"I've had kind of a busy summer," commented Danny McKenna, the easy-going second baseman of the Norwood Nitros.
Not only has he played in 28 games this summer (he missed four to finish final exams at college), but he's supervised the boys' baseball and girls' softball at the local playgrounds; supervised operations at both swimming pools; covered the activity of the Twilight Baseball League with weekly reports for this paper; and supervised the Town's 25 playground leaders.
He also serves in the busy position of business manager of the Nitros, and was the club's founder a year ago. It's his job to purchase bats and balls when the supply is exhausted. He lines up the umpires for the home games, and sometimes passes the hat during the game so that the unheralded men in blue can receive a small sum for their thankless jobs. Occasionally, you can find him lining the base lines prior to a big game, and securing the base bags for the game that day.
To say that he has had ''kind of a busy summer" would be a gross understatement, but that's the kind of a guy the quiet, unassuming McKenna is.
Coach Stan Lukis pointed out, ''Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday each week he's playing for us. Monday and Wednesday he's tied up with the Twilight baseball.
"That doesn't leave him much time to himself, but he still finds time to take in a Red Sox home game, or to drive a bucket of golf balls on the driving range."
Sports His Life
McKenna is a highly con-cientious young man of 21 who exudes nervous energy. He's always on the move, and sports are his life.
Recreation Superintendent Richard E. Ready commented, "He's a very valuable man at the Recreation Center. He was a playground leader in 1959 and 1960. Then, on the merit of his good work, was promoted to his present position. He's done a fine job here, and we're glad to have him with us.''
Dany is not a "stand-patter." He's always trying new techniques. He originated the idea of a statistics sheet passed out to the fans at home games with facts and figures on the Nitros. He filled the release with upcoming schedules, standings, uniform numbers, batting and pitching records.
It was first tried at the Waltham game July 28 and went over big. The next day, against the Boston Dodgers, the supply was exhausted by the second Inning, and response to it was gratifying.
Other promotional schemes started with Danny. A megaphone at some home games calling out the lineups, batting orders, and other information was tested. It too was successful. The current drive now on to sell raffle tickets for a portable TV set, which will be given away Aug. 12 at the Civio Field—that was Danny's idea. Another was the local merchant advertisements on the players' uniforms. He worked hard last winter lining up those arrangements.
On and on we could go, showing the creative imagination of the Nitros' youthful business manager. But these few examples should suffice to show that Danny uses original thinking to show the local citizenry it has a semi-pro dub which deserves its respect and support.
His long and successful athletic career in Norwood needs little review. A letter-man in football, baseball and basketball at Norwood High, class of 1959,-he also starred in Junior Legion, Pony League and Little League baseball.
A recent triumph was his home run Tuesday evening which helped the Nitros eke out a 3 to 2 win over the Walpole Town Team.
He'll be returning to Springfield (Mass.) College in September as a senior majoring in physical education. Sports are his life.
This is the pattern of living for the diligent business manager, second baseman of the Nitroes—Daniel Patrick McKenna.
By NICK CURRAN
(Ninth in a Series)
(All articles originally appeared in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)
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