The Season Begun.

Between eight and nine hundred persons went up to the Polo Grounds in New York last Saturday to see the first championship ball game of the College League. About eight hundred and seventy-five of these spectators were ardent admirers of the blue and white, and were expecting an easy victory for the home team, coached and trained as it was in the school of the celebrated New York "Giants." In this they were grievously mistaken. The Harvard men got down to work on the first ball pitched, and did not let go their grip until twenty-seven Columbia players had been retired. The Columbia nine was supported well by the members of the college, who cheered lustily for their team during the early stages of the game. Some twenty-five Harvard men made their presence known by red bunting and enthusiastic cheers. Although their early attempts at cheering were greeted with derisive cries of "Rats" from the New York populance yet they persevered, and as the game went on the populace became less obtrusive, and the only college yell to be heard was that of Harvard.

Saturday was a bad day for ball. The sky became clear early in the afternoon but a terrific wind was blowing that prevented heavy hitting, and as it blew directly in from the out-field drove many flies beyond the foul flags, and stopped thereby several three-base hits or perhaps home runs.

First Inning. - Columbia went to the bat and Boyden opened the game prophetically by striking out Cooper. Bannister next stepped to the plate. He sent a hot ball to Campbell which went through his fingers and when on the next ball pitched Bannister stole second, there was great excitement. Murray was gracefully retired on three strikes, and in attempting to get third as he had second Bannister was thrown out by Henshaw to Campbell. For Harvard Wiestling ticked the ball into right field, but no one was there. On the first ball pitched he made for second but Bannister dropped the ball, and Wiestling could not be credited with a steal. He stole third, however, making a splendid slide and was declared safe by the umpire much to the disgust of many partisans present. Foster made a slow hit to short-stop who fielded him out at first but Wiestling had scored. Campbell came to the bat and knocked the ball for two bases. He came in on Willard's hit to right field. Henshaw struck to third base who retired Willard at second. Boyden flew out to Deppler in left field leaving Henshaw on first.

Second Inning. - La Marche got his base on a wild throw made by Mumford, but was put out in attempting to steal second, which he tried after Gates had flied out to Campbell and De Sibourg to Boyden. Boyden went to the bat for Harvard. He made a good hit to centre field, but was caught out. Linn got his base on a wild throw made by De Sibourg, stole second, but was left there by Mumford's striking out and Wiestling's flying out to right field.

Third Inning. - Cameron and Strebeigh were retired by Willard. who picked up two grounders and carried the ball to first. Deppler got his base on a wild throw by Campbell, stole second, but was left there owing to Cooper's fouling out to Willard, who made a magnificent catch. Foster went to the bat but was put out by an assist of Gates. Campbell made a good base hit, and paralysed the out team by stealing both second and third in quick succession. Willard went out on a foul. Campbell came in as Gates threw wild at third in attempting to put him out. Henshaw flied out to centre field. Score, 3 to 0, in favor of Harvard.

Fourth Inning. - Bannister went out on a long fly to Bingham. Murray knocked the ball over the third bag, and was credited with a two-base hit. A passed ball took him to third, but he was destained to stay there, for La Marche was fielded out to Campbell and Gates struck out. Boyden led off with a base hit, and went to second on a passed ball. Bingham was put out by an assist by Strebeigh at second, but Boyden was advanced to third. Linn made the second out on a foul tip, and Mumford had two strikes. Boyden ran half way to the plate, and when the catcher threw the ball he made for home, and succeeded in adding another run as De Sibourg had dropped the ball. Mumford was fielded out at first. Score, 4 to 0.

Fifth Inning. - De Sibourg knocked a hot fly to left field and seemed to expect to get his base, but Foster took in the ball. Cameron struck out, but a wild throw by Wiestling gave Strebeigh his base. He stole second but Deppler fouled out to Henshaw and Columbia failed to score. For Harvard, Wiestling led off with a base hit and stole second. Foster advanced him to third by a sacrifice. With his third-base hit Campbell brought in Wiestling, Willard knocked to Deppler, who dropped the ball and then threw wild to second. Campbell, who had stolen second took this opportunity to make third. Henshaw knocked to short-stop who tried to throw Willard out at second but failed. Campbell had previously gone home by inducing the pitcher to throw wild to Bannister. A base-hit by Boyden filled the bases. Bingham knocked to third base but De Sibourg failed to put Henshaw out, Bingham got his first and Willard came in. Linn went to the bat and knocked in Henshaw and Boyden. Mumford was assisted out at first by De Sibourg, but Linn got around two bases on the sacrifice. He came in on a passed ball. Wiestling went to bat for the second time this inning. Cameron dropped the ball thrown him by Strebeigh, and Wiestling was safe. He got to second on a grounder by Foster which, although caught, didn't get anywhere in time to put out anyone. Wiestling thereupon stole third and came in on a bad throw made by Cooper who had the ball and was trying to catch Foster who had come within ten yards of third base - he had stolen second some time before.

