Tucson Old Timers Celebrate Birthdays

 Most people celebrate birthdays once a year, at most.  The Tucson Old Timers celebrate four times a year.

Well, it isn't the same thing, really. . . .

Today was a party for all the TOTs born in July, August, and September.  About three months from now, there will be a party for members born in October, November, and December.

You get the idea.

 Players born in the designated months make the arrangements.  This time, they chose to have pizza.  Sometimes they broil brats and hot dogs, or ship in lobsters from Maine.

Actually, so far, no one has shipped in lobsters from Maine, or anywhere else.  Crawdads from. . . .   No!  Not that, either.

 As players wish, sometimes they invite family members to join them.  The power of pizza to attract young ball players is astounding.

The celebrations are adjacent to the ball field itself, at Udahl Park, in east Tucson, only the most recent of several places where the TOTs have played over the years.

Some of the kids arranged a quick pick-up game of their own, in anticipation of the day, about fifty years from now, when they will be old enough to try out for the team.

Next year, the TOTs, themselves, will celebrate their own 50th year of playing baseball.  

Opocensky and Urtaza
comparing names.

 While baseball togs are generally worn at every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday game, on days like this game uniforms are worn.  Each player brings either a blue or a white shirt to adjust to which team they will be on for the day.

The oldest player ever to play for the TOTs, Floyd Lance, buys new jerseys each year, as his birthday happens.  This year, he wore # 92.

It looks like he is not yet done buying jerseys.

The TOTs will have another birthday this year, probably in November.