The Iron Bat

TOTS Senior Baseball Network (TSBN)

60-and-over baseball

Three days a week the Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) baseball team sets up shop at Udall Park. They unlock the storage locker and disperse the equipment that is inside to its rightful place. The bats are placed one by one alongside the fence, just to the left of home plate. The bases are locked into place and within minutes another 60-and-over baseball game begins.

Amidst the row of bats is one piece of lumber which gets very little love. It is not made of wood, it is more like a piece of iron -- a homemade job owned by 71-year-old Doc Thompson. The owner has gone as far as to tape on the words, "Doc", on the huge piece of steel.

Doc, one of top hitters on the TOTS, will use the giant bat on occasion, but the fella who loves to use the longest and heaviest "tool of  the trade" available is 86-year-old Jack Glickman. Jack weighs 130 pounds soaking wet, on a 5 foot, 6 inch frame. At first glance, the bat looks to be chest high on Jack,  the second oldest player on the ball  club.

What happens next is mind boggling.

Jack, who bats right handed, steps to the plate and takes a few practice swings. Jack awaits the pitcher's offerings and when he gets a pitch to his liking, he PULLS the ball down the third baseline!

In a recent game, Jack frustrated the pitcher by fouling off seven pitches, before (you guessed it!) drilling a single by the third baseman.

Glickman (photo above) was born in New York, NY on January 16, 1927 and recently celebrated his 86th birthday and is 18 months younger than the oldest active member of the TOTS, Floyd Lance.

Jack will be back with the TOTS next week. His first order of business will be to survey the bat rack (so to speak), looking for his favorite piece of "iron".