The grounds manager of baseball club Twins in Oosterhout, Maurice de Brouwer, recently experienced a series of incredible baseball moments. At the peak, he was allowed to watch behind the scenes at a game of the Kansas City Royals in the United States. “Just being present live at a game in the Major League was a dream,” says the Oosterhout groundsman. “Standing on the field during such a match feels heavenly.”
For years, Maurice maintains the baseball field of the Twins. No bare spots in the grass and always mowed tightly. The piece of gravel is also smoothed during matches. “I once let it slip that I wanted to see the field team of a Major League club at work with my own eyes. The head coach of the Oosterhout Twins said that he had contacts in Kansas. Before I knew it, I was already on the plane.”
“I sang along with the American national anthem.”
Maurice had a ticket for the City Royals. “I expected that I would follow a match between the public. I thought that was wonderful, but when I got there I was asked if I wanted to work with the maintenance men. Of course I wanted to. It was all very official. I also had to sing along with the American national anthem. Hats off and hand on chest. I did it wholeheartedly.”
It was an unforgettable experience, he says proudly. “There are 38,000 people in the stands there. In Oosterhout there are 250. It was an overwhelming experience in all facets of the word.”