“The greatest thing about Walsh is that he wants to play anybody, any place, anytime,” adds assistant coach Matt Hyde. “He instills it in you to go against the best.”

“To be the best you have to beat the best,” says Donovan in explaining Walsh’s mantra.

Though in many respects the Crimson is still miles behind many opposing teams in terms of funding, facilities, and publicity, Walsh truly believes that the backing of the athletic department to put competitive teams on the schedule makes all the difference in the world. For example, next season the Crimson will kick off the year with four games against Texas Tech.

“That I think is the key—the competition you’re playing,” Walsh says. “It’s not whether or not you’ve got fancy uniforms or publicity in the Boston Globe or if your office has neon signs saying, ‘Here to Harvard baseball.’”

But Walsh is not completely averse to the idea of self-promotion. The man who Donovan dubbed the “ambassador of Harvard baseball” has plans percolating as we speak.

“We do have a little publicity thing in mind,” Walsh reveals. “I’d love to come off the T-station in Harvard Square someday and see a sign that says ‘Harvard Yard’ with picture of the baseball field and an arrow pointing the other way. You’ll see that someday. I’m working on that.”

Until then, Harvard baseball will continue to be nudged forward by the one-time trespasser’s unceasing optimism, eager anticipation, and sincere devotion to his players and the program.

“He has a great love for the game that’s just contagious,” Hyde says.

“He comes to work every day, he just lives and breathes, lives and dies baseball,” captain and closer Barry Wahlberg adds. “You say it’s his job, but he sleeps here—he sleeps at the field.”

At least now it’s his field to sleep on.

—Staff writer Lisa J. Kennelly can be reached at kennell@fas.harvard.edu.