When one envisions the prototypical power hitting first baseman, Dartmouth's Aaron Meyer '00 hardly fits the stereotypical image of a big burly slugger such as Mark McGwire, yet it is hard to deny that Meyer is the Big Green's answer to Big Mac.
Upon first glance it would be hard for anyone unfamiliar with Dartmouth baseball to imagine that this tall, slender, soft spoken sophomore from Cheshire, Connecticut, was the same person who just recently established a new school record for homeruns in a single season with 11.
Meyer's assault on the home run record began with a monstrous weekend at Brown in mid-April. Over the course of four games, Meyer blasted four homers, including a school- record three in one game.
This offensive outburst was just a sign of things to come for Meyer who stepped up his production drastically over the last three weeks of the season. In his final 16 games, he hit at a scorching .561 clip and raised his overall average from .385 to .450.
Even though Meyer is primarily recognized for the prodigious bombs he regularly launches out of Red Rolfe field, his other hitting accomplishments are no less impressive. His .450 average earned him the Ivy League batting title and currently places him fifth overall in the nation.
The single season record for RBIs is one record that he did not break during this past season (he had 48, one shy of the record). But not to worry, he himself set that mark during the 1997 season.
All of these accomplishments translated into a spot on the All-Ivy League team, where he joined more publicized teammate Conway, who was named to the squad for the second straight year.
Meyer attributes the diversity of his offensive skills to several key factors.
"I think the adjustments I've made under the instruction of the coaching staff have helped me improve my game," he said. "These include being more patient, hitting the ball to right field, and in general becoming more of a player rather than a slugger."
Known affectionately as Thumper by his friends and teammates, the regular thumping Meyer adminstered to the baseball was one of the most pleasantly consistent aspects of the Big Green's frustratingly inconsistent season.
While the Big Green's victory total of 23 was the best ever under Coach Bob Whelan and ranks second all-time in school history, the majority of these wins came early in the schedule against non-conference opponents. Once Ivy League play began, however, the team struggled, putting together a 7-13 record in conference. This fact somewhat tainted Meyer's sparkling season.
"Individual accomplishments are clearly put aside when the team isn't playing as well as you would like," Meyer commented. "Every player's primary goal is to win as a team. When that isn't happening, everything else takes a backseat."
Despite this past season's disappointments, keeping a positive attitude is never a problem for Meyer. When asked about the Big Green's prospects for next season, he responded, "Next year, we can't just say 'I think we're going to win it this year,' we have to know it."
"We have to play with an unshakable confidence, whether we're up or behind in a game. If we play like that, I think the talent this team has will shine through in every aspect of the game, and we'll beat teams handily," Meyer said.
Meyer's love for the game and his desire to hone his already formidable stroke will keep him away from campus during his sophomore summer. Instead of joining his classmates in typical summer revelry, Meyer will be toiling in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, where he was named an All-Star last summer.
When asked about his post-graduation baseball plans, Meyer is cautiously optimistic.
"After my college career is over, my baseball future will be dependent on the opportunities I recieve. Hopefully someone will offer me a chance to play at the next level."
No matter what happens to Aaron Meyer after his college playing days are over, one thing that is for certain is as long as he is hitting bombs for the Big Green, Dartmouth baseball fans will always have plenty to cheer about in the years to come.
