Softball world mourns passing of Europe's André Van Overbeek

Softball world mourns passing of Europe's André Van Overbeek
05/05/2021
The former president of the European Softball Federation died at the age of 71.

The international softball community lost André Van Overbeek. The former president of the European Softball Federation (ESF, today the softball section of WBSC Europe) died in the Netherlands. He was born in 1949.

"I can't believe, my great friend André, that I will not be able to say to you in person how we are fulfilling your legacy," said his successor, Gabriel Waage. "Thank you for what you gave to the whole softball community, and for what you gave to me."

The top World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) official, president Riccardo Fraccari, shared a message with the global community: "Rest in peace André, I will always remember those years working hand in hand for our sport in Europe."

Van Overbeek was a baseball player in the 1960s. After his retirement, he became a softball coach, both in the Netherlands and in Russia, where he lived for nine years.

He became a member of the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB) in 2005. He was elected as the president of the ESF in 2009 and served for two terms. He retired from softball in 2017.

Global Game