A conversation with "Father Time"

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

From the desk of an old-timer, Pigpen Price...

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers have fielded baseball teams since 1968 -- 52 seasons to be exact.  A member of the amateur old-time baseball club has one age requirement -- the player must be at least 60 years of age.

So just when is "the peak season" for a TOT.

The consensus is somewhere between the age of 62 and 63.

After that the baseball skills take a downward turn. Making a play at 75 is harder than making a play at 62. It just stands to reason. The muscles, the bones and of course the mental sharpness deteriorates.

But, the TOTS play on. The club's youngest TOT is 62. By the way, Happy Birthday to Steve Foster, who turned 62 earlier this week on Monday, March 2. Steve, you are now added to the club's birthday log: Happy Birthday, young man. Of course, hats off to our oldest player 94-year-old Floyd Lance (both players pictured above).

"I remember my first two seasons with the TOTS." Pigpen Price recalls." It was 2008 and 2009 and I was faster than a speeding bullet. Well, not really. Still, after 13 seasons, not one teammate has ever used the word speed and my club nickname in the same sentence."

When a TOT refers to the 60s as his best years, he's not referring to the 1960s, but to his time with the TOTS when hits came in bunches and spectacular fielding plays were the norm.

With an active roster of 45 players, the youngsters go about their position on the field, or their appearances at the plate, knowing full well "Father time" has an eye on them.

By the time a TOT reaches the mid 70s (and again, not the year, but the age), he now has a daily conversation with Father Time.

"How long can I keep going?" the TOT asks.  "I have a new pain, somewhere between my head and my feet, what is that all about, or why is first base so far away?"

To be honest, I've never met Father Time, but in my mind I imagine him as a dead ringer for Moses. His voice is pleasant and his lengthy white beard twirls in the breeze. Yet, you get the sense, in the middle of a conversation, that he knows what lies ahead and he knows exactly where your are going.

But for now, Father Time sits on his bench on Cloud Nine, and keeps tabs on the game below at Udall Park where a bunch of crazy old men play America's favorite pastime.

Father Time watches the game below. He takes time out of his busy schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to keep an eye on his Triple-A team, the TOTS, as they complete yet another seven-inning game. At the same time, through a clearing in the fluffy white clouds, he can see an all-star team at play inside Heaven's gate. Among the heavenly all stars are catchers Clarence Fieber and Richard McAnally; pitcher Chico Bigham and shortstop Ed Rife -- all TOTS' hall-of-famers, making "the play of the day" and leading their team to victory -- all of them with bright smiles and each one of them not looking a day over thirty.

Over 250 old-timers have donned a TOTS' uniform over the years. All of them have left their mark and all of them will be remembered as time marches on.

On March 21, 2020 the TOTS will be part of the opening ceremonies of the Sabino Canyon Little League at Udall Park. It'll be a night game of sorts for the TOTS with the first pitch slated for 5:30 p.m. The Little Leaguers will play on the two fields adjacent to the TOTS' home field.

The young and the old will be there, together.

You gotta love baseball.