Every school has those early pioneers who set the stage for the future. Well this next inductee was just that. With no athletic options in the fall season during his high school career, this man was an excellent two-sport athlete from the 1930s playing on both the varsity basketball and baseball teams for all four years of high school. As one of the top scorers on the 1938-39 basketball team he helped lead the team to an overall record of 12-4 in the County A league. His performance in that season led him to be named an All-County A league first team All-Star by the Democrat and Chronicle.
As tough as he was in basketball, his talents in baseball really shined brightly. Prior to his junior baseball season, the January 14, 1938, Mount Morris Union newspaper stated that although he is only 16 years old, he is a natural and will get a once over by the pro scouts. He played shortstop, but was also a very impressive pitcher. His strong pitching in the 1938 season led the baseball team to the sectional semi-finals, where the team fell to a very tough Franklin. In his senior year in 1939, he finished the season with a batting average of .375, and took the team a step further leading them to the Sectional finals. Unfortunately Mount Morris was beaten by a score of 5-1 to Marshall. This inductee started this game at shortstop and then entered the game to pitch in the third inning with Mount Morris down 5-0. He went on to shutout Marshall the rest of the game. It left many people wondering what would have happened had this man pitched the entire game.
A further testament to his talents is seen by who the winning pitcher for Marshall was in that game (His name was Bob Keegan who actually went on to pitch and throw a no-hitter in the major leagues for the Chicago White Sox). Harry Keating's academic accolades were extremely impressive as well. He graduated as the class valedictorian in 1939. His overall talents earned him an academic scholarship to the University of Rochester where he played both basketball and baseball. He was again a successful athlete pitching both a one-hitter and a two-hitter during his time at U of R. He went on to become a chemical engineer. Some people may know him as “Hap,” which was his nickname in high school.