Coach Sanderson Honored for 49 Years of Service

Longtime youth sports coach Jim Sanderson was honored during Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting for 47 years of service to the city as a volunteer coach.

Sanderson coached the Senior Babe Ruth Chiefs, the Fall Wood Bat League Bandits and multiple all star teams, and coached the Bantam Division Nashua Biddy Basketball Jets. He continues to coach the Babe Ruth Tigers.

From the resolution (R-13-40) read during the meeting by Alderman David Deane, Sanderson "has been a dedicated coach and positive role model for the youth of the City of Nashua. His passion for the game of baseball and young athletes brings pride to the City of Nashua," as he "has selflessly given of his time, talent and care to hundreds of young athletes for nothing more than the love of the game and the kids for nearly half a century in the Gate City."

The honor also was meant to honor Sanderson for his milestone birthday – he turned 75 on Aug. 17, a milestone that coincides with the 75th anniversary of the construction of Holman Stadium.

Sanderson was gifted with a bag of commemorative "wooden nickels" that on one side honor Holman Stadium and on the other commemorate his birthday. Anecdotally, the mayor noted the once popular expression "don't take any wooden nickels" as  a way of wishing someone well.