Boston University

"Bobby" Hatch is the most unassuming athlete ever known. When asked for his "bio," he replied: "My qualifications are certainly not outstanding. Seriously, I was a very average college athlete, but loved every minute at BU. My greatest pleasure comes from my associations at Boston University, which are life-long friendships that are meaningful to me such as John Simpson, Jack Kelley, Herb Tighe, John Toner, S. Cella, Ev Dorr, Irv Heller, Art Boyle, S. Sarno, Wally Williams, Jack Leaman, Doug Raymond, Bobby Whelan, Charles Thomas, etcetera"

Hatch might consider himself just an average football player, but when the Shriners put on their annual North-South All-Star game on Christmas Day in 1948, the starting defensive back was Bobby Hatch and the team rosters read like Who's Who in All-America: Weber of Princeton, Nork of Columbia, college and pro Hall of Famer Charles P. Bednarik of UPenn, Quinn of Cornell, Tamburo of Penn State, Kaz of Iowa, Brennan of Notre Dame, Furse of Yale, Gannon of Harvard, the one and only George Blanda of Kentucky and Dixie Howell of Ole Miss. Each of the players was drafted by the pros, including Bobby Hatch by the New York Yankees and the New York Giants.

Hatch had made not only All-New England, but also All-East. In the North-South program, it read: " Bobby Hatch, captain of the Boston University team, is not only an All-New England back but is the top defensive back in the East and was selected for All-East honors for both his defense and offense. He averaged nearly five yards a clip on offense and has been selected as starting halfback."

The following is verbatim from the New York Daily News: "The New York Yankees of the All-America Conference announced today, they have signed for 1949 Bobby Hatch from Boston University.

"Thus the Yankees stole another march on the rival National Football League because Hatch had been drafted by the New York Giants in 1947. He decided to play another year at BU, then cast his lot with the Yankees. He is 24 years old, stands 6 feet in height and weighs 192 pounds. He will be used as fullback in the new 'T' formation of the Yankees."

The 1948 BU football program on Hatch reads as follows: "Robert Hatch of Melrose had a remarkable year as a junior. He went both ways and leads the team in almost every department. Already sought by pro teams in both American Conference and the National Football League, he will be able to cash in handsomely if he has another season like last year. He leads in total yardage with 410 yards for an average of 6.9 yards per carry and an average of 22 yards in punt returns. Hatch, a talented kick-off specialist, is also a recent addition to the Terrier married gridders. He and Bobby Boucher are the front runners in the speed department and he was a starter and letter winner in 1942, 1946 and 1947."

In addition to football Bobby also excelled in baseball, tennis and golf. Bobby, Hall of Famer Everett Dorr and Billy Tighe made up one of the best pitching staffs in the East in 1948 and 1949. During his senior year, Bobby coached the BU Tennis Team.

Bobby entered BU in 1942, then joined the Marine Corps in 1943 and served for a 3-year hitch. He graduated from the University in 1949. He joined the athletic department of Bates College in 1950, became baseball coach in 1951, football coach in 1952, golf coach in 1960, track coach in 1964, assistant athletic director in 1965 and department chairman and athletic director in 1974.