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.