After years of frustration, the highly regarded freshmen began the season with guarded optimism. Hitting would be no problem. The Crimson had won the Eastern League title three years in a row. Pitching, how ever, was another question. For three years the Crimson Yardling squads had won games by scores of 11-6 or 13-8.

Four teams-Cornell, Dartmouth, Navy, and Princeton-began the season with a fast start and Harvard suddenly found itself in fifth place despite a 2-1 record. The lone defeat came in a ninth inning 2-1 loss to Navy. A Harvard hitting droughtruined a fine performance from right-hander Kelly.

But in the next three weeks, Harvard did something it had never done before: it consistently won its games against second division teams. The difference was a revitalized pitching rotation that featured three seniors; Kelly, J. C. Nickens, and Phil Collins. So while Dartmouth, Navy, and Princeton picked up one or two losses to non-contenders, Harvard moved to the top of the pack with Cornell.

The first turning point of the season, and the first true recognition of the potential of the squad came in Ithaca in April. Holding a slim one half game lead in the League, Harvard belted Cornell 5-0, 1-0 to drop the Big Red far off the pace.. Meanwhile, miracles were reported as Princeton and Navy beat themselves on careless losses.

Entering the final weekend of play, able position. With three games to Harvard found itself in an unenvi-play, the Crimson could clinch the title with a victory over weak Columbia and a split with fast-fading Princeton. Somehow, the roof caved in that weekend, and not only did Harvard lose all three games, it lost badly. With its confidence badly shaken, Harvard (9-5) and Cornell (7-4) agreed to a single-game playoff for the League title. The match was as professional match-up as Soldiers' Field has hosted in years.

Kelly, who had shut-out the Big Red in Ithaca, came back with a two-hitter and Harvard delivered just enough offense to earn one run, and more than enough defense to win the Eastern League title and a place in the NCAA record book.

But graduates should remember this Crimson baseball squad as more than just a successful team. For the squad has been dominated by personalities that have added a distinctive character to the routine of baseball.

Behind the plate was Varney, all 2'0 Ibs. of him. After two years, Varney finally found himself playing catcher, the position that he will probably play in the pros. He may not have the quickest reaction to the steal, but passed balls and wild pitches have become a rarity in Harvard games. And few will forget the time a UMass batter tried a tackle on Varney and ended up sprawled across the plate.

Pistol Pete didn't have his best year, for he spent most of his time trotting to first base after four cautious pitches. But when the pitchers had to come to him, Varney delivered 23 runs, and runs were a premium for the scrappy squad this fall.

Varney also added the pro scout to the Harvard bleacher. There were always one or two trips to the water fountain each game to shake hands, smile, and joke about the game with the gentlemen in the fedoras. And at the District I playoffs, the press section was filled with stop watches and movie cameras.

In right field however, was the best entertainer of the team. Dan "The Monk" DeMichele brought cheers from Cooch Owen and Company in the bleachers every time he took a step. Oh, perhaps he did get caught at second several times when the crowd egged him into trying to stretch a single into a double. But DeMichele and his non-matching pair of golf gloves led the team with 27 RBI's and hit over 300 for the third consecutive year.

Few can remember that he was the only member of the team without an error, but many recall his greatest act against Brown. With a runner on first, a Bruin hit a short fly to right. De-Michele started in on it but, realizing he couldn't reach it, he stopped, pounded his glove, and held his hands up to catch the imaginary drive.

The fooled runner went back to first to tag up. When the ball dropped twenty feet in front of him, De-Michele ran forward and easily forced the runner at second.

Pete Bernhard did not have a good season this spring at the plate, but he will always be remembered as "Mr. Slaps," the backbone of consistency in the infield. Bernhard never missed a pick-off throw or even a poor peg to first. And our CRIMSON photo file has several pictures that prove his confidence at first led many umpires to make a poor judgment call.

The seniors certainly deserve the credit for the resurgence of the Harvard pitching staff. Kelly yielded more hits than any other pitcher in the Eastern League, but he outdueled Dartmouth's Pete Broberg' Cornell's John Geise, and UMass's Tony King.