TOTS Cuttler enjoys the best of both worlds

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Gary Cuttler, one of the newest members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, hails from Linden, New Jersey. He spends part of the year in his hometown playing softball and in the winter months in Tucson playing baseball.

The New Jersey native, who turns 68 in December, sold his dental practice a few years back, bought a second home in Tucson, and joined the TOTS in 2021.

Cuttler is not new to the game of softball or baseball. The Linden newspaper photo below was taken in 1972 and shows Gary playing shortstop during a high school game in Linden.

"I've played sports all my life," Cuttler said as he reminisced in the dugout Monday after a TOTS game, recalling all his years in New Jersey on softball, baseball, and soccer fields.

He returns to Linden to play on his slow-pitch softball team from April through August. "It's hard to give it up. I've been playing in the softball league for 40 years."

By mid-September, Gary heads back to Tucson and joins the TOTS. But, instead of seeing a high-arching slow pitch, he steps into the batter's box and awaits a sizzling fastball until late March when the heat returns to the Arizona desert floor.

For sports enthusiasts, it certainly seems like Cuttler enjoys the best of both worlds.

Note: Cuttler has little trouble in his transition between sports. In his last two games with the TOTS, Gary has gone 7 for 9 for a blistering .778 batting average. For the month of October, Gary played in six games, batted 14 for 21 (.667), scored nine runs, and finished the month with 10 RBI.

Photo credits: (top) by Dan Price, TOTS historian, (bottom) Courtesy of Bobby Cole Photo Archives.

While I was away...

 From the desk of Dan Price

Arizona Wildcats Football

While I was away playing baseball at the MSBL World Series, my Arizona Wildcats had a bye week and then lost Saturday to USC, 45-37. The offense played well, but the defense just couldn't keep the Trojans out of the endzone -- even at Arizona Stadium.

Three touchdown passes from Jayden de Laura to Dorian Singer were a thing of beauty, a nice touchdown run from Michael Wiley and three field goals from Tyler Loop accounted for the Wildcats scoring.

Arizona falls to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in Pac-12 play, while the Trojans up their record to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference. 

Next up for the Wildcats: at No. 14 Utah on Saturday.

Major League World Series

I missed most of both World Series games because I was just plain tired after playing in the Senior World Series in Phoenix this past week. So, we are even, I see, with the Philadelphia Phillies winning Game 1 by a score of 6-5 and the Houston Astros winning Game 2, 5-2. So, two games are in the books at Houston, and now it's off to Philly for Game 3 on Monday.

Hopefully, I can find a recliner and sit back and enjoy.

A story I cannot confirm or deny

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

My post-game story

 

I was the last of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers to depart from the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, I was bruised and battered after a long week of play that included four nine-inning games and my finale on Friday afternoon, which was limited to seven innings due to a run rule that left me scurrying away from Fitch Park in Mesa, Arizona.

I checked out of the hotel on Saturday morning and headed for the Cracker Barrel in Mesa to meet up with a high school chum who had shown up to watch me play against the St. Thomas Hurricanes last Thursday at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale.

My high school classmate, Gregg Kuntz, lives within walking distance of Talking Stick (well, I might be exaggerating, but a short drive, nonetheless) from the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies.

At the age of 77, I again didn't bring home a championship ring at the senior world series. Still, I felt I had accomplished something by just playing in the prestigious event held every October throughout the Phoenix area at all the major league spring training grounds, which included 3,000 players and close to 300 teams from all over the country.

My legs were aching as I waited for Gregg and our 9 AM meeting. I was a little early, so I sat in a rocker (which is very appropriate), and a man on a bicycle showed up, took off his helmet, and found a rocking chair next to mine.

He said, and I'm not exaggerating here, that he had just arrived in Mesa, Arizona, after a 60-day bike ride from Seattle.

I shook my head. He said his name was Ed Hlebak, and he was 57 years old. Then, quickly, I stopped complaining about the pain in my legs after my five grueling games at the senior world series.

As I said in the headline at the top of this story, I cannot confirm or deny the story of the man and his bike. However, I found a photo on the internet of the same bike parked outside a Flagstaff establishment along Route 66.

Mr. Hleback was en route to Florida but needed repairs on his bike and just happened to be at the Cracker Barrel. Now, I have a few skills left as an investigative reporter, even at my advanced age, so I got busy on my laptop and discovered this gentleman had family in Mesa and lived not too far from the Cracker Barrel.

The repairs on the bike were extensive, so my buddy Gregg reached into his billfold and donated a few bucks to the man who had just arrived from Seattle and was heading for Florida -- once the repairs to the bike were in order, that is.

Inside the Cracker Barrel, the two 1963 classmates from Tucson Catalina High School sat down for breakfast and a meeting that lasted nearly two hours as we discussed anything and everything about our lives, hopes and dreams, accomplishments, and failures. It was a pleasant experience and an enjoyable one. And we hope to do it again when he ventures to Tucson, not on a bike, but by car. Gregg, of course, is also 77.

Getting back to Mr. Hlebak for a moment. He said his family ventured to the United States from the Czech Republic and ended up in Youngstown, Ohio. The pleasant gentleman sat back in the Cracker Barrel rocker and said his bike was an Eazy Sports Racer and a recumbent where you just sit back and relax all the way from Seattle.

Hlebak also said he worked on a destroyer in the Navy for 13 years. There was more to the story, but Gregg showed, and we had more important things to discuss. We finally said goodbye to our second waitress two hours later, left the table, and headed through the main entrance. We noticed Mr. Hlebak, who was still sitting in the rocker. We waved our goodbyes. I hope to see Gregg soon, and I'd love to run into Mr. Hlebak one of these days and get the rest of the story.

For now, I'll shake my head, return home and rest up. It's been an enjoyable week.

Photos: 1) A bike parked outside a Flagstaff establishment along Route 66. 2) Mr. Hlebak and his bike outside the Cracker Barrel in Mesa, and 3) Catalina High School classmates Gregg Kuntz and Danny "Pigpen" Price.

