60-and-over baseball
Dick Ducklow, 76, has been a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers since 2007. Ducklow is one of a hand full of seasonal players on the roster and every winter he leaves his hometown of Spring Valley, Wisconsin to spend a few months in the Valley of the Sun and play baseball for the TOTS.
Upon his arrival, Ducklow, who turns 77 on December 19, works hard to clear the cobwebs, so to speak, and get back into baseball shape. Sometimes, it takes a while for the former battery salesman to square up the offerings from the TOTS' pitching staff.
Today, Ducklow got it going.
Ducklow went 3 for 4, scored twice and drove in two runs to lead Team White to a 12-1 win at Udall Park over Team Bue. Ducklow's hard hitting allowed pitcher Pete Maldonado, 66, from da Bronx, NY., to cruise to an easy win. Maldonado hurled all seven innings, allowing just one earned run.
The weather was almost perfect with the temperature reaching 60 degrees by the end of the game. A slight breeze kept it cool, but it didn't seem to bother Ducklow, who wore shorts.
"It seems warm to me," said Ducklow, who owns a beautiful home in Spring Valley with plenty of yard to mow during the spring, summer and fall. "Right now my yard is covered in snow."
Quite different from a December day in Tucson with nothing but blue skies and a comfortable temperature for Ducklow so he can show up in a Green Bay T shirt and shorts.
"Yes, I'm a Packer fan," says Ducklow, proudly. Spring Valley is 230 miles west of Lambeau Field.
Ducklow loves being at home in Spring Valley where he spent many years in the battery production business. But he also enjoys his time with the TOTS. Especially, when the hard-hitting right-hander puts the hits together like he did today. "I'm strictly a pull hitter."
And yes. Today all his hits dropped safely in front of Team Blue's left fielder Brad Vermeer.
Ducklow and the rest of the TOTS return to action on Wednesday at Udall. Game time: 10 a.m.
Photo: Ducklow
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