Pete's container in place at Udall

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

It's been a long time coming and managers Pete Peters and Jesse Ochoa have been waiting the arrival of a new container to house all the baseball equipment for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

The wait is over.

The container was delivered today (see photo).

"All that's left is to do a little painting," Peters said.

The next piece of equipment for the organization will be a tractor to make the dragging of the field a little easier. Also the shed will be named Chico's Place in honor of Chico Bigham, who passed away last winter. Chico took care of the field and all the maintenance for many years without a shed or a tractor.

Hats off to the team managers and to Reed Palmer for his assistance in dealing with the City of Tucson.

77-year-old Hamelin makes the play of the day

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Jerry Hamelin, 77, has been a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers since 2002 and in 16 years he's made his share of plays and has had his share of hits. Things have slowed down a bit as he closes in on the back side of seventy.

Hamelin doesn't play every game with the current TOTS as a hand full of injuries keeps him from the ball field at times. But today, Hamelin played right field for Team White and helped snuff out a Team Blue rally in the top of the fifth inning.

Team Blue had just regained the lead with a three-run inning as they turned a 5-4 deficit into a 7-5 lead. Team Blue was on their way to adding more runs when Hamelin moved to his right and snared a line drive.

The play allowed Team White to regroup in the bottom of the fifth as Big John Mathews doubled in two runs to highlight a five-run inning and Team White went on to a 10-7 win. Pete Maldonado went the distance on the mound for Team White and picked up the win.

Lefty Dennis Crowley suffered the loss despite going the distance. Reed Palmer had two hits and knocked in three runs for the losing team. Brad Vermeer, Mike Dawson and Mathews collected two hits apiece for the winners. Mathews was the big RBI-man on the day for Team White with three runs-batted-in.

It was another muggy day. More of the same is expected on Wednesday and Friday. Game time for both games: 9 a.m.

Photo: Hamelin, who maded the "play of the day" to boost Team White to a  10-7 win.

Diamondbacks slip out of first place at all-star break

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks win 2 of 3 in Atlanta but lose the finale 5-1 today and slip out of first place in the NL West -- 1/2 game behind the LA Dodgers who beat the LA Angels 5-3 today and own a 53-43 record, while the Diamondbacks are six percentage points back with a 53-44 record.

The Colorado Rockies head for the all-star break at 51-45 and are just two games out of first place in the NL West, while the San Francisco Giants are just four back at 50-48.

Should be a wild second half.

The "Top Guns" on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

It's no secret who the "Top Guns"  are on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

A quick rule of thumb points to the "young men" who are currently on the TOTS' roster, a amateur senior baseball organization which is currently celebrating 50 years of existence.

The top-10 bangers:

Reed Palmer, 61, a 6-foot-6 inch giant lefty who broke the TOTS' home run record in 2017 and is well on his way to another record-breaking year in 2018.

Tim Tolson, 65, another big lefty who is second on the club in homers and the son of Brad Tolson, a Tucson Old Timers Hall of Famer.

 DeLon "Doc" Thompson, 75, A hard-hitting right-handed batter who played professionally in the mid-60s. Sprays the ball to all fields and hits well with men on base.

John Mathews, 62, a local boy who consistently hits the ball off the fences. It's just a matter of time until the big fella clears the fences.

Tim Boyd, 62, a hard-hitting right-handed batter who still works for a living. Check back after retirement in three years and watch him light up the scoreboard.

Joe Opocensky, 68, another one of those left-handed batters who swings for the fences...known more for his booming singles and doubles.

David Byars, 70, one of the hardest hitting players on the club...a pull hitter who is currently recovering from two knee surgeries. Watch out when he returns he may join the home run hitters.

Lloyd "Baby Bull" Barzell, 67, one of the toughest outs at the plate...a contact hitter who consistently collects over 200 hits a season.

Mike  Steele, 70, recently retired, the Tucson native is playing full time and is lighting up the scoreboard. A contact hitter who sprays the ball to all fields.

Mike Dawson, 63, A newcomer who is turning heads with his play on the field and at the plate. Another local boy who is settling in with the TOTS.

The current top 40 Tucson Old Timers

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

The total number of members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers is edging closer to the 100 mark with four players currently on the waiting list to become new members. There are 40 players who are considered everyday players -- included in the list are a hand full of seasonal players.

