Most fans may not recognize the bobblehead doll being passed out to fans Saturday when the Akron RubberDucks take on the Altoona Curve.
But the players, staff and Canal Park regulars will see a familiar smile on that special keepsake.
The newest bobblehead is of Jack Kilway, who put in 19 years as a volunteer for the Cleveland Indians Double-A farm team, earning the nickname “Mayor of Canal Park.” The 81-year-old ended his tenure last season.
The Akron born-and-bred Kilway began volunteering in 1998, shortly after retiring as general manager of Acme No. 1 on West Market Street.
A longtime friend who was an executive of the then-named Akron Aeros asked the retiring Kilway what he intended to do next.
“I said, ‘I’m going to go home and sit in a chair,’ and she said, ‘No, you’re not,’ ” Kilway recalled.
At her encouragement, he drove to Canal Park and signed up as a volunteer, first as an official scorer, then running the scoreboard and then keeping an eye out on the loges and the team family room.
“I got to know baseball from the professional point of view. I got to know the players and their families, going all the way back to Jeremy Guthrie and CC Sabathia. I still get Christmas cards from some of the guys,” Kilway said.
A low point in his term was just before the Aeros were sold to new owner Ken Babby, who renamed the team the RubberDucks.
The park “was not in good shape,” the staff was in “disarray, people were fleeing” and attendance was in decline, Kilway said.
But five years ago, Babby came in and changed everything, said Kilway, who called Babby “the spark of Canal Park.”
“Attendance is flying, he put in good people and the way he treats his employees and volunteers — without a doubt, he’s a good man,” Kilway said.
The fans should have noticed the difference, too, he added, with the concourse being pressure-washed every three days and each seat wiped down nightly before the gates open.
“Who does that? Nobody does that,” Kilway said.
But while Kilway wanted to turn the spotlight on others, he will be the center of attention on Saturday in honor of his contributions to one of Akron’s biggest attractions.
“Jack has shown tremendous dedication to this baseball franchise, and his efforts have made a big impact for a lot of baseball fans over his long career,” said Jim Pfander, the RubberDucks general manager. “Not many people get the honor of being made into a bobblehead, but Jack has more than earned his place on one.”
The RubberDucks aren’t the only local organization to benefit from Kilway’s volunteerism. He’s also a longtime volunteer at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, where he’s helped guide patients and visitors around the halls of the hospital for more than 16 years.
“I just like getting to know people and being helpful,” Kilway said.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.
