964) is a Curaçaoan former professional baseball outfielder who played for the Netherlands Antilles national baseball team, professionally in the minor leagues and in the Hoofdklasse.[1]
Cijntje did not play baseball or even see baseball played in person until he was 15 years old and "a man" came to his town of about 80 people and began teaching the sport.[2]
He played for the Netherlands Antilles in the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games.[3] The team had a 3-3 record in the tournament and didn't win a medal. He played professionally from 1983 to 1989 in the Baltimore Orioles (1983–1989) and Cleveland Indians (1989) systems. He hit as high as .303 and once stole as many as 51 bases in a season (1986, with the Hagerstown Suns). Overall, he hit .270 with 588 hits and 184 stolen bases in 642 games.[4]
He was the first Curaçao native to play professional baseball in the United States.[5] In September 1987, he was added to Baltimore's 40-man roster and became the first player from the Netherlands Antilles to be added to a Major League roster.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Dutch Baseball 1997
- ^ Boeck, Greg (20 August 1987). "Cijnte contributes new dimension to Red Wings' play". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 4D. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864–2006, 2007, Peter C. Bjarkman
- ^ BR Minors page
- ^ Volkskrant.nl
- ^ Singer, Patti (30 March 1988). "Wings cornering market on Antilles outfielders". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 1D. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- 1964 births
- Living people
- Competitors at the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games
- Curaçao expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Bluefield Orioles players
- Canton-Akron Indians players
- Charlotte Knights players
- Charlotte O's players
- Hagerstown Suns players
- Newark Orioles players
- Rochester Red Wings players