The active players and their age group are:

60-and-over (20)

Dennis Crowley
Tim Tolson
Mike Dawson
Reed Palmer
Tim Boyd
Lloyd Barzell
Pete Peters
John Mathews
Jesse Ochoa
Joe Opocensky
Mike Taylor
Pete Maldonado
John Miaiaszek
Brad Vermeer
Roger Beebe
Phil Gordon
Don Jorgenson
Ted Davis
Ron Ryan
Danny Boxberger

70-and-over (15)

Bob Daliege
Ron Carlson
Ron Petersen
Mike Steele
DeLon "Doc" Thompson
David Byars
Dave Rhoades
Danny "Pigpen" Price
Bill Mishler
Arnie White
Dick Ducklow
Jerry Hamelin
Bob Stofft
Miguel Urtaza
Rob Morse

80-and-over (4)

Billy Heiny
Bob Royer
Joe Aparicio
Denny Leonard

90-and-over

Floyd Lance

Skill levels vary with the ageless TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Where do you go to find 60, 70, 80 and even 90-year-old baseball players play America's favorite pastime?

Tucson Udall Park, that's where.

Three days a week, year in and year out, the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers play the game of baseball. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday the players find a parking spot at Udall, get out of their cars, grab their gear and head for the ball field.

How can players with an age gap of 20 years and in one rare case 32 years of difference in birth dates, mix on the same ball field at the same time? It takes a certain kind of attitude -- a hidden agreement, if you will, a camaraderie among a group of men who love to play the game of baseball at any age.

Too see how it works all it takes is get up early, show up at Udall Park and watch the TOTS in action.

For two hours, sometimes three, the TOTS battle among themselves -- two teams battling to the finish giving their all in hopes of a win, but win or lose they return to their cars, toss their equipment into the trunk and head home, only to return in 48 hours and do it all over again.

The TOTS' organization is 50 years old. Founded in 1968, the TOTS live on with an understanding that a 60-year-old will soon be 70 and a 70-year-old will soon be 80 and an 80-year-old will soon be 90. Each fly ball, each ground ball, every out is treated the same way, no matter the age of the hitter, or the fielder.

The phenomenon works and has worked since 1968.

The older players require one thing.

Do not let up.

If you are a 64-year-old pitcher you throw your best pitch to an 84-year-old. Anything less is disrespectful. If you are a 60-year-old third baseman, you treat a two-hopper the same way no matter the age of the batter. You throw him out.

Most of the current TOTS (a roster of 45, with anywhere from 20 to 24 players at every game) is comprised of 60 percent 60 year olds, 30 percent 70 year olds and 10 percent 80 and above -- including one 92-year-old.

Of course, every player is battling within himself as well. For example:  A 70-year-old still thinks he can play at the same skill level as a 60-year-old and he will do his best to do so.

The TOTS never give up.

Hats off to the TOTS and the organization.

They got it right.

Tolson hits 3-run homer

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Thunder Tim Tolson found the trees again.

Tolson hit his second home run of the season at Udall Park this morning -- a three-run shot over the right field fence. The blast came in the third inning but it wasn't enough to give Tolson and Team Blue a win as Team White prevailed 10-5 in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

"It's been a while," Tolson said.

Tolson hit one earlier in the year and now has two round-trippers to his credit, but during the last few months the hard-hitting lefty has had to settle for his share of hard-hit singles, a few ground-rule doubles and an occasional triple.

But today's long ball was a no-doubter!

Doc Thompson and Reed Palmer combined for four hits and five RBI to lead Team White to an easy win, while right-hander Bob Daliege pitched a complete game to take home the pitching victory. Mike Dawson went the distance for Team Blue and was saddled with the loss.

Team Blue's Bill Mishler, 70, took a tumble in the fourth inning on a force play at third base and was forced to leave the game. Mishler returned and grounded out in his final at bat, but felt like something was not quite right as he reached the first base bag.  "I might have strained something just below the shoulder blade," says Mishler, who was already nursing a leg injury.

Injuries are a norm with the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers.

Just ask Team White's 73-year-old second baseman Pigpen Price, who took a tumble of his own in the third inning when he misjudged a high fly ball off the bat of Dawson. "I've been nursing a hamstring pull for a month now and my legs just don't do what I ask," Price said. "It's embarrassing at times."

The play at second base drew a few laughs from the Team Blue dugout. "I went down and the ball hit me in the back of the leg," Price added. "It happens when you are 70-and-over and your mind says one thing and your legs have a total different idea."

One thing is for sure, Mishler and Price will be back next week for another try.

It's the TOTS' way.