MSBL World Series Update: The return home

 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

A week ago, 10 members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (TOTS) packed their bags and headed for the 35th Men's Senior Baseball League World Series -- the prestigious event held every October in the Phoenix area and includes long and sometimes grueling three-hour games at many of the Major League spring training facilities throughout the spacious valley of the sun.

Close to 3,000 amateur ball players, ranging in age divisions from 18-and-over to 75-and-over, converge on the city and hustle from their respective hotels each morning and head out to sites as far west as Surprise and as far east to the edge of Mesa at the ball fields at Red Mountain Park, near the legendary and historic Superstition Mountains.

The headquarters of the annual event is Tempe Diablo Stadium, located a stone's throw southwest of what is referred to by the residents of Phoenix as 'the curve' on Interstate 10.

The participants play their hearts out for the love of the game. But, eventually, the excitement is over for the players. They must return to their hometown, take a collective deep breath, and rest after a grueling five, six, seven, and in some cases, eight games if a team advances to the finale in their age group. Besides the glory of winning it all, the winning players on each divisional championship team are sized for a world series ring, signifying a job well done.

The players from the TOTS included Ernesto Escala, Bob Long, Bob Daliege, Tim Tolson, John Mathews, Sam Dean, Mike Dawson, Larry Abramson, Randy Livingston, and Danny "Pigpen" Price.

Sadly, Escala was forced to return home on Day 1 with a shoulder injury that required surgery while his Toros teammates played on.

The Toros went on to a 5-0 record in round-robin play in the 70-and-over division but were ousted in the first round of the playoffs. However, a great showing by the Tucson boys as they came within one game of the finals.

The Toros, playing in the 65-and-over Cactus division this week, finished with a 4-2-1 record, winning one playoff game before losing in the second round to a team that made the finals, the Inland Angels.

The Angels (6-2) lost the title on Saturday morning to the Chicago Central Northstars, 12-4.

Daliege and Price were the last two TOTS standing late Friday afternoon at Fitch Park in Mesa as both players found themselves on the losing end of blowout games. Daliege's ball club, the New England Red Sox (1-4), had high hopes of returning to the playoffs again this year but received the bad news that their ace pitcher, former major leaguer Bill "Spaceman" Lee, would not be available to play. A couple of crucial injuries followed, and the Red Sox scrambled to field enough players to complete their run at the senior world series.

As for Price and his Puget Sound team, they finished 1-4 in the round-robin games and had the pleasure of facing the Mudville 9 in their final game at Fitch Park. The Mudville 9 (6-0), averaging slightly under 20 runs a game, won easily and cruised into the finals and take on Rhode Island (4-2) this morning at 9 AM at Temple Diablo, annex field #1.

Still, a good time not only for the "Tucson Boys" but for all the players at the MSBL World Series. This year players came all the way from Ireland to play in the event, along with teams from the Virgin Islands and Canada.

Photos: (at top) Awaiting his turn at bat Mike Dawson (14), infielder for the 65-and-over Tucson Toros; Danny Price (8), shown ripping a single to left, an infielder for the Puget Sound Aqua Sox; Joe Banner, from New Jersey, and Mike Morales, from Tucson, teammates on the New England Red Sox and the smiling Bob Daliege, the catcher, pitcher, infielder and outfielder for the Red Sox, who loves to play the game, especially the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

The 35th 2022 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series is in the books for the Tucson boys. Will there be another one down the road? If there is, they have a whole year to prepare for the next one -- in October of 2023.

The Tucson Boys are heading home from the MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Elimination Day for the Tucson Toros, New England Red Sox, and  the Puget Sound Aqua Sox

65-and-over Division

The Toros won the first-round game in the playoffs this morning 7-6 over the California Vets but lost Game 2 this afternoon 8-7 to the Inland Angels and are heading home after an outstanding effort this week at the MBL World Series, finishing 4-2-1.

73-and-over division

Both teams with players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers (New England Red Sox and Puget Sound Aqua Sox) lost by the 10-run rule this afternoon -- the Red Sox falling to Canada and the Aqua Sox losing to the unbeaten Mudville 9. As a result, both teams finished 1-4 for the week.

A final update and story on the senior world will follow on Sunday.

Photo: Tempe Diablo Stadium, headquarters for the 2022 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

There will be no joy in Mudville

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over Puget Sound Aqua Sox

There may be no joy against Mudville.

Unless the Puget Sound Aqua Sox (1-3) can jump on Mudville, get the lead, and hold it.

The Aqua Sox have been ahead in three of their four games but have found a way to relinquish the lead for good.

The Mudville 9 are 4-0 and have averaged 20 runs a game in their four outings at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series this week. The Mudville 9 is the only unbeaten team in the 73-and-over division and is the favorite to take the title.

The results at the MSBL headquarters at Tempe Diablo show the Aqua Sox with only 27 runs in their four games. The Aqua Sox have scored 36 runs as yesterday's loss was reported as a 16-1 score, when in actuality, the Aqua Sox held a 10-8 lead but gave up ten runs in one inning and lost 18-10. The bad inning included a couple of controversies, which caused enough confusion to mess up the game's flow.

St. Thomas capitalized. They didn't seem bothered about the delay in the game, but the Aqua Sox lost their momentum and now find themselves in seventh place in the standings.

The cards are stacked against the Aqua Sox, but this is baseball, and there is one more game to play. And if you look at the stats after all the corrections are made, it'll show the Aqua Sox with a nine-run scoring average. 

As Yogi Berra used to say, 'it ain't over till it's over.'

Note: The Aqua Sox take on Mudville at 2 PM today at Fitch Park in Mesa, Arizona. Danny "Pigpen" Price, 77, a long-time member and player on the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, plays for the Aqua Sox this week. Price, in four games, has played left field, right field, second base and third base.

