Thompson's 11 consecutive hits may be a modern-day record with the TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

De Lon "Doc" Thompson, 72, had quite the week at the plate from April 27 to May 1 with the TOTS.

In fact, Thompson may have broken the "modern day" record for consecutive hits, going 11 for 11 before grounding into a force out on his 12th at bat.

The club's statistician, Floyd Lance, has been keeping the hitting stats since 2003 and he doesn't recall a player banging out 11 consecutive hits. "I'm pretty sure that's a record," says Lance, who has kept not only monthly but yearly individual hitting records for the club for over 12 years. Between 1968 (the organization's first year) and 2002 individual hitting stats were not kept on a yearly basis.

Records are nothing new for Thompson. He already owns the club's single-season home run record of 19, set in 2006. Thompson, who has been with the TOTS since 2003, has a career batting average of .640 (through 2014).

Getting double digit hits in the same week (club plays just three days a week) is hard to do. The TOTS play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park. The norm for plate appearances per game is three, maybe four, plus the fact there are times when each team will field four, five and even six outfielders on occasion (due to a heavy turnout). In short, a hard-hit ball is bound to find a glove...sometimes.

Congrats, Doc.

Photo: Doc Thompson at bat, blasting one of his 11 consecutive hits.