Student groups have always been a part of the Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences experience — connecting classmates, building community and sparking lifelong friendships. Before simulation labs and anatomy classes, before fitness centers and intramurals, students at what was then Still College of Osteopathy bonded over something different: baseball.
In the 1920s, the college fielded a team called The Bonesetters — a fitting name for future physicians whose skills would one day mend more than just game-day injuries. Student-athletes found camaraderie, competition and community on local diamonds, representing their medical school with as much pride as any major league team.
One of the standout relics from this era is a 1964 College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery baseball jersey, donated by Herbert A. Gearhart, DO’64 — a gift made before his passing in 1997. The faded uniform, with “COMS” lettering across the chest, is a tangible reminder of the days when healing hands also swung bats and threw curveballs. The donation, now preserved in the university archives, captures both the spirit of student life and the enduring pride of DMU alumni.
“Dr. Gearhart’s jersey is more than a piece of athletics history,” says DMU archivist Allison Guild, MLIS. “It reminds us that students have passions and interests outside of the classroom.”
The archives also hold photographs of those early teams — students in uniforms and ball caps, embodying the same drive and teamwork that defines DMU today.
Adding to that legacy of athletic prowess is Albert Harvey, DO’74, who spent time outside of the classroom working part-time for the Iowa Oaks during his first year at COMS. After filling in at several different job positions during practices and games, he was invited to help during spring training. In that more relaxed atmosphere, his talent was recognized, and he was asked if he would consider accepting a contract to play professional baseball for the Oakland Athletics organization. Instead, he chose to continue his other calling: a career in medicine.
“You know every kid has the same dream; they want to become a professional baseball player. My possibility just came too late. I was already in medical school,” he says.
What makes great athletes also makes great physicians: discipline, teamwork and commitment to excellence.
The DMU spirit has always been about more than textbooks and exams. It’s about people — students and alumni who bring passion and heart to everything they do, whether it’s on the field or caring for others.
So, take a moment to imagine the crack of the bat, the cheers from the dugout and the proud COMS letters stitched across a jersey. It’s a slice of campus history served with all the flavor of peanuts and Cracker Jack, and a whole lot of school pride.