Swing Time Philately GOLF-BASEBALL-SOFTBALL (founded 21 January 1991) INFORMATION BULLETIN (30th volume, edition 2020-2) Correspondence: Members of: Rob van Tuyl N.V.v.P.V. Website: www.swing-time.info Bartokhof 16 Sports Philatelists International (USA) Webmaster: 2402 GE Alphen a/d Rijn Research: Ad van Sinttruijen (NL) The Netherlands Rob van Tuyl (NL) E-mail: [email protected] Tel. 31 172-420453 E-mail: [email protected] Leon Vanverre (B) PayPal: [email protected] Bulletin: Rob van Tuyl (NL) Postage: ING: NL31INGB0001846342 Ad van Sinttruijen (NL) Rob van Tuyl (NL) BIC ING: INGBNL2A Translation: Hendrik-Jan van Telgen (NL) ABN-AMRO: NL57ABNA0545626668 BIC ABN-AMRO: ABNANL2A Dear Members, An eventful year is drawing to a close and I hope that you have all remained free from the Corona virus which has caused havoc and which has resulted in a disrupted economy in some sectors: closing of bars, restaurants, theatres, no festivals, no audience with sports matches, even no amateur competition sport in, no or hardly any holiday opportunities, etc. We are eagerly looking forward to 2021 as more and more positive reports are coming in about the reliability of vaccines. In this issue all kinds of information, including a number of nice baseball items provided by Ad van Sinttruijen. Also a column about Covid-19, Golf at the top, Long Drives and Swing Time Philately’s 30-years-anniversary in 2021. Our Canadian member David Schulz also sent us an extensive baseball article (thank you David) entitled Taking a Swing at Baseball Philately (which will be sent to each baseball member individually). In December you will all receive the new set of catalogue sheets golf or baseball, as well as the Information bulletin and the Golf and Baseball indexes by email. You will all be asked to transfer the annual contribution (€ 27.50, same as previous years) and the amount due to cover the costs of the catalogue sheets and postage. It would be very nice if all current members will remain a member of the club in 2021. It should be mentioned that there are three members who, for reasons of their own, no longer collect stamps remain a member because they have always enjoyed the club and see it as a small help to keep the club going. This is highly appreciated. Also on behalf of Ad van Sinttruijen and Hendrik-Jan van Telgen, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2021. Rob van Tuyl COVID-19 High tension around the world. When will the anti-virus vaccine be permanently and, above all, safely available? It appears to be going into the right direction, but that does not apply to all countries in the world. It goes without saying that it has an enormous impact on the economy. As far as sport is concerned, there are some special deviations and, of course, money plays an - too - important role in relation to health. For instance take the ski areas in France, Switzerland and Austria. The first two countries have closed the slopes for a longer period, but Austria wants to open the slopes asap. STP bulletin – edition 2020-2 Page 1 Swing Time Philately Empty stadiums, sports halls, but Formula 1 races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi continue as usual. Although under strict supervision, as the entire F1-circus consists of 1,700(!) staff and Bahrain has a complete lockdown. Why do in the Netherlands men were allowed to play soccer at the highest level (with many infections in the first weeks), but the women were not allowed to play? That measure was reversed after protests and the women's competition is now resumed. Still the question remains why the field hockey for men and women is not resumed, as football has more physical contact than hockey. In The Netherlands, the baseball competition and the Dutch Golf Open have also been cancelled. In America, a limited audience is again allowed for golf and watching a golf game without audience on TV is bearable, unlike empty baseball and football stadiums. Many soccer clubs now provide background audience noise in the empty stadium, which saves one from hearing the mutual screaming of players on the field, because that is really disturbing and less attractive. People eagerly await the ‘back-to-normal’ situation. Let's hope the year 2021 will bring more joy to everyone but let’s put health first. LA DODGERS WINNER WORLD SERIES This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers may call themselves the best baseball club in the world. In the sixth game of the World Series, the decisive fourth (3-1) win was reached against the Tampa Bay Rays, securing