The Aging TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Are the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers getting older?

The amateur baseball organization has been around since 1968 and players in their 60s, 70s, 80s and even in their 90s have come and gone. Each one of them leaving their footprint -- their mark on the field of play. Legends of the game like Brad Tolson (photo below), now 92, who recently celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary in Tucson with his wife, Alice, and the organizations's numero uno scorekeeper Mal Zwolinski, who turns 84 in October and continues to pencil in all the runs, hits and errors every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from the dugout at Udall Park.

The TOTS have lost "a few good men" over the years. In recent times the TOTS have said their goodbyes to Clarence Fieber, Ed Rife, Dick McAnally, Jerry Smarik, Bobby Katz, Jim Pagels, Conrad Royskund, Carl Brutovsky, Chico Bigham, Don Wood and Mort Adkins -- all players who played two decades or more for the organization.

They were the heart of the Tucson Old Timers at one time or another.

Many more have retired from the field of play, but now grab their blue and white TOTS' hat and show up,  take a seat in the stands and cheer on their fellow TOTS. Men like Art Radtke, 83, Denny Heath, 85, Richard McCorkle, 88, Ed Seelbinder, 75, Eddie Eckert, 81, and Archie Burke, who turns 89 in September.

The TOTS even have an umpire corps -- three former players Denny Leonard, 84, Robert Royer, 84 and Jerry Hamelin, 81. They take their share of jibes and may be accused of having poor eyesight. Of course, everyone on the field has probably had cataract surgery at one time or another. 

The TOTS oldest players -- Billy Heiny, who turned 92 on August 5, 2021, and Floyd Lance, who turns 96 in September -- may show up at anytime, find themselves in the starting lineup and take their cuts (Billy actually played in two games and recorded three at bats in June).

The above are just a few of the 250 players who have logged their share of at bats, drilled their share of singles and even hit a few dingers over the fence since the organization began play at Himmel Park in 1968.

On the field at Udall Park the games continue three days a week with a new flock of players -- some are  newcomers, some are rookies and some are settling in with the realization they are now a middle aged TOT -- the ones who need to renew their driver's license every five years and could be labeled a Silver Sneaker. No way! They are a member of the TOTS and they wear baseball shoes and swing aluminum bats (wood, too!).

The coronavirus the past 16 months has put a dent into the active TOTS' roster. Most of the players who take the field regularly are between the ages of 63 to 79. The young men between 63 and 69 battle right along with the 70-somethings. At times, it's hard to distinguish the difference in their age. At this point each player is busy trying to get the other man out and win the game. No one cares how old you are.

In fact, there may come a time in the near future when the 60-year-olds take on the 70-year-olds for bragging rights.

This summer, the oldest active player to take the field has been Doc Thompson, who turns 79 on August 18, and is one of the top pitchers on the club, while the second oldest is 76-year-old Danny "Pigpen" Price. The 70-somethings could field a competitive lineup with the likes of Mike Steele, 73, David Byars, 73, Bobby Daliege, 73, Pete Peters, 72,  Joe Opocensky, 71, Ron Carlson, 74, Miguel Urtaza, 79, Bobby Stofft, 82, Dennis Crowley, 71, Ted Davis, 70, John Misiaszek, 72, Danny Boxberger, 70, Brad Vermeer, 70, Brack Whitaker, 75, and Rob Morse, 74.

But then again.

The youngsters are pretty good, too. Relatively speaking, the 60-somethings can take the field with the likes of pitchers Mike Dawson, Pete Maldonado and Ernesto Escala; catchers Ron Ryan and Roger Beebe; infielders John Mathews, Tim Tolson, Jesse Ochoa, Ray Garcia and Rick Bitzer; outfielders Ken Nebesny, Reed Palmer, Tim Boyd, Bobby Long, Randy Livingston, David Hurley and Greg Seader.

All of the above are a group of guys who play for the love of the game. This author may have missed a few names. I apologize for that.  The TOTS have 50 players on the roster, but this year, due to the coronavirus, the excessive heat and an abnormal monsoon, has limited the turnout to 27 to 30 players this summer. Still, a good turnout, if you take everything that has been thrown their way into account.

The TOTS are getting older.  Undoubtedly, there are a few 59 year olds out there chomping at the bit to turn 60 and play for the best amateur baseball organization in Tucson. The best baseball club in the state of Arizona, or the country for that matter.

Go, TOTS!