Playing catcher, the toughest position on the field, takes it out of Masters ballplayers

To play one baseball game, Greg Harris will take a spin class, slide into several Jacuzzi baths during the week, use ice packs on his back, do aerobic work in the pool, play racquetball, and stretch. He also keeps Ibuprofen within reach. It sounds like a lot of work to get ready for one Sunday afternoon game, but then again Harris is 44 years old. And he plays catcher.

It is the most demanding position on the field, even for 20-somethings, so you can imagine the toll the position will put on a man in his mid-40s. Squatting wears out the knees and leaning forward can stress the back. "You can pull something just bouncing out of your squat for a pop behind the plate," Harris said. "You have to be careful doing that too many times."

One quick bounce is enough, especially when a catcher is in his 40s. Harris plays for the Angels in the Atlanta Men's Senior Baseball League and in a season-opening 3-2 victory where every play mattered, Harris had to react quickly to a pop up behind the plate in the sixth inning. He made the catch, but he paid the price.

Harris did not have to wait until the next day to know his back was going to hurt. He could feel when it when he got home. He took his anti-inflamatories, soaked in the Jacuzzi with salts, used his ice packs, and went to bed. The next morning, before his day job with an investment firm, he had another session with the Jacuzzi and stretched.

Harris not only has a regimen, he has a strategy. If there is no one on base, he will save his legs by not running down the first base line to back up throws to first from infielders. "I also won't bounce out of my stance if I don't have to," Harris said. "I'm lucky, my knees are really good, I can squat all day long. It's my back I have to look out for."

Harris said the spin class, which is cycling in place for an hour on a Tour de France-style bike, helps, because it simulates leaning forward like he is in a catcher's stance. Harris is in remarkable shape for a position so demanding, but he would still have to play another 24 years to catch up to Li Ramirez, who is 69 and still playing in foul territory.

Ramirez, who is from the Sacramento, Calif., area, was the catcher for the Sacramento 60s that won the over-65 Men's Senior Baseball League World Series last October in Phoenix. "He's 69!" Harris almost shouted through the phone. "I know what it takes to play this position, but 69 years old and catching? Wow."

Harris would be incredulous if he knew the details of Ramirez' workout routine to stay ready for a game. Ramirez doesn't have a workout regime. "I play a lot of slow-pitch softball," he said. "I do a stationary bike sometimes, but other than that, nothing really."

Ramirez, who is originally from Puerto Rico, played shortstop as a youth, then moved to catching when he was 19, though it is not fair to say he has been catching 50 years. "I took 10 years off," he said. OK, so he has been catching 40 years, not 50. So how does he do it?

"Luck," he said. "I've only had one knee problem. I had a great-grandmother live until she was 100-something, so there are some good genes."