87-year-old ball player makes the plays of the day

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

Eighty-seven year old Floyd Lance was in the right place at the right time at Udall Park today as he snagged what looked to be the play of the day in the fourth inning of a Tucson Old Timers' game by making an over-the-shoulder catch in center field to take a double away from 62-year-old power-hitter Ted Davis.

Playing for Team Blue and normally a first baseman, Lance rotated positions with the rest of the team today as the manager decided to rotate all the fielders in each inning.

"I haven't played outfield in years," Lance said, following the game. "I guess I was in the right place at the right time and I extended my left arm as far as I could to make the catch."

It didn't end there.

The 6 foot, five inch first-sacker, who is the oldest active player on the TOTS, then duplicated the same feat in the fifth inning. Only this time, Lance was playing left field and he back-handed a line drive, which was tailing away from him.

And in the seventh inning, Lance did it again. This time while playing second base. Floyd turned a hard hit one-hopper into an easy out at first base. Once again, the ball was tailing away from him as he took three steps to his left and then made a perfect throw to first.

"I guess it was my day," said the smiling ball player.

Photo: Sir Floyd Lance

TOTS footnote: Despite Lance's heroics, Team Blue lost 10-6  to Team White today. Eighty-three year old Billy Heiny pitched all seven innings for Team White and picked up the victory, while 67-year-old right hander Ron Petersen was saddled with the loss.