the first championship since 1988 with a final score of 4-2. Dutch national team Kenley Jansen (33) is part of the roster of the champion, but in the deciding game the pitcher didn't play. Before the eighth inning, a very remarkable incident occurred when Justin Turner was taken from the field, because during the game it became known that he had tested positive for the corona virus. Therefore, the third baseman missed the instant revelry at the end of the game, although he did return for a team photo (see below). The game was still undecided when Turner had to leave. Until the sixth inning, Tampa Bay had hopes for a seventh game thanks to a homerun by Randy Arozarena. After starting pitcher Blake Snell was taken off the mound, the Dodgers seized their opportunity. Austin Barnes took advantage of a wild pitch, then Mookie Betts also dove home a few minutes later. In the eighth inning, Betts hit another homerun. STP bulletin – edition 2020-2 Page 2 Swing Time Philately ‘The only thing that could have made it even better was to be in our own Dodger Stadium now,’ said pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The entire series was finished at Globe Life Field, the home of Texas Rangers, because of the corona pandemic. Approximately 11,500 fans were allowed per game. The corona infection of Turner was a blemish on the play-offs for the organization. For nearly two months, not a single positive test had been reported in this so-called baseball bubble. ‘I think it has been a great achievement for our players to finish this season,’ MLB commissioner Rob Manfred complimented the clubs. Incident The fact that Turner returned to the field afterwards, caused quite a stir. The player said he ‘felt great’ and, despite his contamination, even took off his face mask amidst his teammates. Justin Turner on the field celebrating with the team after testing positive for coronavirus GOLF AT THE TOP In the recent past, we reported exclusively about Joost Luiten who to date has won six tournaments and even gained the 32nd place in the world ranking. Some ugly injuries have thrown him back considerably and now his game knows ups-and-downs, finding him back on place 83. In addition to Joost, several players have tried to secure a permanent place on the European Pro Tour, but until last year those players dropped out in the qualifying school. However, five Dutchmen now play regularly on the European Tour. STP bulletin – edition 2020-2 Page 3 Swing Time Philately Most notable newcomer is Wil Besseling with some nice scores that put him at the 66th position in the Race to Dubai at the time of writing (after the Joburg Open). At the end of the season, this may entitle him to play the grand final of the European Tour in Dubai. In place 153 we find Darius van Driel who has a very difficult time on the Tour. It is fortunate for him that because of Covid-19 all cards are maintained this season and therefore he can gain experience at the highest level without any adverse effects. At the beginning of this year Lars van Meijel was doing well and made four cuts in five tournaments, collected some points but after the restart he has not yet been able to pick up the pace. For him too, there are no adverse consequences due to the frozen q-cards this season. Finally, we find Daan Huizing back on position 203. The main reason is that he is only sporadically allowed to play on the Tour, but after the corona-stop he hopes to take part more often. The results are lacking, although he has the potential and talent to break through and reach a higher level. If we look at the Dutch golf ladies, it is only limited to one top player, Anne van Dam. She is one of the rising stars on the European Women's Tour and has already won five titles. In 2019 she made the switch to America to play there on the LPGA Tour. She is now becoming known as a long-hitter. In November, CNN's golf program ‘Living Golf’ pays attention to the Dutch golf star, a sign that her status is growing. DONALD TRUMP In the Netherlands too, we could take in every detail regarding the election battle between Trump and Biden in the United States. Incredible what all took place there. In March 2018, I was a guest marshal at hole 6 at the World Championship Golf played on the Trump Dural Golf Course in Miami, aka the Blue Monster with as final winner Dustin Johnson. There I also happened to meet course owner Donald Trump in the very luxurious clubhouse resp. hotel. Relaxed, shaking hands and a word for everyone; in short completely in his own comfort zone. Everything was big.