Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

20 January 2026

In all likelihood, Andruw Jones, The Curaçao Kid, will finally receive the honor of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. It is an enormous personal achievement. Judging by his statistics, no one would argue that he does not belong there. And yet, he had to wait nine years. I sometimes think that foreigners like Andruw have to be five times as good as Americans to receive the same recognition.

This honor will once again place Curaçao in the global spotlight. For years, it has been known that, per capita, Curaçao produces more Major League Baseball players than any other place in the world. I have written before that the island possesses a unique form of human capital, characterized by exceptional muscular and physical intelligence. But the success of our baseball goes far beyond natural talent.

Its foundation lies in the Little League model: organization, volunteers, and a strong sense of national commitment. That model has already produced world titles. Now it appears that Curaçao may no longer even need to qualify for the Little League World Series. Another recognition of the exceptional quality of Little League Curaçao.

Still, we must remain vigilant. For several years now, I have observed signs of complacency and increasing disputes on and around the field. Meanwhile, the competition has not stood still. In athletics and now in football as well, Curaçaoans continue to deliver remarkable performances. Recently, Curaçao qualified as the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup.

This same model is now being applied to the Kingdom Baseball team, which is currently led by Andruw Jones. Once again, the best players are selected and an experienced manager is entrusted with leadership. In this role, Andruw succeeds another legend, Hensley Meulens, the first Yu di Kòrsou to reach the Big Leagues, from whom he learned the craft during many years as a bench coach.

The lesson is clear. Curaçao should be governed and managed on the basis of meritocracy. By building a local farm system, by bringing together Yu di Kòrsou who have distinguished themselves internationally, and by forming teams based on quality and experience. In doing so, we can put Curaçao back on the right track — not only in sports, but also in governance and society.

Miguel Goede