TOTS player has field named after him...

Ron Boeve spends his winters with his wife, Sonny, in Tucson, Arizona. And three days a week, during his stay, you can find him at Udall Park, playing baseball with the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team.

Boeve is the only member of the TOTS that has a baseball field named after him.

The baseball stadium at Hope College in Holland, Michigan is named after Boeve and his wife. Ron was a 1953 graduate and an assistant baseball coach at Hope for nearly a quarter of a century. Ron continues to serve under three coaches, including current head coach Stu Fritz. He is the team's first base coach and frequently pitches batting practice.

Ron was a standout Hope baseball player, winning recognition that included being chosen by his teammates as Hope's most valuable player in 1959 and selection to the All-MIAA team twice as a catcher.

Boeve,75, is a likable, soft-spoken individual and a great addition to the TOTS team. He still possesses a strong arm and can hit the ball with authority. As far as coaching goes, Ron can get a little testy if the need arises. According to an article in the Holland paper, Ron had an out-of-character experience on the day of the Boeve Stadium dedication.

The Hope College baseball team had to wait until the end of the second game of a doubleheader against Kalamazoo to celebrate the stadium dedication. And when it finally happened, Boeve, whose name is on the stadium wall, wasn’t around to join in the festivities. Boeve was ejected by the base umpire in the fifth inning for arguing a close call. Hey, it happens to the best of us.

Ron and his wife will return to Holland next week. Ron will be missed by his TOTS' teammates this summer. We'll keep a close eye on Boeve and the Hope College baseball team this season.