A TOTS' Hall of Famer -- a mix of talent and longevity

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

It takes time to reach Hall-of Fame status with the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, an amateur baseball organization currently enjoying its 51st season.

A little bit of talent, longevity with the club...and age counts, too.

When you reach the above milestone with the club, you are old and undoubtedly own a list of injuries a mile long.

For example: An aging member of the TOTS who can still deal with basic arithmetic knows when his age plus his years of service with the club adds up to 80, then he's awarded the club's Hall of Fame Award.

The current list of 21st Century Hall of Famers includes a handful of current TOTS, along with a number of club members who have passed on. Just for the fun of it, here's a list and some are currently legends in their own mind.

Of course, the 60-somethings on the club have a long way to go before they too will be presented with the longevity award. In other words, it's an honor to be on the list, but the members are in no hurry to get there.

C -- Ron Petersen*

       Clarence Fieber

       Dick McAnally

       Ron Carlson*

      Mike Steele*

P -- DeLon "Doc" Thompson*

1B-  Brad Tolson (now retired and just turned 90)

       Floyd Lance*

      Jeff Helzel*

      Dave Rhoades*

2B   Billy Heiny*

3B   Danny "Pigpen" Price*

SS   Ed Rife

OF   Bob Daliege*

      Chico Bigham

      Carl Brutovsky

      Jerry Hamelin*

      Denny Leonard*

      Joe Aparicio*

     Arnie White*

     Bob Stofft*

     Dick Ducklow*

     Joe Dinich*

along with Associate members who are still with us:


    Eddie Eckert

    Art Ratdke

    Bob Royer

    Ed Seelbinder

    Mal Zwolinski

   Leon Glasshoffer

   Bob Katz

 

Newcomers to the list in 2019:

 
   Lloyd Barzell*

  Dennis Crowley*

  John Misiaszek*

*active players


Now there is a Century Award -- awarded to the player when his age plus years of playing time adds up to 100. The list is a short one with four active players:

Floyd Lance  (age 94, years of service 20 = 114)

Billy Heiny (age 90, years of service 22  = 112)

Joe Aparicio (age 85, years of service 21 = 106)

Denny Leonard (age 81, years of service 21 = 102)

Along with TOTS' Associates, now retired from the playing field:

Denny Heath (age 83, years of service 24 = 107)

Jerry Smarik (age 87, years of service 28 = 115)

Richard McCorkle (age 86, years of service 27 = 113)

Archie Burke (age 87, years of service 28 = 115)



TOTS' note:  Brad Tolson, 90, and a Hall of Famer and a Century Award winner (90 plus 28 years of service -- 118), passed his jersey on to his son, Tim, in 2012. Tim will be eligible for the Hall of Fame Award in five years. Time marches on!