Of course this choice was at first experimental, and subject to change if any man disappointed us. In order that we might have a number of substitutes to fall back upon, the other competitors were organized into a second nine with which the University team was to play practice games every day. In this way every man was put on his mettle to hold the position he had gained.

As in the case of the first bulletin, the announcement of the nine was posted up the following morning in Burke Hall. The names and positions of the men were as follows:

Catcher,Dick Palmer.
Pitcher,Harry Elder.
1st Baseman,Fred Harrison.
2d Baseman,Ray Wendell.
3d Baseman,Harold Pratt.
Short Stop,George Ives.
Left Fielder,Alfred Burnett.
Center Fielder,Lewis Page.
Right Fielder,Frank Holland.

A short meeting of the new nine was held at five o’clock on Friday afternoon, when Ray gave them general instruction concerning practice and training, and directed them to be on hand at the grounds at noon on the Monday following vacation.

“You must remember,” he said, “that the real work has only begun, so you must all buckle to and do everything in your power to help things along. One thing I want you all to observe in particular: leave individual interests alone, and play solely for the nine. Profit by last year’s experience. We had good individual players, but some of them were uncongenial, and some of them were working solely for individual record, so we did not have a good nine. What we want this year is perfect harmony, and I want each one of you to help me to secure it. If you do that I have no fear for the result.”

If any one was calculated to secure this harmony it was Ray Wendell, for, without being in the least dictatorial, he had perfect command over the members of the nine, and we were all in thorough accord with him.

During the week I had received word from home that I might accept Ray’s invitation, and as Dick Palmer had also accepted, we had an extremely pleasant outlook for the vacation. Although Tony Larcom was not necessary to our plans, Ray Wendell could not resist asking him to join us, and accordingly it was a very jolly party of four that set out on the following day for Albany. On reaching that city we changed cars and rode some distance down the Hudson River, alighting at a small way station, where a carriage met us and transported us to Cedar Hill, the handsome summer home of Mr. Wendell.

Ray’s parents received us hospitably, and did everything to make our week a pleasant one. The days passed rapidly in various delightful country pursuits. We did not forget the main object of our coming together, however, but practised hard at baseball for several hours each day. The result was that at the end of the vacation, which had flown by only too rapidly, we were playing in splendid form, and were in the best possible condition physically. The week was a perfect paradise to Tony, who enjoyed every minute of it, and during our hours of practice, he stood by, an interested spectator, and chased all the wild balls like a good fellow.