New England, Puget Sound lose at MSBL WS and fall to 1-3

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

73-and-over division

Tucson boys -- Bob Daliege and Danny Price

The New England Red Sox and the Puget Sound Aqua Sox just can't get back on the winning side of the ledger at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series as both teams lose today at the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies.

New England lost to Oklahoma 15-1 to fall to 1-3, while a controversial game saw the St. Thomas Hurricanes score 10 runs in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind 18-10 win over Puget Sound.

The inning started with Puget Sound up 10-8, and the game was delayed due to controversy regarding the St. Thomas batting order. A protest was filed, and both teams are awaiting word on the result of the protest. As it stands, St. Thomas has its second win of the World Series, while Puget Sound would drop to 1-3 with one game left tomorrow at Fitch Park and needing a win for an outside shot at Saturday's playoffs.

New England's Bob Daliege played well defensively today but was 0 for 2 at the plate and is 5 for 11 in his four games at the World Series. Price went 2 for 4 today, scored a run, and knocked in a run while playing in left field to start the game, shortstop in the second inning, and then third base after a Puget Sound player was ejected for arguing a call at the plate. Price is 3 for 9 with six walks after four games.

An interesting day at the ballpark.

Puget Sound must face the unbeaten Mudville 9 tomorrow at Fitch Park in Mesa, while New England closes its five-game round robin against Canada. Both games are at 2 PM.

Toros' Balteirra tosses a one-hit gem at MSBL WS

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over division

Tucson Toros

Hard-throwing right-hander Roberto Balteirra threw a one-hit shutout at Mesa's Bell Bank Park today in the 65-and-over division of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series as the Tucson Toros won 9-0 over the Puget Sound Mariners.

The only hit came in the ninth inning on a slow roller to shortstop, and the throw to first was a split second late and ruined the not-hit bid.

Balteirra had plenty of support at the plate from the Tucson crew as Sam Dean was a perfect 3 for 3, Randy Livingston collected three hits, Bobby Long added a hit and an RBI, while Mike Dawson continued his hot hitting this week with two more hits.

According to Dawson, John Mathews did not pick up a hit but was robbed of one early in the game. The other player on the Toros' roster from the TOTS, reliever Larry "Wild Thing" Abramson, was not needed on the mound today.

The win clinched a spot in tomorrow's playoffs at Bell Bank Park. The time and opponent are to be announced later this evening.

Way to go, Toros!

Photo: Sam Dean, who caught and went 3 for 3 today.

New England, Puget Sound tied with 1-2 record at MSBL WS

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

October 26, 2022

73-and-over division

Games today at Bell Bank Park

Mesa, Arizona

Two members of the Tucson Old Timers -- Bob Daliege and Danny "Pigpen" Price --   played at Bell Bank Park this morning and were able to check out up close and personal the new 320-acre entertainment complex. 

The eight carpet-like baseball fields were in use today, as Daliege (left photo) caught for the New England Red Sox against St. Thomas, while Price, who is on the roster of the Puget Sound Aqua Sox, locked horns with the Oklahoma Dodgers and played right field and shortstop.

Good news for Daliege and New England as they edge St. Thomas 14-9 for their first win of the week and improve to 1-2, while Price and the Aqua Sox lose 17-2 to the Dodgers and fall to 1-2 for the week.

Daliege and Price move on to the Salt River Complex in Scottsdale tomorrow. New England takes on the Dodgers, while the Aqua Sox battle the St. Thomas Hurricanes. Game time for both games: 9:30 AM.

Today, Daliege had a good day at the plate with three hits in four trips to the plate, while Price went 1 for 3. Daliege is 5 for 10 after three days of work, while Price (below) is 1 for 5 with six walks, six runs scored, and two RBI.  

Not a good day for the Tucson Boys at the MSBL WS

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

October 25, 2022

65-and-over division

The day started out okay for the 65-and-over Tucson Toros as they trounced Arkansas 20-2 in the first game of a doubleheader in Tempe today, but the second game wasn't pretty as they lost 14-4 to the Inland Angels.

The split left the Toros with a 2-1-1 record as they take a day off before heading into their final round-robin game on Thursday at 12:30 PM against the Puget Sound Mariners at Bank Bell Park.

The Toros are third in their division and have a shot at the playoffs, especially if they can pick up that all-important third win over the Mariners.

73-and-over division

The New England Red Sox are able to field just 11 players the rest of the way in their division and a 19-2 loss today to the unbeaten Mudville 9 certainly complicates things if they wish to make a playoff run. The  Red Sox, who are without the services of their star pitcher and former pro ballplayer Bill "Spaceman" Lee this week, are down to just two pitchers -- Mike Morales, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, and Bob Daliege, who pitched today and was saddled with the loss.

New England (0-2) is scheduled to play St. Thomas on Wednesday at 9 AM at the new Bank Bell Park in Mesa.  

The Puget Sound Aqua Sox also dropped their first game of the senior world series today as they fall to Canada Red Deer, 14-11, to even their record this week to 1-1. The Aqua Sox are heading for Bank Bell Park in the morning for a 9 AM game against the Oklahoma Dodgers.

Danny "Pigpen" Price has had an interesting two games with the Aqua Sox. Price has walked five times and scored five runs in two games. Price said jokingly, "I guess they are scared to pitch to me."

The Aqua Sox are also hurting for pitching, and there's a rumor floating around that Price may toe the rubber either against the Dodgers on Wednesday or possibly St. Thomas on Thursday.

Go get 'em, fellas!

Photo: the first base bag at Tempe Diablo Stadium

Kansas City tops the NFL in offense

 National Football League

Week 7

Seven weeks into the NFL season and it is no surprise that Kansas City (5-2) owns the best offense in the land. The Chiefs are averaging slightly over 32 points a game, while defensively the Buffalo Bills (5-1) are leading the way. Buffalo, in six games, has allowed just 81 points, at 13.5 points per game.

Philadelphia (6-0) had a bye week and will head into Week 8 with the only unblemished record in the NFL.  

