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.
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