There were so many people down at Soldiers Field Wednesday that habitual followers of the baseball team couldn't believe their eyes. Last year, it took a warm, sunny day and at least three other sports events to collect as many as 40 supporters in the stands; and now, on a cold, gray slay there were a couple of hundred people following the game into the final innings.

When Bill finally got to Ira Godin for two runs and won the game in the ninth, the people didn't mind too much. They had just watched the first good baseball game to be played on these fields in three years. Two good teams had taken turns hanging on to a series of one run advantages by combining excellent fielding and fine pitching. Harvard had played a full game with only a harmless error in the infield and without any of the gross errors of judgement which characterized much of last year's play.

The McInnis influence was clearly visible to the naked eye. In the fifth inning, Steve Howe took a line drive in short right field and overthrew first, trying for a double play. In the old style of play, this would have meant at least a two-base advance for the runner. Not so this year, apparently. Catcher Cliff Crosby appeared to catch the throw intact, as it were, and the situation remained under control.

Again, in the sixth, there were distinct evidences of loving care in the Teaching of Infield Play. After BU's Art Chartier had tripled firmly into darkest left-center, he committed the tactical error of attempting to score on a grounder to shortstop. Realizing the folly of this, he started back to third base when it became certain that Mort Dunn's throw would reach home before he did. Where the loving care enters is regarding the skill with which Crosby, Godin, and Mannino put Chartier in the hot box and then put him out. It's that sort of play that will enable McInnis to capitalize on Godin's good pitching when the league games come along.

Individually, this team is no surprise. The men are the same, in almost every position, that started all last year. Stuffy has moved Ernle Mannino to third base, where his fielding Wednesday was extraordinary. Hal Moffie is filling in for still-ailing Myles Huntington at second. These three are new; the others are familiar. Yet their performance certainly seems a cut above last year.

There is one mortal weakness in the team now. When Godin, pitching his twenty-seventh inning in five days, began to tire in the ninth, Stuffy sent some fellows out to warm up. They were a mixed lot. Barry Turner throws lefthanded; Ralph Hymans and Herbie Neal, right. None of the trio, fresh, could have done better than Godin, tired. If one of them turns out to be a pitcher who can go six innings or more, the whole baseball prospect could quickly become bathed in a soft, rosy light.

Mr. McInnis has taught his apprentices to think and to field. He has a tremendous store of knowledge behind his sunburned, deadpan face. If he can draw from it to develop one more pitcher to match Godin, he will rank as a class A magician--not to mention coach.