Who are the PSSBL Aqua Sox?

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

Puget Sound Aqua Sox

Just who are the Puget Sound Aqua Sox?

Well, they are a group of men who love to play the game of baseball, especially the MSBL World Series every October in Phoenix.

Close to 80 percent of the roster is from the Seattle area and includes gentlemen from all walks of life. In addition, there must be five fellas with a Ph.D. in one field or another; a writer from Tucson and a Veterinarian from New Jersey. Add to that a first baseman who has been playing the game of baseball since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.

"My dad had me batting left-handed at an early age," said Ken McGruther, the tall first baseman on the Aqua Sox and the only player on the roster from Florida.

McGruther teamed up with third baseman Danny "Pigpen" Price, who lives just over 100 miles away in Tucson, Arizona, for the final out in the top of the ninth in the Aqua Sox win over the Cal Vets yesterday. The Vets had scored three runs and were pulling away from the Aqua Sox.

"Ken (McGruther) did a nice stretch job, and we got the runner out to end the VET's ninth," Price added.

Down 12-8, Aqua Sox put together a furious comeback and scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth for a walk-off 13-12 win.

The Veterinarian, Paul Garbaccio,  provided the game-winning hit with a single to center. 

As for the emblem on the hat of the Aqua Sox: it's a frog. The Aqua Sox indeed went through leaps and bounds at Maryvale Park yesterday to secure a win.

What does PSSBL stand for? Well, that's easy; it stands for the Puget Sound Senior Baseball League, a group of old-timers ages 74 to 85 who live in Washington and play for the love of the game.

The Aqua Sox manager, Lucky Miller, has been playing in the Men's Senior Baseball League since the beginning of time, well, for quite a while, anyway. "It was a great game today, and we came out on top."

Did Miller make all the right moves today, or was he lucky?

We will find out Tuesday at Maryvale Park, the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers, as the Aqua Sox return to the scene of the crime, so to speak, to play Canada Red Deer at 2 PM in the second round of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series Update

*****Men's Senior Baseball League World Series *****

The Tucson Boys

73-and-over-division

Puget Sound Aqua Sox

The Puget Sound Aqua Sox scored five runs in the ninth inning for a come-from-behind 13-12 walk-off win over the Cal Vets today at Maryvale Park in an opening-round game at the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series.

Down 12-8, the Aqua Sox scored three runs on bases-loaded walks to pull within one run, and Danny "Pigpen" Price, from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, tied the game with a ground out to the second baseman. Paul Garbaccio, from Old Tappan, New Jersey, followed with a single to center for the walk-off win.

Price, who batted second in the lineup today, walked three times, scored two runs, and knocked in two runs.

"I had a good day," Price said after the game. "It's a new team for me (at the world series), and I was glad I could contribute."

Price and the Aqua Sox hope to make it two in a row tomorrow at the senior world series when they take on Red Deer from Canada in Maryvale at 2 PM.

New England Red Sox

The 73-and-over New England Red Sox lost a tough game 7-4 to Long Island this afternoon at Bank Bell Park in Mesa. Bob Daliege went 2 for 4 at the plate for New England and pitched three innings of scoreless ball.

The game was controversial as Mike Morales, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, was thrown out of the game for arguing balls and strikes. According to Daliege, that left the team with just enough players to complete the game. "We are not sure if Mike (Morales) is suspended for the next game or not," Daliege said.

The New England Red Sox are out in Goodyear tomorrow and play the Mudville 9 at 10 AM. Mudville beat St. Thomas from the Virgin Islands earlier today, 14-2.

Tucson Toros

65-and-over division

The Tucson Toros, after an opening-round win on Sunday, 9-0, over the St. Paul Saints, ended up in a tie, 12-12, today in Maryvale with the Canadian team from Red Deer. Mike Dawson was the big hitter for the Toros again today with a 3-for-3 day. He also doubled, scored twice, and had one RBI.

The Toros now must play a doubleheader on Tuesday at Tempe Diablo, field #1. The first game is at 9 AM against the Arkansas Diamonds, and then they take on the Inland Angels at 12:45 PM.

 

Get ready for the MLB World Series: The Astros and the Phillies

 Major League Baseball World Series

 Philadelphia Phillies vs. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros take all four games from the mighty Yankees as New York falls in Game 4 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium, 6-5.

The Phillies grab their spot in the World Series with a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of the NLCS, behind homers from Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper.

The two teams are penciled in. It should be fun!

65-and-over Tucson Toros shutout St. Paul 9-0 in MSBL WS opener

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

65-and-over division

Rudy Duarte, from the Tucson Old Pueblo Club, tossed the first six innings, while Larry Abramson, from the Tucson Old Timers, pitched three innings in relief as the Tucson Toros shutout the St. Paul Saints, 9-0, in the opening-round game of the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series today at Red Mountain Park in Mesa.

The Toros pitching staff received plenty of support with the bats as Mike Dawson (photo above) banged out two hits and drove in four runs, while Randy Livingston contributed two hits and knocked in two runs. John Mathews and Sam Dean also knocked in a run apiece.

Tucson (1-0) will head for the Maryvale Sports Complex, the spring training home of the Milwaukee Brewers, for a 1:30 PM game Tuesday against the Canadian team from Red Deer.

Arnie

 Tucson Old Timers

60-and-over baseball

The Man from Montana

Arnie White

Arnie White has been a member of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers since 2010. Arnie was born in Fulton, New York, and like so many members of the TOTS, White has led a life that borders on the unbelievable. He's been a fighter pilot, a commercial pilot, a retired professor from the University of Arizona, a golf instructor, and a rancher who lives with his partner, Michelle, outside Red Lodge, Montana.

"I've done a lot of things in my life," White said in an interview recently. "I was a pilot in the Navy and in the Army Reserve."

Like all TOTS, Arnie loves to play the game of baseball, and he's back on the field at Udall Park this fall playing ball with a bunch of old-timers. "I love being around the guys. They are great."Arnie has always been a well-conditioned athlete. He looks 20 years younger than his current age of 80. Actually, Arnie turns 81 on November 11, 2022.

