The sun., 1898-02-20
PRINCEroS,s UAsEBALL PLANS.
Only Five or Last Years Champion Team OF
Hand-ScarcIty OF PItchers.

OnIy Five or Last Years Champion Team on
Hand-Scarcity or Pitchers.
PRINCETON. Feb. 19-Preliminary baseball
practice at Princeton will begin in earnest next
week, when candidates for the team from the
upper classes will DO called out. The cage has
been put in excellent shape for the coming five
weeks of indoor work. The dirt floor, which is
14o feet long and co feet wide, has been care
fully rolled, and the big room will be kept at a
high temperature to prevent the players from
injuring their arms. Nets have also been pro-
vided by which the cage can be divided into four
sections for as many squads. When the best
players have been picked the nets will be re-
moved. and it will then be possible for the men
topractice base running well as batting and
fielding. During the past week the freshmen
candidates have had possession OF the cage and
out OF the thirty who started only nine have
been retained TO practice with the upper class
men next week.
or last years championship team but five
players are now in college, and Capt. Butler will
have hard work to flll the places left vacant by
Jayne, Altman, Wilson, Smith, and Bradley.
With three experienced pitchers like Wilson,
Altman. and Jayne. the Tigers had but little TO
fear last year; but this season the pitching
department promises to be Princeton's weakest
spot. Excepting Easton. who showed up so well
in the games against Yale and Brown in 1896.
there is not man in college who has pitched q
championship game. Last year Easton threw
his arm out early In the season, and this year
his arm is In the same condition; so that IL 10
not likely that he will DO able TO occupy the
box. Hillebrand, who played third base in good
style last year. is a possibility II the shoulder
that was injured in the last football game with
Yale can be brought into shape. He earned an
excellent reputation as a pitcher at Andover,
where he prepared for Princeton. Both Easton
ana Hillebrand are being treated by specialists.
II they can be put in condition for pitching they
Will be saved as much as possible until the
games with Yale and Harvard, as Capt Butler
realizes that without the services Of these men
ship at Princeton are exceedingly meagre.
Priest is the best Of the freshmen pitchers. lie
Breily and Boyd. 1901, have also been Kept on
the varsity squad.
years. is another man who may be kept out Of
tss game this year on account Of injuries re
position well. Kafer. 1900, will be behind the
bat In all OF the important games. He is a
Substitute viii be Robbins. who is s one Of tbs
most prominent candidates among the freshmen.
second base. where Fred Smith played last year.
Az present there Is no one on the list who is ca.
large nnber q thsss
MS a. present the best chance for third base.
ns or iSS SSse and are also Try
into int shape for, pitching or not, he will hold his
old position in left field. For centre and right
fields Capt Butler has a likely lot Of players to
choose from.
j.. G. Jayne, F. L Smith, and Jerome Bradley
OF last years team will coach the men dur
Ing the next hye weeks. Jayne will have
charge OF the pitchers. Smith of the base men,
and Bradley of the outnelders. Charles Riley
tnlrd base on the Washington League team last
year. VII also be with the men for a few weeks,
Sss has ESa% osssc catcher on Che s.lmOIei
players just before the big gamoA