Pete's dream

Tucson Old Timers

60-and-over baseball

Pete Peters is the manager of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers. One of his many goals this year is to obtain a container, an 8x20 box, if you will, which will house all of the organization's baseball equipment at Udall Park -- including a min-sized tractor. The main job of the tractor: to ease the pain of dragging the diamond before each scheduled game every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Right now the "dragging" is done by hand and the job is handled by the younger players on the 60-and-over team. Add triple digits to the mix in the middle of the summer and the job becomes a tough one no matter the age of the human pulley.

Peters is close to having his container. It could be delivered in three to four weeks. "It's going to be great having a storage unit big enough for all our gear and equipment." Peters said.

Peters is chomping at the bit to get his container so much so he's having dreams about it.

"The other night I had a dream the truck was backing into the park and who do you think was guiding  the truck in?"

Any member of the TOTS would be able to answer that question.

It was Chico Bigham.

Chico was the TOTS' favorite umpire, one of the organization's top players and a workhorse when it came to preparing the field at Udall for play. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Chico was up at the crack of dawn making sure his teammates had a smooth playing field to play on.

Chico passed away last October and he is still in the mind of all the members of the TOTS.

Especially, Pete Peters.

"It was as plain as day. The truck was backing in and there was Chico directing traffic."

Peters would be the first one to tell you that Mr. Bigham is upstairs and smiling down on the TOTS, getting a kick out of the pregame activities below. For years, Chico prepared the field hours before game time.

Peters adds with a smile, "Now we have anywhere from six to eight guys preparing the field."

Chico will always be missed by his teammates and never forgotten.


Photos: (top photo) Pete Peters in action on the field when he's not managing and (bottom photo) the man himself, Chico Bigham.