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Sometimes when a pitcher tries a bit too carefully to control the location of a pitch, he is said to "aim the ball" instead of throwing it. This is a different meaning of "aim" from the situation in which a pitcher aims a pitch at a batter in an effort to hit him.
- Aspirin Tablet
- Baltimore Chop
- Can of Corn
- Chin Music
- Cookie
- Dying Quail
- Eephus
- Frozen Rope
- Golden Sombrero
- High Cheese
A fastball might be called an aspirin tablet because it moves so quickly that it looks as small as a little white headache pill. It may also go by many other names that are self-explanatory, and not named below: bullet, blazer, dart, gas, heater, hummer, pumper, smoke, or steam.
A hit that causes the ball to immediately bounce high enough off the ground to escape the reach of infielders while the batter safely makes it to first base is a Baltimore chop. The style of hitting was likely pioneered by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1890s. “It requires great skill in placing to work this trick successfully,” according to a contem...
If there's a high fly ball that falls lazily into a fielder's glove, that's a can of corn. Theories abound about its origin, but the most popular one holds that the act was like the grocery clerk’s practice of easily catching a can of corn in their apron after tipping it from the top shelf with a long stick.
Chin music has been used since at least 1822 to refer to idle chatter. In the 1970s, it entered the baseball lexicon as a term for a pitchin which the ball whizzes by the chin of the batter such that they can hear it sing. Much talk about this intimidating play would therefore be a lot of chin music about chin music.
A pitch the batter finds it easy to make contact with is a cookie. There’s no cute etymological tale here: it’s just the perfect name for a gimme pitch.
“Just one more dying quail a week and you’re in Yankee Stadium,” Kevin Costner, Jim Beam in hand, explains to Tim Robbins in Bull Durham (1988). The evocative term dying quail for a fly ball that quickly descends before reaching the outfielder, resulting in a single, may have been coined in the 1940s. Today, baseball announcers and writers use the ...
An eephus describes a slow, high-arcing pitch that more closely resembles a slow pitch than anything from a regular game of fastball. It was invented in 1941 by Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Rip Sewell, though he didn’t name it. Its quirky moniker was supplied by outfielder Maurice Van Robays, who told a reporter it was an “eephus ball.” When...
Frozen ropeis used for a powerful hit that sends a ball hurtling into the outfield (or over the fence) in a straight line with a trajectory that traces barely any arc.
Since the late 1980s, golden sombrero has usually referred to the (fictitious) trophy awarded to a batter who ignominiously strikes out four times in a game. It has its roots in hat trick, which originated with the sport of cricket before eventually becoming synonymous with a hockey player who scores three goals in a game. Hat trick in baseball was...
The use of the word cheese for something great has a history dating back more than two centuries, but the word’s usage to describe a fastball is relatively recent, going back to the '80s. High cheese is designated for a fastball through the upper strike zone—it can also be alto queso.
- Jason Serafino
Double: When a batter hits the ball safely in fair play and gets to second base. Drop a bunt down: When a batter stays in his batting stance until the last possible second before the ball gets to the plate, then quickly bunts the ball in the attempt to bunt for a base hit.
From 'Ace' to 'Yips' to 'Bush League' learn the baseball slang terms that enriches the game for players, fans, and newcomers alike.
- Anthony Castrovince
- Ace: A team's No. 1 starting pitcher.
- Alley: The areas of the outfield between the outfielders.
- Around the horn: A double play that begins with the third baseman and goes to second and then to first.
- Backdoor slider: A pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone, but then breaks back over the plate.
Jun 10, 2023 · Discover the comprehensive guide to common baseball slang, jargon, and definitions. From mastering the lingo to understanding the game's nuances, this guide covers everything you need to appreciate the art of baseball. Learn about hitting, pitching, fielding, positions, strategic plays, and major league terminology.
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Oct 20, 2021 · An ultimate list of a list of the most common terms and jargon in baseball with clear definitions and examples.
