Norma (Strickland) Kennedy
Norma Strickland was one of a fine family of athletes, and she had an outstanding softball career in two phases — the 1940’s as a Strickland and the 1960’s as a Kennedy, her married name.
At age 15, she became a regular in a strong Women’s City League. Renowned for her pitching, she also played other positions in order to keep her powerful batting strength in the lineup.
Norma led Westclox to a third City League Crown in 1948, then to the Provincial Finals at St. Catharines, where they lost out two games to one. She was also part of three other Peterborough teams that made City League finals during the 1940’s. In 1944, she was selected starting pitcher for the City All-Stars against the vaunted Toronto Sunday Morning Class, at the time the best women’s team in Canada, and perhaps the world.
Family responsibilities took her from the game for a decade, but she returned to star for Millbrook teams in the 1960’s.
Norma was rated with the best of her time, in an era when women’s softball flourished and competition was very keen, not only in Peterborough but across the province. She died in 1997.
Year Inducted:
1997
Status:
Deceased
Norma Strickland was one of a fine family of athletes, and she had an outstanding softball career in two phases — the 1940’s as a Strickland and the 1960’s as a Kennedy, her married name.
At age 15, she became a regular in a strong Women’s City League. Renowned for her pitching, she also played other positions in order to keep her powerful batting strength in the lineup.
Norma led Westclox to a third City League Crown in 1948, then to the Provincial Finals at St. Catharines, where they lost out two games to one. She was also part of three other Peterborough teams that made City League finals during the 1940’s. In 1944, she was selected starting pitcher for the City All-Stars against the vaunted Toronto Sunday Morning Class, at the time the best women’s team in Canada, and perhaps the world.
Family responsibilities took her from the game for a decade, but she returned to star for Millbrook teams in the 1960’s.
Norma was rated with the best of her time, in an era when women’s softball flourished and competition was very keen, not only in Peterborough but across the province. She died in 1997.