One of only two players on slow pitch national championship teams in both Major Industrial and Open, Rardin was a member of five national championships teams—Gatliff Auto of Newport KY (1956 and 1963), Hamilton Tailors, Cincinnati, OH (1961), Yorkshire Club, Newport, KY (1959) and IBM of Lexington, KY (1966). Originally an infielder, Rardin switched to pitching in 1965 and compiled a 67-18 record with a .680 batting average for IBM. As a pitcher, Rardin won 234 games and lost 39 during his career and had a lifetime .606 batting average. Only once did Rardin play on a team that finished below fifth in a national championship. He was a member of five national championship teams, two runners-up, two third place, one fourth and one fifth place. Rardin had one of his best national championships in 1966 for IBM, culminating with him being named the tourney MVP after allowing 13 runs (11 earned) and 40 hits in six games. In the championship game, he allowed McAdenville, NC nine hits as IBM overcame a 4-0 deficit to post a 6-4 win. Rardin’s last year as an active player was 1967 as he batted .603 for IBM and compiled a 78-15 pitching record in leading the team to a third-place finish in the national championship.
