History

In the mid 80s, a bunch of students from the Free University of Brussels started throwing a ball around on campus in between their exams or nights out. They quickly fell in love with baseball and wanted to further develop the sport in Brussels, so founded Brussels Kangaroos in 1988. The club became officially affiliated with the French-speaking Belgian Baseball and Softball league (LFBBS) in 1989 and has since grown into a much larger structure, offering the possibility to the young (from the age of 3.5) and young-at-heart, guys and gals, beginners and experienced players to play baseball and softball in both recreational and competitive teams. Today, the club counts between 150 and 200 members, who make up a good half a dozen teams that compete against other clubs all across Belgium, from the windswept plains of Namur to the outskirts of Antwerp, during the official season that stretches from April to October.

In addition to competing in national leagues, the Kangaroos are also stalwarts of the international Little League tournament, where the best players are selected to join the Brussels All-Stars team and go on to represent Belgium in the Little League’s regional (Europe-Africa) and global tournaments. These teams have reached the World Series several times, and the last to date was the under-17s in 2006 in Bangor (Maine, USA).

Similarly to the club itself, the Kangaroos’ field has changed with the times too. Since 2012, the club has been playing on a fantastic, brand-new multi-sport synthetic field at Stade Fallon (Woluwe-Saint-Lambert). It’s one of the nicest fields in Belgium!

Throughout the club’s rich and varied history, the aim of the Brussels Kangaroos has never changed – our maxim is to organise and teach high-quality baseball to the young and young-at-heart, in a spirit of fair play, fun, self-improvement and simply having a great time!

Why the Brussels “Kangaroos”?

There are several different theories to explain where the name came from:

  • The first baseball gloves were made from kangaroo leather;
  • The players loved the theme park Walibi (near Wavre, to the south of Brussels), whose mascot is a kangaroo;
  • The players admired the physical prowess of wild kangaroos;
  • One of the club’s founders, Karim Dhanani, wanted to have his initial on the team cap.

As for the actual truth, from time immemorial, well that’s been lost, buried and forgotten over the course of the club’s 25 or more turbulent years of existence, so it’s up to you to choose your favourite version. The important thing to remember is that Brussels Kangaroos play baseball and softball in a spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship!

Key dates

2015:

  • Minimes become undefeated Belgian champions!
  • Brussels Little League Major team (mainly made up of Minimes Kangaroos) represent Belgium at the regional Europe-Africa tournament in Kutno, Poland.

2014 :

  • Minimes become undefeated Belgian champions!
  • Cadets win their All-Stars competition
  • Brussels Little League Senior team (mainly made up of Cadets Kangaroos) represents Belgium at the regional Europe-Africa tournament in Novara, Italy
  • Set up a Beeball club, for the younger members (from 3.5 years old)

2013 :

  • Minimes become Belgian champions
  • Softball Ladies win D2
  • Brussels Little League Major team (mainly made up of Minimes Kangaroos) represents Belgium at the regional Europe-Africa tournament in Kutno, Poland

2012 :

  • Opening of the brand new synthetic field at Stade Fallon (one of the best baseball pitches in Belgium!)

 

2007 :

  • Minimes become Belgian champions
  • Baseball victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Baseball Minimes victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • 3rd in the Belgian baseball cup
  • 3rd in the Belgian softball cup

2006 :

  • Worldseries 2006

2005 :

  • Baseball: 4th in the Belgian cup

2004 :

  • Minimes become Belgian champions
  • Baseball Minimes victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Baseball Cadets victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Baseball Juniors victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • 1st victory at the World Series
  • 2004 World Series

2003 :

  • Softball Ladies promoted to D1
  • Baseball victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Softball Men victory in the LFBBS challenge

2002 :

  • Softball Men win D2
  • Baseball Minimes victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Softball Ladies victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Softball Men victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • 3rd in the Belgian baseball cup

2001 :

  • Cadets become Belgian champions
  • Baseball victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Baseball Cadets victory in the LFBBS challenge

2000 :

  • Baseball: first match in D1
  • Creation of the Softball Men’s team

1999 :

  • Champions of D2
  • Baseball victory in the LFBBS challenge
  • Baseball Cadets victory in the LFBBS challenge

1998 :

  • First Cadets team
  • First Minimes team
  • New pitch

1997 :

  • AMERICAN DAY V
  • No field

1996 :

  • AMERICAN DAY IV

1995 :

  • Baseball champions of D3
  • AMERICAN DAY III
  • Softball victory in the LFBBS challenge

1994 :

  • AMERICAN DAY II
  • Softball victory in the LFBBS challenge

1993 :

  • Baseball champions of D4
  • AMERICAN DAY I
  • Softball victory in the LFBBS challenge

1992 :

  • First young players team

1991 :

  • First pitch for the Kangaroos
  • First Softball Ladies team

1990 :

  • First competition match

1989 :

  • Official creation of Brussels Kangaroos

1988 :

  • Creation of the club: 1st October 1988