July 19, 2023

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Former Montreal Expos outfielder Dan Norman has been appointed manager of the new Chatham-Kent Barnstormers entry in Ontario's Intercounty Baseball League.

Norman, 68, has been a coach or minor-league manager for many organizations over the years so he brings experience to the table with the Barnstormers, who begin play as an expansion team in 2024.

“Our team will be comprised of future and former professional players, and I’m excited to bring championship-calibre baseball to the region for this new team,'' Norman said in a statement released today by club owner Dom Dinelle and general manager Harry Muir.

Norman was involved with the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins and AZL Padres in various capacities after he finished playing pro ball in 1987. He also was manager of the now-defunct Trois-Rivieres Saints of the Canadian Baseball League.

“We’re so excited to have Dan with the team. He is a values-based leader, on and off the field, bringing a high level of experience, an impressive work ethic, and a dedication to the fans and community,” Muir said.

"The Barnstormers are bringing in a very experienced manager to lead the troops,'' the news release added.

A Los Angeles native, Norman was drafted out of L.A.'s Barstow Community College by the Cincinnati Reds in 1974 and was part of the trade that saw him swapped along with Doug Flynn and Pat Zachry to the New York Mets in exchange for Tom Seaver on June 15, 1977.

The trade to New York was beneficial for Norman because he languished in the minors with the Reds. He played in 139 games from 1977 to 1980 with the Mets.

On May 29, 1981, Norman was on the move again in a deal that saw him and Jeff Reardon traded by the Mets to the Expos for Ellis Valentine. Norman played in 53 games for the Expos in 1982, batting .212 with two homers and seven RBIs.

Norman will join former Expos pitcher Bill Atkinson, a Chatham native, who is the team ambassador for the Barnstormers.