Like so many others on the TOTS, Arnie is forced into battling health issues, but, in Arnie's case, it is a real doozy. White developed Parkinson's six years ago, but it hasn't stopped him from playing ball.

"It's frustrating," White said. "I just can't be as mobile as I used to be."

White grabbed a bat and headed for the batter's box yesterday at Udall. A month ago, White was on his ranch ramrodding cattle or saddling up his horse and riding the range. "It's kind of a double life," White said.

Now he's back in town and enjoying the fall weather with Michelle.

When White is in Tucson, he, and Michelle, reside at their second home, near the Star Pass golf course. There was a time he even taught the game of golf at the University of Arizona.

But this October morning, White grabs a bat from the rack, takes a couple of practice swings, and heads for the batter's box. He proceeds to make contact and pulls the ball down the third baseline. "I can't stop the shaking, but I don't shake as much when I take my cuts at the plate. It's in the field where I seem to have trouble."

White's teammates look on in admiration. "Way to go, Arnie," they all say in unison as the rancher rips a shot to left field for a hit.

The Butterfly Effect

 My donut travels...

I stopped at a cafe.

It is what I do in my search for characters-- especially characters in my age group who have been through the trials and tribulations of life. So, of course, I struck up a conversation. That's what I do. As it turns out, the man sitting next to me is 81, just three years older than yours truly, and can barely hear out of his right ear.

The gentleman had a laptop with him. For some reason, I had left mine at home.

We discovered we both dabbled in writing and had some non-selling books out there... somewhere.

I didn't bother to go into my stuff much. The hearing thing, you see. The gentleman said he had written a book called Whispers in Your Heart. His name is Stephen G. Scalese, and he is not associated with the guy in Congress; this pleasant gentleman has a G. for an initial in the middle of his name.

We talked for a good hour. I listened, but I'm not sure he did. He said he was writing a new book about The Butterfly Effect.

As a social butterfly, I was engrossed in listening to the man. Why? Mainly because he's three years older and carries around a laptop. I human right up my alley.

If you want to check him out and his Whispers in Your Heart.  It's about the world we live in.

It was a pleasant hour at the coffee shop.

70-and-over Tucson Toros lose 3-2 in semi-finals at MSBL WS

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

70-and-over division

The 70-and-over Tucson Toros lost 3-2 to Fresno in the semi-final round this afternoon at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, AZ.

The Toros did well the entire week at the senior world series. The Toros, with a roster consisting of players from the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, who play at Udall Park year round, and the Old Pueblo Club, who play over at Santa Rita Park, posted a 5-1 record at the 35th MSBL WS.

Schwanbeck fitting in nicely with TOTS

Tucson Old Timers

60-an-over baseball

There was a time when TOTS' newcomer Carl Schwanbeck had short hair under his helmet, sported a to-die-for mustache, and ripped shots down the first baseline. There was a time when Schwanbeck played in the Tucson MSBL and eventually was named to the Hall of Fame of the amateur baseball organization.

Twenty-five years ago, Schwanbeck played in the National Senior Olympics in Tucson and was on the roster of Desert Diamond Casino -- the 1997 championship team that beat Delaware at Hi Corbett Field.

Fast forward to the fall of 2022, Carl is one of the newest members of the TOTS, and he was back into the swing of things at Udall Park today as he singled and drove in three runs while doing an admiral job at first base for Team Blue.

Despite Schwanbeck's play, Team White edged Team Blue 8-7 behind a three-hit day-- including a triple from Ron Ryan. Right-hander Mike Dawson picked up the win in relief of Brad Vermeer today, while Mark Rupert was saddled with the loss.

Note: It's a reunion of sorts for Schwanbeck since becoming a member of the TOTS. In 1997, 52-year-old Danny "Pigpen" Price, one of the oldest regulars on the TOTS, was a teammate of Schwanbeck's on the Desert Diamond Casino championship team. Price is now 77, and Schwanbeck is 75.

Photo: Schwanbeck swinging away back in the day, mustache and all. 

 

Houston! We have lift off at 2-0

Major League Baseball

The Championship Series

Can the Yankees come back and pull even in the ALCS and do we have a donnybrook in the making in the NLCS with the Padres and the Phillies? It looks like the latter is true, but you be the judge of what the Yankees will do next.

We will find out soon enough.

Middleman Ochoa turns 2 double plays, a triple play in TOTS' game

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Jesse Ochoa, 71, a second baseman for the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers, turned two doubles plays and ended up in the middle of a rare triple play today at Udall Park as Team White edged Team Blue 7-6 in an old-timers' game.

Ochoa turned a normal double play twice during the game. Still, the crazy play in the sixth inning resulted in an 8-4-3 triple play as centerfielder John Cooke made a shoestring catch and fired to Ochoa at second to double up the runner Joe Opocensky. Ochoa then threw on to first baseman Bill Misher to catch the runner Ron Ryan off the bag for the final out. The triple-killing eventually led to Team Blue's demise as they went quietly in the bottom of the seventh inning on a 6-4-3 double play.

Team White tacked on the winning run in the top of the seventh to break a 6-6 tie as Brack Whitaker doubled and Cooke singled in Whitaker with what proved to be today's game-winner.

Photo: Ochoa, today's middle-man.

Yankees move on; Stanton, Judge homer

American League Division Series

Game 5

The Yankees are in!

They move on to the ALCS in Houston to face the Astros tomorrow night in Game 1, thanks today to home runs at Yankee Stadium from Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

Stanton hit a three-run shot in the first inning, and Judge followed with a solo shot in the second as New York eliminated the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of the ALDS, 5-1.

Eagles, Buffalo, Giants sit atop NFL standings

National Football League

Week 6

Week 6 of the National Football League is in the books, and the Philadelphia Eagles rule the roost with a 6-0 record.

