New-York tribune., 1919-03-23
Yale Baseball
Players Take
Brief Vacation
One of Strongest Squads in
History of University Re-
ports Again on Tuesday

NEW HAVEN, March 22.-Coach
Billy Lauder Of the Yale nine to-day
dismissed the squad for a short vaca-
tion during the period Of the Easter
recess of the university. Yale's custom
of sending its team South for an Easter
trip was abandoned this year because
of cramped financial conditions, but
the athletic council has assured the
players that in future seasons they
will be allowed to resume the yearly
journey to the Southland.
Lauder has developed and organized
one of the strongest baseball squads
in Yale's history, which includes in
its membership two classes of candi-
dates hitherto unknown in Yale base
ball. More than third of the players
have seen military service, most Of
them have faced German artillery Are
in France, and three are married men.
The three players who are married
are Bill Wright, former freshman
for the outfield; Bob Holden, former
centrefelder, who is now being tried
out for first base, and Ray Smell, who
was elected captain in 1917, but who
left college to 60 into active military
service when the nine was disbanded
in the middle Of the season. Smell
visited the squad last week and an
nounced that he hoped to re-enter col
lege after Easter. All three players
active military service two years aog.
uy..vxL H.S>.:.v
A wealth of material exists for every
position on the team. Jack Hager, the
former University of Virginia pitcher,
American League, is the most promi
nent candidate for the box.
Two pitchers of only freshman ex
perience, who are developing rapidly
under the coaching Of Lauder. are
Frank Coke and Dean Robinson. They
alternated in the box for the fresh
men last year. Coke when q left
handler seemed most desirable. Rob-
inson when the twirling of q right
son came to Yale from Andover and
Coke from the Asheville IN. c. High
School.
last year, is easily in the lead among
the catching squad. Tom Sheehan,
the former Andover catcher, has been
troubled by lame arm, which is
rapidly improving. There is pos
sibility that the battery Of two sea-
sons ago. Newell Garfield, grandson
of the late President, and Ed Munson
in time to return to the university to
finish the baseball season. Munson
was Yale's best batting backstop Of
many years, while Garfield pitched
fully half the games in 1916.
A squad of four promising players
is being kept by Coach Lauder for
first base, headed by Bob Holden. jeff
Sanderson, who played the position
last year, is brilliant fielder, but not
former Exeter star, is being tried for
both the outtield and first base.
Lynch nearly lost his life as an
aviator by falling several hundred
feet during the war, but he has en-
tirely recovered. He led the fresh
men nine in batting in 1916. Howard
Newton, the freshman first baseman
three years ago, is another excellent
candidate for the first bag.
Sawyer Covering Second
Tom Sawyer, who played through
out last season without an error, has
been kept at second base throughout
the spring practice, while Thorne
Murphy, son of the late Mike Murphy,
is regarded fixture at shortstop. Ray
Gage, third baseman last season, has
returned to the squad after an illness
of two weeks, and unless Smell re-
enters college is the most likely can
didate for the busy corner.
Clifford Prann, valuable utility
player of last season, and Orson Kin
ney, regular third baseman in 1916, are |
also candidates for this position. Three
other strong candidates for the place
year; Harry Dawson, son of the banker
and National Red Cross president. and |
Joe Crotty, the former Holy Cross in
fielder.