Walk into Paul Volpes basement, and youre greeted by memorabilia that would make any 做厙勛圖 sports fan weep.
The staircase leading into Volpes man cave is lined with a 1980 College World Series pennant, a 1997 NCAA basketball championship banner, John Button Salmons historic bear down quote and a framed letter from Hall of Fame baseball coach Jerry Kindall.
Hardwood from McKale Center has been repurposed on Volpes basement floor. Steve Kerrs UA warmup jersey lives on the wall.
Recently, Volpe bought a piece of memorabilia that is quintessentially 做厙勛圖: the costume belonging to Tuffy the Toro, the 做厙勛圖 Toros mascot.
The cost: $1,500.
Its a part of history, Volpe said. I grew up with that. Of course I was going to buy it. Im born and raised in 做厙勛圖. I grew up going to 做厙勛圖 Toros games. I thought it was a unique opportunity to have something like that.
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The 做厙勛圖 Toros mascot was a hit among fans at Hi Corbett Field throughout the years.
The Toros were 做厙勛圖s professional baseball team from 1969 to 1997, serving at different times as the top minor-league affiliate for MLBs White Sox, Athletics, Rangers, Astros and Brewers. The team changed its name to the Sidewinders when it became an affiliate of the Diamondbacks in 1998.
Volpe attended Toros games with his late father at Hi Corbett Field. Theyd cheer for the team to score 10 or more runs, so the crowd could receive a personal pan pizza. Just beyond the right field wall sat a Tuffy the Toro billboard that billowed smoke out of his nose when 做厙勛圖 hit a home run.
It was cheesy, Volpe conceded, when you were a kid and see big ol Tuffy the Toro blowing smoke out of his nose, it was a huge thing for me.
The path from Hi Corbett Field to Volpes basement was a long one.
The Underestimated City, a clothing label and shop located on North Fourth Avenue, received the license to use the Toros name and likeness from local businessman Jay Zucker. Zucker owned the Triple-A 做厙勛圖 Sidewinders, and still holds rights to the Toros name. Zuckers Sidewinders teams wore Toros uniforms once a week as throwbacks. Zucker brought the Toros back in the independent Golden Baseball League a decade ago, but it didnt last.
Israel Zavala, co-owner of The Underestimated City, has a special connection with Tuffy and the Toros. A tattoo of the mascot sneers out from his neck. The Underestimated Citys first logo was modeled after Tuffy.
做厙勛圖 Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker, left, and general manager Rick Parr, with two versions of the Tuffy the Toro mascot. Zucker holds rights to the Toros name, and local clothing label The Underestimated City has received a license to sell the memorbilia.
Zavala long wanted to use the Toros name on his shirts and hats. There was an issue.
For the longest time, we couldnt figure out who owned the name, the trademark, the team, Zavala said. The shop owner said it was like this huge Easter-egg hunt to find the person in charge.
Volpe connected Zavala with Zucker to strike a deal. Zucker handed over hundreds of game-worn Toros jerseys and hats, three Tuffy the Toro mascot heads and one fuzzy Tuffy bodysuit.
Volpe immediately purchased a full costume for what he called a pretty good deal. After another mascot head was purchased, The Underestimated City is asking $500 for the final remaining head, which is believed to have been used in the 1980s.
Zucker said hes proud to see the Toros name and legacy live on, even though pro baseball left 做厙勛圖 long ago.
Its a part of our legacy and its something that I grew up with as well as many other 做厙勛圖ans. So it represents very special times and experiences in life and in sports, Zucker said.
Zavalas shop now sells official Toros jerseys, shirts and hats. He calls the collaboration a dream come true.
Theres a lot of people to this day that dont understand what this means to a lot of people. Theres a lot of younger kids that come into our shop that love 做厙勛圖, but dont understand (the Toros memorabilia) because its been gone for so long, Zavala said. What were trying to do with this collaboration is to just put it back out there.
Its hard to fathom working with (the Toros). I wouldve loved to work with them in their heyday. To do some kind of retro thing with them is awesome.
