The fall baseball practice has now been going on for about two weeks, and in the favorable weather which has prevailed, a great deal of good work has been accomplished with the new material. Owing to the large number of men who have come out, the squad has been divided into four nines, with substitutes. Two nines play regular games against each other on alternate days, substituting players until each man has been given a chance. In this way the men get the best kind of training, that of experience in actual play on the field.

Under the vigorous coaching of Captain Reid, the whole squad has been well drilled in hard, fast play. The backing-up is, perhaps, the best feature of the work at present. In this, the effect of good coaching is especially apparent, great stress being laid upon the principle of having the fielders anticipate the play, and help each other out. The base running is rather poor, except in a few individual cases. Most of the men are inclined to be reckless, using no headwork, and lacking the quickness of decision necessary to good base-running. The batting is very weak, although the pitchers do not use great speed, nor many curves.

Of the pitchers, Coburn and McDonald appear to be the best, although each of them can easily improve. Milne and Jacques are the best behind the bat, and are both doing good work. Lewis is the only man who has shown any steadiness at first base, the other men seeming to lack experience in that position. For second base, Keene and Putnam are about equally matched, and each is doing excellent work, although Putnam is weaker at the bat. At shortstop, Wright, Coolidge and Gilles are fairly accurate and cover a good deal of ground. Lancey and Rowley are doing well at third, but neither of them is a steady hitter.

In the outfield, Wendell, McCall, Farrington, Eby, Loughlin, Bolles and George are the most promising of the many candidates. Of the new men Coonley, Noble and Dudley are doing the best work. Morton, Black, Foster and Nickerson need experience. Most of the men have been regular at practice, and all are working hard. The spirit shown in the fall practice makes a very encouring outlook for baseball next spring.

The new men who have lately joined the squad are Quincy '01, Bolles '00, Dalton '00, Kelly '03, Nickerson '01, Noble '03, Spofford '02, Canterbury '01, Schwill '00, Wheelock '01, Batten '03, Perry '03, Lace '03 and Manning '03.