Forst credits his great career to Walsh. "We were 10-25 my freshman year," he remembers. "And a lot of the thought surrounding the team seemed to be that baseball was just something we did on the side. Coach Walsh came in and turned the program around. He immediately brought back a winning attitude and a love of the game."

Forst's own love of the game stopped him from following the traditional Harvard grad's route, as he opted to put off conventional job aspirations to try to prolong his baseball career.

Forst played minor league ball in the Frontier League for two years, becoming a fixture at short for the Springfield Capitals. He sat in dugouts that make Harvard's dugout benches look like luxury boxes. He endured twelve-hour bus rides from North Nowhere to East Hickville. He was occasionally hosted by families in the towns he visited, as he made barely enough cash to keep him going. And he cherished every minute of it.

"It was awesome," Forst says of his time with the Capitals. "I had two great years there. I loved being on the road. I loved having a roommate. I loved being around other guys who love the game."

But eventually, Forst realized that his playing days would come to a close. In search of a way to stay close to the game, Forst contacted Boston Red Sox manager Dan Duquette, asking about future openings in the organization and for general advice.

"Mr. Duquette read my letter and remembered seeing me play in the Beanpot at Fenway my senior year," Forst recalls.

In that game, Forst had gone 4-for-4 with two doubles off Fenway's famed Green Monster in left.