Left-handed pitcher Jeff Harper turned in an impressive career for the Cardinals from 1979-82 after transferring from UNLV, where he went 6-1 for a nationally-ranked Runnin' Rebel team that fell one game shy of the Division I World Series.

Harper was a two-time All-OAC selection at Otterbein, setting school records at the time for wins in a single-season (12) and career (25). He never lost a decision in five appearances against rival and national-power Marietta.

Otterbein finished second in the midwest regional during Harper's junior year, when he was a second team All-OAC pick and won the regional semifinal game on the mound. He saved his best season for last in 1982, when he captured first team All-OAC, first team all-district and then heralded All-American honors. Otterbein played to a 29-21 record, advancing all the way to the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) championship game before falling to Ohio Northern.

Harper took his game to a new level that spring, tossing 107 innings on the mound en route to an 11-2 record and 80 strikeouts. The innings pitched and number of wins remains second on the program’s single-season records list, while the 80 strikeouts are good enough for sixth.

Jeff saved one of his best performances for the postseason in 1982, tossing a complete-game victory against Marietta in the semifinals of the conference tournament. He allowed just seven hits to Pioneer batters that night, which entered the game with a combined .331 average.

Harper finished with a 16-3-1 career record, with the 16 wins ranking as the ninth most in school history.