Harvard Krokodiloes Deliver Stirring A Cappella National Anthem Before Historic Red Sox–Yankees Rivalry
Long before the first pitch was thrown in one of baseball’s fiercest rivalries, the spotlight belonged to a group of Harvard students whose breathtaking voices captivated thousands inside Fenway Park.
The Harvard Krokodiloes, Harvard University’s oldest a cappella ensemble, opened the evening by performing a sophisticated four-part harmony arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” live on the field behind home plate before the Boston Red Sox took on the New York Yankees.
Dressed in the group’s trademark black tuxedos, complete with white bow ties and tails, the singers brought elegance and tradition to one of Major League Baseball’s biggest regular-season matchups.
Rather than relying on instrumental accompaniment, the Krokodiloes showcased their signature style through rich jazz-inspired harmonies, allowing the timeless anthem to unfold entirely through the human voice.
The arrangement was specially written by Harvard Krokodiloes member Josh Bean (’16), whose intricate vocal scoring reflected the ensemble’s longstanding tradition of complex four-part harmony. Leading the performance was featured soloist Joshuah Campbell (’16), whose confident delivery guided the group through the anthem’s soaring climactic moments before the full ensemble joined together for a powerful finish.
The performance drew warm applause from fans gathered for one of baseball’s most celebrated rivalries, setting an emotional tone before the action shifted to the diamond.
The game itself would prove to be just as memorable.
The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 5–1 in a contest that quickly became one of the most talked-about games of the 2014 season.
Much of the attention centered on Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda, who was ejected in the second inning after umpires discovered illegal pine tar visibly smeared across the side of his neck. The incident instantly became one of the defining controversies of the Major League Baseball season and remains one of the league’s most recognizable rules violations.
The evening also marked an emotional return to Fenway Park for former Red Sox star Jacoby Ellsbury, who had signed with the Yankees during free agency. Returning in a rival uniform, Ellsbury received a mixed reaction from Boston fans, adding another layer of emotion to an already highly anticipated rivalry game.
Although the dramatic events on the field would dominate postgame headlines, many fans still remember how the evening began—with the Harvard Krokodiloes delivering a moving, instrument-free rendition of the National Anthem that showcased exceptional musicianship, flawless harmony, and the enduring tradition of collegiate a cappella.
For just under a minute, before baseball’s fiercest rivalry unfolded, thousands of spectators fell silent as one of Harvard’s most celebrated vocal groups transformed America’s National Anthem into an unforgettable musical moment.