Photo: Thunder Tim Tolson

Diamondbacks drop out of 1st in NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks drop 2 of 3 at Colorado and fall out of first place in the NL West as the LA Dodgers squeeze into the top spot. The Diamondbacks are 51-43, while the Dodgers sport a 51-42 record as the major league season edges closer to the all-star break.

The Diamondbacks head for Atlanta for three games with the Braves before returning home for the all-star break.

David Peralta leads the Diamondbacks with a .289 batting average and is the current leader in RBI with 53. Paul Goldschmidt leads the way in home runs with 21 and in hits with 98.

Team Blue rally falls short

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Team White  8  Team Blue  6

It was a battle between a bunch of tall old-timers at Udall Park today.

Team Blue had been chasing Team White for six innings and in the seventh inning Team Blue had their chance to the tie the game. Team Blue had scored a run and had runners at the corners with two out when hard-hitting Tim Boyd made his way to the plate.

Now down 8-6, Team Blue had one of their big men in the right place at the right time. Team White's 6-foot-6 right-hander Reed Palmer unleashed his next offering and tried to sneak a fastball by the 6-foot-2 Boyd.

The pitch was right down the middle. Boyd swung and hit a shot to third but right into the glove of Team White's third-sacker Joe Opocensky to end the game. Another competitive game against two 60-and-over baseball teams.

It was a classic matchup between the 61-year-old Palmer and the 62-year-old Boyd.

This time Palmer gets the pitching victory and another big fella, the 6-foot-4 left-hander John Mathews, was saddled with the loss. The 6-foot-1 Opocensky knocked in two of Team Blue's eight runs, while teammates Lloyd Barzell and Ron Petersen collected two hits apiece.

The "tall men" and the rest of the TOTS will be back in action on Friday at Udall Park, weather permitting. Game time: 9 a.m.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Boyd shuts down Team White

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Tim Boyd is a tall drink of water and when he pitches for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers he throws nothing but strikes. It's up to his opponent to hit the ball. Today they didn't.

Boyd carried a shutout into the fifth inning and allowed a lone run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Ron Carlson before giving away to reliever Bob Daliege.

Daliege allowed Team White two meaningless runs in the seventh and Team Blue rolled to a 11-3 win at Udall Park this morning. Boyd helped his own cause with a perfect 4 for 4 day, while teammate Lloyd Barzell also went 4 for 4.

It was hot and humid this morning, but the TOTS played through the heat in a two-hour, seven-inning game.

The TOTS return to Udall on Wednesday. Game time: 9 a.m.

Photo: Boyd, who went 4 for 4 at Udall Park today and was the winning pitcher.

Mathews top TOTS' hitter for June

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

June was a hot month and Big John Mathews was even hotter at the plate as he banged out 24 hits in 34 official plate appearances to lead the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers in hitting. His .706 batting average was tops on the club for all players who played in eight games or more.

Tim Boyd batted .750 but played in just four games (9 for 12), while Mathews played in all 11 games. Thunder Tim Tolson played in 10 games and finished second on the club with 19 hits and a .613  batting average, while Ron Ryan was third with 17 hits in 26 at bats for nine games of work and a .654 average.

Reed Palmer led the club in RBI with 16, while Mike Steele and Tim Tolson finished in a tie for second in runs-batted-in with 14. Mathews and Doc Thompson knocked in 12 runs apiece.

Eleven pitchers toed the rubber during the month of June and Bob Daliege led the pitching staff with three wins and only one loss. Joe Opocensky was next in line with two wins and one loss.

The TOTS head into July and another hot month. The TOTS play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Udall Park. Game time for all games is 9 a.m.

Photo: TOTS' first baseman John Mathews topped the club in hits for the month of June with 24.

Mathews, Dawson, Thompson combine for 11 hits in TOTS' win

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

John Mathews, Mike Dawson and Doc Thompson combined for 11 hits as Team Blue edged Team White 11-9 at Udall Park today in a 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers game.

It was a another hot one. The  dog days of summer are upon us, but the sultry weather can't keep the TOTS from playing baseball.

Team White had three players go 3 for 4. Lloyd Barzell doubled and had two RBI, Joe Opocensky knocked in three runs and had two doubles, while Dennis Crowley also knocked in three runs.

As for the winners, Mathews had a perfect 4 for 4 day with two doubles and five RBI, Dawson batted five times and had four hits --including a double, while Thompson chipped in three hits.

Pete Maldonado picked up the pitching victory and Opocensky suffered the loss.

The TOTS will take July 4th off and return to Udall on Friday. Game time: 9 a.m.