In 1968, Lyndon Johnson was president and the Vietnam War was raging.
Two track stars from the United States, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, delivered the black power salute during a medal ceremony at the Mexico City Olympics.
And at Penn, a soccer coach named Bob Seddon was hired to revive the program.
Seddon served 19 years as the men's soccer coach, winning three Ivy League titles and advancing to the NCAA Tournament six times.
However, Seddon will most likely be remembered at Penn for his 34-year service as head baseball coach, which for almost two decades overlapped with his soccer coaching.
For a man who has won five Ivy League baseball championships and 632 games, much has changed at Penn during his tenure.
"The academic standards are up," Seddon said, noting that it has become more difficult to recruit players due to Penn's rigorous admissions process.
In addition, college sports has become a bigger business, and consequently Seddon's responsibilities have grown.
"Fundraising has become more of an issue," he said. "I would say coaching is a smaller part of the job now than it used to be. There are so many other things that you need to do."
Seddon joked that he was able to coach two varsity teams for 18 seasons but that things have changed so much that he now needs two assistant coaches just for the baseball team.
And while Seddon's duties have certainly intensified, so have those of the people around him.
"The help with the baseball operation is night and day," he said. "The development program gives us much more help. I used to carry scoreboards to the field."
Though many things at Penn and in college sports have changed, Seddon noted that the most important thing -- the players -- have largely remained the same.
"I don't think the players have changed that much," he said. "I think the players are maybe even better [now]."
Seddon believes that the level of competition in the Ancient Eight has improved and cited the increasing number of Ivy Leaguers drafted as evidence.
In 2003, three players from Penn alone were drafted by major league teams-- Ben Krantz, Andrew McCreery and Russ Brocato -- and many others have been selected throughout Seddon's tenure.
Of them, perhaps Doug Glanville and Mark DeRosa are the most famous.
"You knew that Doug was going [to the Major Leagues] because the whole senior year all they talked about was he was going to be a first-rounder."
What distinguished Glanville, recently released by the Yankees, and DeRosa, currently on the Texas Rangers' roster, was their athleticism, Seddon said.
Glanville, with whom Seddon still keeps in touch, was the cornerstone of Seddon's most successful teams.
"The best teams were '88, '89 and '90. We barely lost a game," Seddon said. "We had four outstanding pitchers. Three were drafted."
Indeed, the Quakers went a combined 80-39 during that run, winning three consecutive Ivy League championships. The pitching was anchored by Doug Smidt, who won Ivy League Pitcher of the Year in 1988, and Craig Connolly who won the award in 1989 and 1990.
"These guys, for three years, they just went through this league," Seddon said.
But the best pitcher during Seddon's tenure?
"How could I ever forget Andy Muhlstock? He won the most games here ever," Seddon said. "He would probably have to go down as the best pitcher."
Muhlstock won 10 games in both 1974 and 1975, accumulating 79 strikeouts in 1975 -- the third most prolific pitching seasons in Penn history next to Howard Long's 12- and 11-win seasons in 1924 and 1925, respectively.
Seddon was nostalgic recalling his best teams and players because, in the end, that is what he will remember most fondly.
"What will I miss the most? I'll miss the players," he said.
When Seddon does retire at the end of this season, he would like to remain in baseball part-time as well as concentrate on some real estate ventures.
For the man who came to Penn originally to coach soccer, he will forever be synonymous with Penn baseball.
After so many years, it will be difficult for Seddon to say goodbye, which is why he has tried to immerse himself in the present, concentrating on finishing the 2005 campaign strongly.
"I've treated my job like I was going to be here next year," he said. "But it's time. I'm 70 years old."
