Rob Derksen
Encyclopedia
Robert William Derksen was an American
professional baseball
pitcher
, coach
, manager
and scout, who also was an influential figure in international baseball. Derksen was the head coach of the 1996
Australian
Olympic Men's Baseball Team
, the 2000 Guam
National Baseball Team, and, at the time of his death, the 2004
Greek
Olympic Men's Baseball Team.
A native of Hales Corners, Wisconsin
, Derksen attended the University of Wisconsin. Drafted by his hometown Milwaukee Brewers
in the 16th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, he spent almost 15 years in the Brewers' farm system as a right-handed pitcher, pitching coach and minor league
manager. A right-handed batter, Derksen stood 5 inch tall and weighed 185 lb (83.9 kg). He compiled a won/lost mark of 11-6 with an earned run average
of 3.18 in all or parts of five seasons at the Class A level, but by his fourth playing season, 1985, Derksen had become a part-time pitcher and a full-time pitching coach. He later managed in the Milwaukee system with the Beloit Snappers
of the Class A Midwest League
(1990–1991), then returned to working as a pitching coach for the Brewers' Class AA El Paso Diablos
affiliate. After the 1996 Summer Olympics, he joined the Boston Red Sox
for one season (1997) as manager of their Sarasota Red Sox farm in the Class A Florida State League
. His managerial record was 205–205, an even .500. Later in his career, in between Olympic and international baseball assignments, he was a scout for the Baltimore Orioles
.
Derksen died from a heart attack at age 44 in New York City during a scouting trip for the Greek Olympic team to Long Island, New York, weeks prior to the 2004 Summer Games. According to ESPN.com, more than 600 attended his funeral and children from his youth league team were his pallbearers. "He was so good for baseball," pitcher A. J. Brack, a member of the 2004 Greek Olympic Team, said. "He loved the game, and he just wanted it to do well."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and scout, who also was an influential figure in international baseball. Derksen was the head coach of the 1996
Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Baseball had its second appearance as an official medal sport at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States, with games played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Eight nations competed, with the preliminary phase consisting of each team playing every other team. Playoffs were then held,...
Australian
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Olympic Men's Baseball Team
Australia national baseball team at the Summer Olympics
The Australia national baseball team was the third nation, after the United States and Sweden, to participate in baseball at the Summer Olympics, making their first appearance at the 1956 Games in Melbourne, and again as part of its demonstration at the 1988 Games in Seoul.Since baseball was first...
, the 2000 Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
National Baseball Team, and, at the time of his death, the 2004
Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
-Preliminary round:The top four teams advanced to the semifinals. To determine the seed ranking of teams tied in the standings, the result of the two teams' game against each other was used. Japan therefore received first place due to the win over Cuba. In the semi-finals, Japan played...
Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
Olympic Men's Baseball Team.
A native of Hales Corners, Wisconsin
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
Hales Corners is a village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hales Corners is located in southwestern Milwaukee County...
, Derksen attended the University of Wisconsin. Drafted by his hometown Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 16th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft, he spent almost 15 years in the Brewers' farm system as a right-handed pitcher, pitching coach and minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager. A right-handed batter, Derksen stood 5 inch tall and weighed 185 lb (83.9 kg). He compiled a won/lost mark of 11-6 with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.18 in all or parts of five seasons at the Class A level, but by his fourth playing season, 1985, Derksen had become a part-time pitcher and a full-time pitching coach. He later managed in the Milwaukee system with the Beloit Snappers
Beloit Snappers
The Beloit Snappers are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, that plays in the Midwest League.Beloit joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise in 1982. They were a Milwaukee Brewers farm team from its beginning through 2004; they switched to the...
of the Class A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
(1990–1991), then returned to working as a pitching coach for the Brewers' Class AA El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
affiliate. After the 1996 Summer Olympics, he joined the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for one season (1997) as manager of their Sarasota Red Sox farm in the Class A Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. His managerial record was 205–205, an even .500. Later in his career, in between Olympic and international baseball assignments, he was a scout for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
.
Derksen died from a heart attack at age 44 in New York City during a scouting trip for the Greek Olympic team to Long Island, New York, weeks prior to the 2004 Summer Games. According to ESPN.com, more than 600 attended his funeral and children from his youth league team were his pallbearers. "He was so good for baseball," pitcher A. J. Brack, a member of the 2004 Greek Olympic Team, said. "He loved the game, and he just wanted it to do well."