Remembering catcher Richard McAnally

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) lost another teammate on December 18, 2015. Richard McAnally, 83, passed away.

McAnally was one of the top TOTS catchers for over 18 years. He became a TOT in 1994 and put his catching gear away in 2012, but he continued to show up at the ballpark the last few years and root for his teammates. In recent years, he spent his winters in Tucson and his summers in Flagstaff. In fact, Richard showed up at Udall Park and sat in the dugout last Friday morning. He passed away just hours later near his home in Tucson.

The following was published in Richard's hometown newspaper, The Casa Grande Dispatch, just six years ago, a few days after being inducted into his high school of fame.

Richard McAnally graduated from Casa Grande Union High School in 1950. He played football and baseball all four years, lettered all four years, competed in oratorical contests, and went to Boys State his junior year. He sang in the boys' chorus and was in the Honor Society his junior and senior years, the last year as president. He was freshman council representative, sophomore vice president, and senior council representative, and he joined the dramatics club his senior year.

McAnally attended the University of Arizona, played varsity baseball for the Wildcats, and was admitted to the UA College of Law. He was called to active duty in the Army and given a permanent assignment as a Special Courts-martial council in Fort Knox. After leaving the service, he worked full-time as a claims adjuster for an insurance company while he completed his law degree. He began practicing law in 1959 and was a personal injury trial attorney before his retirement in 1994. His favorite case was brought pro bono against an insurance company that refused to provide a heart transplant until he stepped in.

After retiring, he became judge pro tempore when Pinal County Superior Court Judge Frank Coxon retired. Today, he assists as a settlement conference judge in civil cases. At age 77, he plays baseball as a catcher with the Tucson Old Timers 60-plus team.

Judge Gilbert Figueroa called McAnally an "excellent example that dedication, perseverance, and plain old hard work do lead to great success."

Like so many members of the TOTS, Richard was a success story in life long before he ever became a Tucson Old Timer. Rest in Peace, Richard. You will be missed.

The family of Richard McAnally held a Celebration of Life on the infield at Udall Park. On a beautiful spring day, tables and chairs were set up across the infield from first base to third. Baseball memorabilia, including boxes of crackerjacks, were on the tables.

As an added note, Richard was a teammate of another TOTS Hall of Famer, Brad Tolson, in 1951 when they both played for the University of Arizona Wildcats.

Note: This story is from the desk of TOTS historian Dan Price.