But not by much!

Look at the New York Giants and the surging Buffalo Bills, with 5-1 records in their respective divisions, while the Minnesota Vikings are cruising along at 5-1 also after a 24-16 win over the Miami Dolphins.

The 5-1 Bills were impressive in their 24-20 win at Kansas City on Sunday; the Giants kept pace and improved to 5-1 with a 24-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens, while the Eagles took care of the Dallas Cowboy, 26-17, to remain the only unbeaten team in the NFL. 

Late Monday, the Los Angeles Chargers closed out Week 6 by beating the visiting Broncos, 19-16, as Denver (2-4) continues to search for the right formula with their new quarterback Russell Wilson.

Yankees survive Game 4 of ALDS with 4-2 win

Major League Baseball

Game 4 ALDS

The New York Yankees extended the ALDS to five games with a 4-2 win in Cleveland tonight over the Guardians. The big blow came from Harrison Badar, who drilled a two-run homer -- his third homer in four games.

Gerrit Cole pitched seven innings for the Yankees to pick up the win. He struck out eight and walked one while throwing 110 pitches.

Tomorrow night at Yankee Stadium, the two teams collide for the final time. The winner moves on to face Houston for the ALDS title.

Braves, Mariners...Dodgers eliminated from the MLB postseason

 Major League Baseball

The Atlanta Braves went quietly today and exited postseason play with an 8-3 loss to the Phillies in Game 4 of the NLDS in  Philadelphia, while it took 18 innings before Jeremy Pena homers as the Houston Astros disposed of the Mariners in Seattle, 1-0, and earn a three-game sweep in the ALDS.

Now we are down to five teams. The Guardians walk it off in Cleveland tonight as Oscar Gonzalez drilled a two-run single up the middle with two outs for a 6-5 win to give the Guardians a 2-1 advantage over the New York Yankees in the ALDS.

But the shocker of the evening: the Padres shock the Dodgers in San Diego with a five-run seventh inning to win Game 4 and advance to the NLCS with a 5-3 win over Los Angeles.

Jake Cronenworth doubles in two runs to cap off the five-run uprising, and the seventh-inning stretch belonged to the San Diego fans...and two innings later, the real celebration began.

What does 111 wins during the regular season get you? Absolutely nothing.

Arizona played well despite loss in Seattle

Arizona Wildcats Football

Washington  49  Arizona  39

Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns.

Jonah Coleman rushed for 53 bruising yards and a touchdown.

Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan caught seven passes for 132 yards and two scores, while Dorian Singer, Jacob Cowling, and Tanner McLachlan combined for 17 catches for 260 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats amassed 526 yards total offense.

And Arizona lost by 10!

There will be no crying in Seattle. There will be better days ahead for the Wildcats.

Arizona falls to 1-3 in the Pac-12 Conference and 3-4 overall.

The Tucson Boys at the 2022 MSBL World Series

Men's Senior Baseball League World Series

The Tucson boys from the Tucson Old Timers heading for the 2022 MSBL WS

70-and-over division

Players: Ernesto Escala, Bob Daliege, Bob Long, and Tim Tolson 

Tucson Toros

Schedule:  Sunday, October 16, Tucson Toros against Southern Cal Dodgers, 1:30 PM, Goodyear (Indians)#4...rescheduled due to rainout, at Fitch Park#3 at 2 PM on Wednesday.

Monday, October 17, Tucson Toros against Paladin, 2 PM, Fitch Park #3

Tuesday, October 18, Tucson Toros against Cal Vets, 1 PM, Fitch Park#2

Wednesday, October 19, Tucson Toros against Pacific Reds, 9:30 AM, Maryvale Complex #6`    

Thursday, October 20, Tucson Toros against Red Deer, 9:30 AM, Red Mountain complex #2 

65-and-over division

Players: Bob Long, John Mathews, Sam Dean, Mike Dawson, Ernesto Escala, Larry Abramson, and Randy Livingston

Tucson Toros

Schedule: Sunday, October 23, Tucson Toros against St. Paul Saints, 12:45 PM, Red Mountain Complex#5

Monday, October 24, Tucson Toros against Red Deer, 1:30 PM, Maryvale Complex#5

Tuesday, October 25, Tucson Toros against Arkansas Diamonds, 9 AM, Tempe Diablo Complex#1

Tuesday, October 25, Tucson Toros against Inland Angels, 12:45 PM, Tempe Diablo Complex#1

Thursday, October 27, Tucson Toros against Puget Sound Mariners, 12:30 PM, Bell Bank Park#7

73-and over division

New England Red Sox

Bob Daliege, age 74

Schedule: Monday, October 24, New England against Rhode Island, 12:30 PM, Bell Bank Park #7

Tuesday, October 25, New England against Mudville 9, 10 AM, Goodyear Park (Reds) #6

Wednesday, October 26, New England against St. Thomas, 9 AM, Bell Bank Park #6

Thursday, October 27, New England against Oklahoma City Dodgers, 9:30 AM, Salt River (Rockies) #5

Friday, October 28, New England against Canada Red Deer, 2 PM, Fitch Park #3

Puget Sound Aqua Sox

Player: Danny " Pigpen" Price, age 77

Schedule: Monday, October 24, Aqua Sox against Cal Vets, 1:30 PM, Maryvale Complex #4

Tuesday, October 25, Aqua Sox against Canada Red Deer, 2 PM, Maryvale Complex #7

Wednesday, October 26, Aqua Sox against Oklahoma Dodgers, 9 AM, Bell Bank Field #7

Thursday, October 27, Aqua Sox against St. Thomas, 9:30 AM,  Salt River (Rockies) #6

Friday, October 28, Aqua Sox against Mudville 9, 2PM,  Fitch Park #2

Eagles remain unbeaten

 NFL Football

Five weeks of the NFL season are in the books

The Philadelphia Eagles remain the big surprise in the National Football League with an unblemished 5-0  record after edging the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, 20-17. It's good the Eagles beat the Cardinals because two teams in the NFC East -- the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants are 4-1.

