Wilhelmus Abraham Remmerswaal (March 8, 1954 – July 24, 2022) was a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1979 and 1980. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, Remmerswaal was the first European-trained player to reach the majors. He was the second Dutch-born MLB player since 1900, following Bert Blyleven, who grew up and learned the game in California.
Born on March 8, 1954, Remmerswaal was born to a family of athletes; his father, Jacobus (“Jaap”) played association football with VUC Den Haag[nl], while his brothers played football (including one with VV Spijkenisse) One of his brothers played baseball for ADO. Nicknamed Win, (short for Winneke, or Winnie, inspired by Winston Churchill), Remmerswaal began playing baseball with SV Wassenaar[nl] in 1970, moving to Storks a year later. He was on two Dutch Little League champion teams. In 1969, he won the Ron Fraser Award, given to the country's most promising youth player.
Remmerswaal made his major league debut in August 1979. In 55+2⁄3innings pitched over two partial seasons, all in relief, Remmserswaal had a 3–1 record with 36 strikeouts and a 5.50 ERA. Remmerswaal picked up his first major league win on August 15, 1979, when he and a series of other Boston relievers combined to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 19–5. He pitched in 22 games with Boston, making his final major league appearance on October 5, 1980.
During his time in America, he was known for his eccentric behavior.
In 1997, Remmerswaal lapsed into a coma after contracting double pneumonia with pleurisy. He lived in a nursing home in the Netherlands. He died July 24, 2022.
