Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)
60-and-over baseball
Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell, 66, joined the Tucson Old Timers in 2010, and by his own admission he has a stubborn streak. So when the doctors told him back in December that he needed double-bypass surgery, of course, he went through "the no way stage".
But eventually he listened to the doctors and he actually walked to the hospital and checked in for the surgery. The surgery occurred on Dec. 13, 2016.
Fast forward to Feb. 17, 2017, and Barzell is back on the field. Wearing a chest protector, just in case he gets a hard one hit to him, Barzell played his first game today at Udall Park -- just 66 days since his bypass surgery.
Barzell, who hails from Bronx, New York, is a tough cookie, a real battler on and off the field of play. So, it was understandable, by his teammates at least, that he wasn't going to let a little thing like heart surgery get in his way of playing baseball.
Lloyd went 1 for 2 today. He walked the first time up and played for Team Blue, who lost to Team White, 12-6. Tim Tolson led Team White with three hits in four trips to the plate, while Doc Thompson was the top hitter for Team Blue with a 2 for 2 day and a walk. Pigpen Price pitched all seven innings for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss, while Arnie "The Montana Kid" White picked up the win.
As for Barzell, he finds the chest protector a bit cumbersome and chances are it won't be long before he discards the apparatus. Barzell, who led the TOTS in hits in 2015 and 2016, now has his first hit in 2017. "I feel okay," he said, after today's game. "My ankle is a little sore from not running, but I'm happy to be back on the field and playing with the guys."
Barzell, a pitcher and a shortstop, is taking it slow and played an outfield position today. Chances are it'll be a while before he finds his way back to the mound or to an infield position.
Way to go, Lloyd. Glad to have you back.
Photo: Lloyd Barzell
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