The umpire came onto the field. Princeton went first to bat, and Dick Starbright entered the pitcher’s box, while Merry sat on the bench.
Following was the batting-order of the two teams as given to the scorers:
| Yale. | Princeton. |
| Ready, 2d b. | Clackson, ss. |
| Carson, 3d b. | Leverage, lf. |
| Browning, 1st b. | Walpole, 1st b. |
| Starbright, p. | Merritt, rf. |
| Morgan, ss. | Grady, 3d b. |
| Gamp, lf. | Lewsell, c. |
| Mason, cf. | Jerome, cf. |
| Hodge, c. | Willis, 2d b. |
| Benson, rf. | Vinton, p. |
Only one change had been made on the Princeton team since the last game with them. Willis was a new man on second base. Harding, the former player in that position, having sprained his ankle. But it was said that Willis was regarded as a better man than Harding, who had retained his position through virtue of having played it the previous season.
Vinton was Princeton’s cleverest pitcher. Before him had fallen all of the minor teams he had pitched against. He had a wild and bewildering delivery, and he varied it in a most remarkable manner, so that it was impossible to tell just what all his contortions meant.
“Play ball!” rang out the voice of the umpire.
Clackson picked out a bat and stepped up to the plate. Starbright prepared to deliver the ball.
Clackson was regarded as Princeton’s safest single hitter. He could not drive out a long hit, but he could place his hits beautifully, having a way of driving the ball through any opening left in the infield.