Only the Minnesota Vikings, the Buffalo Bills, and the Kansas City Chiefs are rolling along at 4-1 as well.

The Chiefs ended Week 5 late Monday with a 30-29 nailbiter over Las Vegas. 

Tough to see the Cardinals depart the postseason

Major League Baseball

Wild card Games

Sad to say final goodbyes to Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina as the postseason ends for the St. Louis Cardinals following back-to-back losses to Philadelphia. 

What a career for those two baseball legends.

As for the New York Mets, there's no longer a Subway World Series waiting in the wings between the Mets and the New York Yankees as the Mets fall to Joe Musgrove and the San Diego Padres, 6-0, in the Wild Card elimination game on Sunday.

The Mets win 101 games during the regular season but salvage only one win in the postseason.

The Toronto Blue Jays bow out in two games as Seattle earns the sweep with a 10-9 come-from-behind win in  Game 2 on Saturday, while Tampa Bay says goodbye to the postseason, after a 15-inning loss to the Cleveland Guardians. The Rays lose 2-1 and 1-0 as the Cleveland pitching staff allows Tampa Bay just one run in the postseason.

Eight teams are left to battle for the 2022 World Series title: The Phillies head for Atlanta tomorrow; Seattle travels to Houston; Cleveland heads for New York to face the Yankees and the LA Dodgers await the Padres.

A crowd of 50,000-plus watch Arizona succumb to the power of Oregon

Arizona Wildcats Football

Oregon didn't need to score in the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium last night.

They had already won.

The final: Oregon 49  Arizona  22

Our Wildcats fall back to 3-3 and 1-2 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Quarterback Jayden de Laura went 24 of 42 for 241 yards and one score, while DJ Williams hustled home with a 52-yard touchdown run...and that was it. The rest were field goals.

The 50, 800 announced crowd was hoping for more as they watched Oregon improve to 5-1 with its fifth straight win. The Ducks can go home and relax, while the Wildcats continue with the tough road ahead.

Next up: Arizona travels to Washington to face the Huskies on Saturday. 

The 'Big Boys' in MLB

 Major League Baseball

The 2022 regular season ends

After 162 games, it's time for the Wild Card Games, the Division Championships, and the World Series.

The top finisher in the American League turned out to be the Houston Astros (106-56), the New York Yankees (99-63), the Cleveland Indians (I'm so sorry) the Guardians (92-70). Over in the National League, it is no surprise who the top dog is as the LA Dodgers ran the table from start to finish and ended the regular season with the best record in baseball at 111-51. Second best: the Atlanta Braves (101-61), while the St. Louis Cardinals were third with a 93-69 record.

Some very good ball teams are listed above.

Now it's on to the postseason.

Wild Card games will commence on Friday: Seattle at Toronto, Tampa Bay at Cleveland, San Diego heads for New York to tangle with the Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies head for St. Louis.

It's going to be a great month.

  

Philadelphia the only unbeaten team in NFL

 National Football League

Miami (3-1) lost to Cincinnati 27-15 on Sunday, leaving the Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) the only unbeaten team in the National Football League as Week 5 gets underway on Thursday with the Indianapolis Colts (1-2-1) traveling to Denver to face the Broncos (2-2).

It's hard to believe we are in Week 5 already. It'll be Christmas before you know it!  

The Jury is in: Judge Wins!

History made in Arlington, Texas

Judge crushes his 62nd single-season home run

Aaron Judge's first at-bat in Game 2 of the Yankees doubleheader today with the Texas Rangers in Arlington proved to be historic.

Rangers right-hander Jesus Tinoco threw the pitch and Judge took a mighty swing. The ball sailed over the left field fence at Globe Life Field and into the hands of a lucky fan. The fan was quickly escorted somewhere.

No. 62. Gone!

The new single-season American League all-time leaderboard: Judge - 62 (2022), Roger Maris - 61 (1961), Babe Ruth - 60 (1927), Babe Ruth - 59 (1921), Hank Greenberg - 58 (1938), and Jimmie Foxx - 58 (1932).

Aaron Judge will have one more day to add to the record books as the Yankees close out the regular season tomorrow in Arlington.

Nine-month batting stats for the MSBL World Series-bound TOTS

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

Playing in the Men's Senior Baseball League World Series is not an easy undertaking for the players in the older divisions who participate every year in the prestigious tournament held in Phoenix where close to 3,000 players and 300 teams converge to play America's Favorite Pastime.

This year marks the 35th year for the MSBL World Series.

The 18-and-over players all the way up to the 50-and-over divisions still have their legs under them and can sail through a grueling five, maybe six, maybe seven, and sometimes eight games in one week.

The old-timers, 60-and-over and all the way up to the 75-and-over divisions find the going a bit rough at times. Muscle aches, broken bones...well you name, a lot can go wrong on the ball field.

So, the players need to prepare themselves.

Ten members of the 60-and-over Tucson Old Timers have done just that. They have played nine months -- January to September -- and now into the first part of October to get themselves in shape for the senior world series.

Below is the batting stats through September for the 10 TOTS players who'll head for the tourney and compete in their respective age groups, starting on October 16 and ending for some of the players on Halloween.

Trick or treat. The TOTS players hope for a big treat and just maybe an MSBL World Series ring.

Danny "Pigpen" Price, age 77: Games played January through September -- 74, At bats 196, Runs 23 and hits 47.

Big John Mathews, age 66: Games 67, At bats 205, runs 58, hits 101

Ernesto "Doc" Escala, age 70: Games 62, At bats 188, runs 35, hits 96

Bob "The Accountant" Daliege, age 74: Games 67, At bats 229, runs 58, hits 83

Larry "Wild Thing" Abramson, age 69: Games 37, At bats 90, runs 12, hits 38

Slammin' Sam Dean, age 65: Games 50, At bats 170, runs 44, hits 74

Bob "Texas Longhorn" Long, age 69: Games 71, At bats 172, runs 41, hits 71 

Mike "The Rabbit" Dawson, age 67: Games 90, At bats 253, runs 90, hits 142

Tim "Thunder" Tolson, age 70: Games 94, At bats 317, runs 101, hits 133

Randy “Doctor” Livingston, age 65: Games 34, At bats 96, runs 34, hits 57

Good luck, fellas! 