As Wiestling was going home Foster took third base, but was left there as Campbell flew out to De Sibourg. Score 12 to 0 in favor of Harvard.

Sixth Inning - Cooper struck out. Bannister was caught out by Foster after a short run. Murray struck to Boyden, who touched him with the ball before he reached first. Willard was retired by Cameron at first. Henshaw struck a hot ball to third base, getting a base hit. He was advanced to second on a passed ball, and to third by a sacrifice by Boyden. Bingham, however, made the third out, Cooper assisting to Cameron.

Seventh Inning. - La Marche and Gates were thrown out at first by Campbell. De Sibourg got in a good hit and stole second, but Cameron struck out. Harvard went out in one, two, three order, Linn and Mumford at first, while Wiestling fouled out to Cameron.

Eighth Inning. - Strebeigh was retired at first, Boyden assisting. Deppier made a hit and stole around to third. Cooper went out on a foul tip, and Wiestling captured Bannister's fly. Foster led off with a base hit to left field, but was put out at second, forced by Campbell's grounder to De Sibourg. Willard drove the ball far out into right field. La Marche turned his back to the diamond, and made for the out field as fast as he could go. Soon he turned around and with his hands a few feet from the fence he prevented a three-base hit by holding the ball. It was beautiful fielding. Henshaw fielded out to left field, and Harvard was retired for the last time.

Ninth Inning. - Columbia came very near scoring in this inning. Murray got his gase on balls and La Marche made a base hit, but Gates hit to Boyden who forced Murray out at third. De Sibourg made a sacrifice advancing La Marche to third, but Cameron was fielded out at first by Mumford.

Harvard did some fine work. The Columbia men did not go to pieces as far as holding the ball is concerned, but between the base hits and the stolen bases they rather forgot what they were doing. They seemed a trifle dazed. Boyden, Henshaw, and Campbell did good work in the field, Campbell excelled at the bat and in base running. Wiestling also ran bases in great style. La Marche and Strebeigh carried off the honors for Columbia. Cameron and Willard both played good ball at first. The umpiring of Mr. Pearce gave universal satisfaction to the unprejudiced. Although he was compelled to make many close decisions on bases, he seemed to show great judgment and impartiality. The errors by Harvard were made almost entirely in poor throws to first, while Columbia was good in that respect, but failed to show up as well in quickness of judgment at critical points. The game as a whole was the best that the nine has played this year. The men all showed a coolness and grasp of the situation that was extremely encouraging to the friends of Harvard that were present. The score:

HARVARD.

A.B. R. 1B. T.B. P.O. A. B.

Wiestling, s. s., 5 3 2 2 1 0 1

Foster, l. f., 5 0 1 1 2 0 0

Campbell. 3b., 5 3 3 4 4 2 1

Willard, 1b., 5 1 1 1 8 0 0

Henshaw, c., 5 1 1 1 8 2 0

Boyden, p., 4 2 2 2 2 8 1

Bingham, c. f., 4 1 0 0 1 0 0

Linn, r. f., 4 1 1 1 0 0 0

Mumford, 2b., 4 0 0 0 1 2 1

- - - - - - -

Totals, 41 12 11 12 27 14 4

COLUMBIA.

A.B. R. 1B. T.B. P.O. A. E

Cooper, s. s., 4 0 0 0 0 3 1

Bannister, c., 4 0 0 0 3 0 0

Murray, c. f., 3 0 1 2 2 0 0

La Marche, r. f., 4 0 1 1 2 0 0

Gates, p., 4 0 0 0 0 3 2

De Sibourg, 3b., 4 0 1 1 1 4 3

Cameron, 1b., 4 0 0 0 12 0 1

Strebeigh, 2b., 3 0 0 0 2 2 0

Deppler, l. f., 3 0 1 1 2 0 2

- - - - - - -

Totals, 33 0 4 5 24 12 9

Innings, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Harvard, 2 0 1 1 8 0 0 0 0-12

Earned runs - Harvard, 4. Two-base hit - Campbell, Murray. First base on balls - Boyden, 1. Struck out - Boyden, 6; Gates, 1. Stolen bases - Harvard, 12; Columbia, 6. Passed balls - Henshaw, 1; Bannister, 4. Left on bases - Harvard, 5; Columbia, 7. First base on errors - Harvard, 3; Columbia, 4. Umpire - Mr. Pearce. Time of game - 1 h. 50 min.