Larry Kennedy

Lawrence William Kennedy (May 1917 – March 4, 1995) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he played two seasons in the minor leagues with the Mayfield Clothiers, Siloam Springs Travelers and Lincoln Links, and was known for going from living at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home in Boys Town, Nebraska, to playing professional baseball. He also twice served as the mayor of Boys Town, and was for a time their police commissioner as well as director of public safety.

Early life and time at Boys Town Lawrence William Kennedy was born in May 1917 in Des Moines, Iowa. Due to family circumstances, he went to live at Father Flanagan's Boys' Home in Boys Town, Nebraska, in March 1929. There, he often played sports with the other boys, showing "keen athletic ability." He batted and threw left-handed, and his pitching style was considered unusual as he relied on an overhand fastball, while most left-handed players threw sidearm curves. In the winter of 1936, Kennedy worked out in the gym between 30 minutes and one hour every day to improve his abilities. He was trained by Ken Corcoran, a brother of former National Football League (NFL) player Jack Corcoran. He also served as police commissioner around this time, being known for his "honesty, integrity, and fairness," according to The St. Louis Star and Times. At the event, he "fanned four of the eight batters he pitched against, wasted few balls, showed fine speed and a fairish [curveball]," according to The Home Journal. After spending the spring training period with them, Kennedy saw little action as a pitcher in 12 games with the team, He was referred to in a scene in the 1938 film Boys Town, where one character says "One of our guys plays in the St. Louis Browns' organization!"

After finishing his first year of professional baseball, Kennedy returned to Boys Town and began training every day in the gym for the 1939 season. In March 1939, he was given a trial by the Lincoln Links of the Western League. He made the team and played in seven games, pitching 41 innings and posting a 4–2 win–loss record with an earned run average of 4.02. He was assigned to the Class C Hutchinson Pirates, but suffered an injury to his arm which ended his professional career.

Later life and death Kennedy worked as a secretary for the Boys Town welfare office from 1940 to 1941. He attempted to join the Army in 1941 to serve in World War II, but was declined due to having a high blood pressure. He was their first official Chief of Police and also served as Director of Public Safety, retiring after being in these positions for 38 years.