Amsterdam Pirates-player Kalian Sams is ending his baseball career. The 36-year-old Hague was active for the Amsterdammers from 2019 to 2022 and achieved great success. Persistent injuries and a sense of satisfaction are the reason for his retirement. “The conclusion is that it has been beautiful,” says Sams.
The 36-year-old Sams played in America, Canada and Mexico, among others. The baseball player also has more than 100 international matches, four European championships and even a world championship to his name.
”He has achieved impressive stats in almost every play-off series”
After spending a long time abroad, Sams returned to the Netherlands with Pirates in the summer of 2019. Assistant coach Allan Hazel worked with the former international for four years in the capital. “Sams has been very important to our club. He had impressive stats in almost every play-off series. He was an incredibly good hitter,” says Hazel.
“I played with a double tear in my shoulder all season”
Sams believes that he has been through everything and therefore no longer has to prove himself. “In addition, I played the whole season with a double tear in my shoulder. I woke up with pain, went to bed with pain and could not play a game without painkillers. Then you eventually no longer perform to your abilities”, Sams nevertheless looks satisfied. back on his career.
Decisive home run
In 2021, Sams had his peak with Pirates. He hit an all-deciding home-run in the championship game against Neptunus. That’s a moment assistant coach Hazel will never forget. “I am eternally grateful to him for that home run. Because of him, the entire team has a championship to his name.”
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Circle is round
With Pirates, Sams did not have a happy last season. The former Dutch champion was convincingly defeated in the play-offs for the Holland Series by HCAW from Bussum. In the end, that team became the champion.
Despite the sour aftertaste of this season, his career was honorably ended. On Wednesday evening, he was supposed to give a workshop to Pirates youth players, but he was honored by family, friends and former teammates. “In the end I went on the field with my father. When I was a little boy, he always threw the balls. We did that one more time that evening. After that the circle was really complete and my next life began,” looks back. Sams returns on his farewell.
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