 Tempe Diablo, the headquarters for the MSBL World Series, here we come!

Pujols hits 2-run shot in Pittsburgh for No. 703

 Pujols Watch

Albert Pujols did it again today, this time with a two-run shot in Pittsburgh for his 24th homer of the year and No. 703 for his career. He drove in all the runs as the St. Louis Cardinals lose to the Pirates, 3-2.

In Texas

The New York Yankees beat the Rangers, 3-1, but Aaron Judge goes 1 for 4, with no homers.

He remains stuck on 61 home runs and still needs one more to beat Roger Maris' single-season American League record.

Three games left in Texas and the regular-season ends. 

Dawson, Long finish atop the TOTS hitting chart in September

Tucson Old Timers (TOTS)

60-and-over baseball

September stats at Udall Park

Mike Dawson and Bob Long finished deadlocked for the most hits in September with 17 apiece, and the hard-hitting lefty Reed Palmer walloped four home runs to increase his career total with the TOTS to 104, an all-time club record.

Dawson went 17 for 29 for a .586 batting average, while Long batted an even .500 with 17 hits in 30 at-bats. Palmer led the club with 15 RBI and went 13 for 24, a .542 average. Ron Ryan had another exceptional month at the plate with 15 hits in 31 at-bats, a .484 average, while finishing second in RBI with 13.

Other top hitters for the month included John Cooke, Pete Maldonado, and Jimmy Kinion -- all with 14 hits apiece, while John Mathews and newcomer Frank Garcia hit safely 13 times. Mathews batted .591 in seven games, while Garcia batted .433 and played in all 11 games. Maldonado finished the month with a .483 average, Kinion at .467, and Cooke at .389.

Other notables who played well in September include (Brack Whitaker 7 for 29, a .241 average, in 11 games), Dave Byars (6 for 23, a .261 average, in nine games), Jesse Ochoa (5 for 19, a .263 average, in seven games), Joe Opocensky (7 for 17, a .412 average, in six games), Ken Nebesny (11 for 28, a .393 average, in nine games), Mark Rupert (10 for 31, a .323 average in, eight games) and Mike Steele (5 for 16, a .313 average, in nine games).

All in all, 38 players saw action and banged out a total of 255 hits around the TOTS' home field at Udall Park. Well, except for the four that left the yard by Mr. Palmer. 

It was a warm-up for some of the boys heading for Phoenix later this month to play in the 35th Men's Senior Baseball League World Series. Besides Dawson, Long, and Mathews, six additional TOTS players will be making the trip north.

Bob Daliege warmed up for the MSBL World Series with nine hits in 30 trips to the plate in September, a .300 average,  Danny Price went eight for 30, a .267 average, Ernesto Escala went 5 for 16, a .313 average, Larry Abramson went 7 for 12, a .583 average, Sam Dean went 8 for 17, a .471 average and Tim Tolson went 12 for 26, a .462 average. 

Four TOTS will see action on the mound in Phoenix at the MSBL World Series and they include Daliege, Escala, Abramson, and Dawson. The four hurlers combined for 65 innings of work in September with Dawson posting the top won-loss record among the four at 2-1. Crafty Pete Maldonado led all TOTS' pitchers in September with a 4-0 record.

Way to go, TOTS! And good luck to the World Series-bound TOTS!

Pujols hits career home run No. 702 in St. Louis today

The Home Run Boys

Major League Baseball

Today belonged to Albert Pujols as he hit a solo shot in the third inning to deep center in St. Louis for his 702nd career home run during the Cardinals' 7-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

It was the final regular-season game at home for the Cardinals. Pujols enjoyed his day, along with catcher  Yadier Molina, who is also retiring at the end of the season. Both players were honored prior to today's game.

Pujols (photo) has hit 23 homers this season. He also hit a two-run double in the first inning and now has 2,214 career RBIs, which ranks second behind Henry Aaron, who owns the record with 2,297.

The Cardinals head for Pittsburgh and close out the regular season with the Pirates on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. That leaves three more days for Pujols to add to his career totals.  

In New York

Aaron Judge goes hitless in the Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles today and is still searching for No. 62. Judge and the Yankees head for Arlington, Texas, and closeout the regular season with four games against the Rangers, beginning tomorrow night, followed by a doubleheader on Tuesday and the finale on Wednesday.   

Wildcats roll over winless Colorado, 43-20

Arizona Wildcats Football

de Laura lights up the night sky at Arizona Stadium

In front of 36.000 plus

Arizona improves to 1-1 in the Pac-12 Conference and 3-2 on the season with a 43-20 win over the Buffaloes.

Quarterback Jayden de Laura took to the air repeatedly, completing 33 of 49 passes for 484 yards. On the receiving end of the six TD passes were Jacob Cowing (12 catches for 180 yards, 1 TD), Dorian Singer (9 for 163 yards, 1 TD), Tetairoa McMillan (5 for 90, 1 TD), Michael Wiley (5 for 34 and two scores) and Tanner McLachlan (2 for 17 and a score).

And by the way, just to shake things up a bit Cowing tosses an 11-yard completion to de Laura in the first quarter.

The Buffaloes were on their heels from the first quarter on as Arizona led 26-13 at halftime and put another 17 points on the scoreboard in the second half while limiting Colorado to just one score the rest of the way.

The Wildcats finished the night with 673 yards -- the most ever against a conference opponent. Arizona ended up with 178 yards rushing on the night with Wiley leading the way with 77 yards on 16 carries.

Next up: Oregon at Arizona Stadium on Saturday night.

Go, Wildcats!