If the glove fits keep it forever

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Just about every member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers love their baseball gloves...their favorite mitt -- the one with the soft pocket, the one with a history behind it. Some oil their gloves regularly, some even stick their mitt into the oven for 30 seconds, whatever it takes to soften the leather.

Some of the players keep their mitt for years, others like to keep up with the times and purchase the newest Rawlings or Wilson at the local sporting goods store every year.

And some of the old timers who play for the TOTS hang on to their mitts forever.

Take 85-year-old Jerry Smarik for example.

Jerry is the third oldest TOT. He hails from Detroit, Michigan. He's married to his wife, Sharon. They celebrate 60 years of marriage in May. They've had quite the journey together. They've raised six children -- all grown up and away from home, raising their own children and making their own way through life.

Jerry loves to talk about his family, his days in the Navy, his many years as a U.S. Postman, delivering mail in Tucson for more than 30 years. Some days his memory just isn't there. "It comes and goes," he says.

What he does remember is baseball. He's been with the TOTS for over 25 years. He has over 1,400 hits and over 4,000 at bats and has the record well in hand for playing the most career games. His teammates call him the "iron man" -- a TOT since 1991.

And like most of his teammates, Smarik has his share of baseball equipment and paraphernalia, dating back to the early 1930s.  One of his most cherished pieces of baseball equipment is an old catcher's mitt -- a gift from his father in 1947.

The mitt is still in the family. In fact, Jerry brought it to the ball park today. "All my kids used this mitt," Jerry said, after the game this morning at Udall Park (see above photos of Jerry and his mitt).

Jerry proudly showed off the old leather glove.

He put his left hand in his mitt. It fit perfectly.

Just like Jerry's life has been.