John P. (Stuffy) McInnis held his first practice as varsity baseball coach yesterday afternoon in Briggs Cage. Thirty-seven candidates, most of them pitchers and catchers, reported for the workout.

The call was for battery men, and McInnis spent most of the afternoon charting the pitcher's role in infield plays. In between, he dodged charging sprinters, blinked at photographers' flash bulbs, and winced at explosions from a track starter's gun.

The pitchers worked leisurely, heading McInnis' advice to "take it easy until your arms are in shape. I won't begin to look you over until next week." Among the 19 pitchers who turned out were Ira Godin, mainstay of last spring's mound staff, who pitched a two-hit victory over Yale; Barry Turner, number two starter last year; Ralph Hymans, who saw mostly relief action; and Landon Clay, star twirler on last year's jayvee nine.

Ten candidates were out for the catching position, with more expected to show up when the basketball season ends.