When it comes to baseball trivia, Pete LaCock is known as a former Chicago Cub and the son of former "Hollywood Squares" host Peter Marshall.
But well after his nine-year major-league career, and beyond a life of celebrity, LaCock has dabbled in charity. The Tucson Toros hitting coach has taken part in triathlons to raise money for sick children, and he has donated bone marrow to a 19-year-old man in the Los Angeles area.
Here are three things to know about the Toros coach:
1. How to save a life. LaCock said he was matched with a 19-year-old Hodgkin's lymphoma patient for a bone-marrow transplant more than seven years ago. LaCock had registered with a bone-marrow registry, which connected him to the man. LaCock's wife, Janna, is executive director of the Mid-America Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the Kansas City area. After the transplant, the man's tumor diminished. They stayed in touch and reunited at a Los Angeles Lakers game, where the young man met announcer Chick Hearn.
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"It was unbelievable," LaCock said. "That's what he wanted to be, an announcer. I remember meeting him the first time, knocking on his door and his mom kisses my face, saying, 'Thank you for my son.'"
After several months, however, LaCock said the man developed a secondary tumor and died.
"I still keep in contact with the family and the daughters and the mom," LaCock said.
"It is the greatest experience of my life so far. It was amazing."
2. Other ways to help. LaCock estimates he has competed in 50-60 triathlons and 13 marathons. He has run, swum and biked for charity, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through its Team in Training program.
"It's all a matter of how you train," he said. "Anyone can do it if they train properly, anyone who has any physical ability, if they train."
3. The career after the career. LaCock has managed the Niagara Stars of the Canadian Baseball League and served as hitting coach of the independent American Association's St. Joe Blacksnakes and the Lincoln Saltdogs. He has known Toros first baseman Dustin Yount and second baseman Skip Adams, both relatives of former major-leaguers, since they were kids.
"They're all like my kids. I become close to them," said LaCock, who arrives as early as 11a.m. at Hi Corbett Field to work with a half dozen hitters well before batting practice. He expects the Toros to hit .300 as a team this summer. As of Tuesday, they were batting .303.
"It's been the best bunch of guys I've ever had, in terms of how they prepare themselves, how they work," LaCock said. "We've got guys on this team like Lino Garcia, who I cannot believe is here because I really think he is something special. We're lucky to have a guy like Junior Spivey. They become like extra coaches for you."
Inside pitch
• The Toros announced Thursday that the Milwaukee Brewers have acquired the contract of right-handed pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen.
Wilhelmsen, a Tucson native, struck out 13 batters over 11 2/3innings for the Toros this season and notched two saves.
Wilhelmsen will be returning to the Milwaukee organization that originally drafted him in the seventh round of the 2002 MLB amateur draft out of Tucson High School. He is expected to report to the Brewers minor-league complex in Phoenix before joining the rookie-level Hel-ena Brewers of the Pioneer League.
Wilhelmsen is the third Toro to be picked up by a major-league organization this season, joining pitchers Andrew Romo (Giants) and Rene Garcia (White Sox).
• Thursday's doubleheader in Calgary, Alberta, was postponed because of wet field conditions at Foothills Stadium in Calgary. It was the third consecutive day that inclement weather prevented play in Calgary, postponing the entire four-game series.
Makeup dates for the postponed games have not been determined.
• The Toros begin a six-game homestand tonight at 7 with the first of three games against Edmonton. St. George comes to town for three games beginning Tuesday.
TODAY
• Who: Edmonton at Toros
• When: 7 p.m. • Radio: 1450-AM
