The Amazin' Race

TOTS Senior Baseball Network

60-and-over baseball

The Tucson Old Timers play at Udall Park three times a week and it doesn't take the players long to find out who's the fastest 60-and-over old timer. There are a few players -- closer to the age of 60 -- who can flat out run. The 70-and-over and the 80-and-over players, well let's just say the old legs aren't what they used to be.

On the other end of the spectrum are the "few good men" considered the slowest of the slowest. So this morning after the TOTS' game a race was held to determine the most fleet footed of the slow guys.

The four runners (using the word runners lightly) were 82-year-old Jerry Smarik, 87-year-old Jack Glickman, 76-year-old Bobby Katz and the youngest of the four speedsters (again, using the word lightly),  65-year-old Chuck Sabalos.

Sabalos, a retired Superior Court Judge for the State of Arizona, recently returned to the TOTS after undergoing extensive foot surgery. He has a couple of screws in his right foot and will never be able to "run" like he once did as a catcher on his Tucson Rincon High School baseball team.

"I just kinda wobble to first base," Sabalos said, after today's race. "It's going to be practically impossible to beat out a ball hit to an infielder. But, I can hit and I can handle things behind the plate. So, I guess I'm back."

Runner #2: Smarik, a retired Navy man and a retired postal inspector (one of those double-dippers) has a couple of nicknames on the TOTS. He's referred to as the "rocket" because he once said he needed one up his butt to get to first base. He's also affectionately called "the turbo turtle."

Runner #3: Katz, nicknamed "Gunner" is a former Marine and he knows full well that he is not blessed with a lot of speed, so he's developed a keen eye at the plate and leads the TOTS every year in walks.

Runner #4 Then there's Mr. Glickman. He's affectionately known as "Jack the Ripper." Every time he steps to the plate, Glickman carries with him the heaviest and longest bat available. Still, he pulls the ball down the third baseline on just about every swing. His problem, like the above players, is getting to first base before being thrown out.

So there you have it. Now, let's get on with the race.

In above photo, Sabalos (on the far left) got off to a good start, as did Glickman (2nd from the left), while Smarik (2nd from the right) stumbled out of the gate. On the far right, Katz took off slowly, but gained momentum as they headed from the third baseline to the finish line, which was predetermined to be the edge of the grass infield between first and second base.

The "Amazin' Race" took about eight seconds, maybe nine. Oh heck, let's make it an even 10 seconds.

The winner: Bobby Katz by a nose.

Smarik finished runner-up, Glickman held on for third with Sabalos finishing fourth.

There were no trophies issued -- just bragging rights for Mr. Katz.

The four speedsters will rest up and be back at it on Wednesday, the next scheduled TOTS' game.

Hats off to all four for a job well done.