Jerry Stitt to be guest speaker at TOTS' 2022 Luncheon/Awards Ceremony

 

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

TOTS 2022 annual luncheon slated for April 21 at the Sonoran Stables Dance Hall

Guest speaker: Jerry Stitt (former Wildcat player and Wildcat assistant coach and head coach) 

Come on down!

The 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) have had to put their annual luncheon and award ceremonies on hold the past two years, due to the coronavirus.

But not anymore.

On Thursday --April 21 -- the TOTS and their friends and their family members will head for the pass and turn their baseball cleats in for a pair of boots and maybe a little dancin' as the organization, in its 55th season, will hold the event, beginning at 11:30 AM, inside the Sonoran Dance Hall, located at 4231  S. Pauline Lane.

The dance hall is located off Harrison Road, between Golf Links Road and Irvington (access off East Millmar Road).

Dirt parking will be adjacent to the horse stables.  Cowboy and cowgirl boots are optional. No one is going to boot you out if you have on dress shoes or sneakers!

The meal is being catered by the TOTS' own Greg Seader, who just happens to own Jethros Restaurant and Bar (Broadway and Camino Seco). A little plug for Mr. Seader is only fair. Main course options -- Herb Baked Chicken and a New York Strip Steak. Both will be served with green onion and cheese mashed potatoes, sautéed carrots and zucchini with dinner rolls.

That's plenty of food for a hungry cowboy or cowgirl...and plenty of grub for an old-time baseball player, too!

Guest speaker for the event will be Jerry Stitt (pictured above, back in his playing days, and below, as a Wildcat coach and head coach). Stitt was inducted into the Pima County Hall of Fame in 2002.

Stitt was involved in the University of Arizona baseball program for more than 27 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He mentored 59 position players that were drafted by major league teams and he helped Arizona win NCAA Division 1 championships in 1980 and 1986. As head coach, he led the Wildcats to back-to-back winning seasons from 1997-99.

Stitt was one of the finest baseball players in the University of Arizona's long and distinguished history in the sport. A first-team All-America centerfield in 1968 under Coach Frank Sancet, Jerry led the team in hitting with a .366 average. He also earned All Western Athletic Conference and all District 7 honors in 1967 and 1968.

As a senior, Jerry led the Cats in batting and steals. Following his senior season, Jerry was drafted in the 32nd round by the Cleveland Indians. He played in the Tribes' minor league system for three years before returning to Tucson to teach and coach.

One of the premier hitting coaches in baseball, Jerry joined the Arizona coaching staff in 1978. The offensive numbers Arizona put up during his tenure as a hitting coach were staggering. His first team in 1979 set three Six-Pac records for that season and Arizona posted the highest cumulative batting average among Pac-10 South schools in the 1900's.

In addition to his bachelor's degree in Education at UA , Jerry earned a master's in Education in 1973 and a doctoral degree in Education Administration in 1993. His doctoral dissertation presented the case for aligning athletic department goals and objectives with the educational and social mission of our universities.

Stitt continues to support the University of Arizona Baseball program and trains aspiring players.

The TOTS will announce the 2021 Sportsman of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards at the luncheon. 

Note: There will be no charge to members or their guest provided our number falls below 75 individuals. Should we exceed 75, the TOTS committee may elect a small fee to help cover the cost. There will be a signup sheet at the ball park or you can email Mike Dawson or Pete Peters. Please note the number in your party and if you will be bringing a dessert.