BASEBALL
ADJECTIVES
1920 ► RUTHIAN reminiscent of ‘Babe’ Ruth, typically with reference to his reputation for hitting exceptionally long home runs → chiefly baseball usage
1931 ► COW-HANDED in baseball, of a batter: having the hands in reversed position; cross-handed → Amer. dial.
ADVERBS
1939 ► ABOARD on base → Amer. sl.
1978 ► DOWNSTAIRS low in the strike zone → Amer. sl.
NOUNS
1860 ► FUNGO STICK a bat used to hit balls for fielding practice → baseball sl.
1866 ► DAISY-CLIPPER a batted ball that skims along just above the ground → US sl.
1866 ► DAISY-CUTTER a ball so bowled or batted as to skim along the surface of the ground → US sl.
1867 ► FUNGO a ball hit to give practice to fielders, usually by tossing it up and swinging → baseball usage
1867 ► FUNGO a long, light bat used to hit practice balls to fielders → baseball usage
1868 ► STICK a baseball bat → US baseball usage
1870 ► THREE-BAGGER a triple in baseball → Amer.
1874 ► ANT-KILLER a sharply hit ground ball → US sl.
1880 ► CIRCUS CATCH a spectacularly good and difficult catch → US baseball sl.
1880 ► CIRCUS PLAY a spectacularly good play → US baseball sl.
1884 ► RUNWAY in baseball: the path within which a player must remain while running between bases
1890 ► RAIN CHECK a ticket stub or other receipt that allows one to return to see another baseball game if the one the ticket was originally purchased for is cancelled because of bad weather → US sl.
1894 ► POKE a hit; also, a ball that has been hit → baseball usage
1895 ► HORSEHIDE a baseball → US sl.
20C.. ► WAR CLUB a baseball bat → US sl.
20C.. ► WORM-BURNER a fast-moving ground ball in baseball → Amer. sl.
1900 ► HOGAN’S BRICKYARD a rough baseball diamond → US baseball sl.
1902 ► APPLE a baseball → US colloq.
1902 ► BINGLE in baseball: a hit, usually a single → US sl.
1904 ► BALLOON a lofty hit given to a baseball → colloq.
1905 ► BEAN BALL a ball pitched at the batter’s head → sl.
1905 ► MURDERERS’ ROW a group of powerful hitters batting in succession for a particular team → baseball sl.
1905 ► TEXAS LEAGUER a hit that falls out of reach between the infielders and the outfielders → baseball usage
1908 ► BIFF a base hit → US sl.
1908 ► CIRCUIT BLOW a home run → US baseball sl.
1908 ► CIRCUIT CLOUT a home run → US baseball sl.
1908 ► CIRCUIT WALLOP a home run → US baseball sl.
1908 ► FADEAWAY a pitch that moves away from the batter so that he would have to reach out for it → Amer. sl.
1908 ► PRETZEL BENDER a curve ball; a curve-ball pitcher → baseball usage
1909 ► ANGELS clouds in the sky that may silhouette a fly ball, thus making it easier to catch → Amer. sl.
1910 ► BALL baseball → US sl.
1910 ► HOOK a curve ball → Amer. sl.
1910 ► NIGHTCAP the second game in a baseball ‘double-header’ → US sl.
1912 ► ALLEY the undefended area between two outfielders, or between an outfielder and a foul line, into which a ball may be hit, usually for extra bases → US sl.
1915 ► BONE an error in judgement in baseball → US sl.
1919 ► OLD APPLE a baseball → US sl.
1928 ► HORSECOLLAR an instance of a batter failing to get a hit during a game → US sl.
1928 ► KNUCKLER a knuckleball
1929 ► ALLEY the middle of the strike zone conceived as an imaginary corridor extending directly from the pitcher’s mound across the middle of home plate to the catcher’s glove → US sl.
1929 ► GUN a throwing arm. esp. a strong and accurate one → US baseball sl.
1934 ► CHINESE BLOW a lucky hit; a hit ball that is just beyond reach → Amer. sl., usually offensive
1937 ► CAN OF CORN a high fly ball that can be easily caught → US sl.
1937 ► THE TOOLS OF IGNORANCE a catcher’s gear → baseball usage
1939 ► CHINESE HOME RUN a hit gained with little skill; a home run hit off the handle of the bat; a home run hit to the wrong field; a very high pop fly home run that just drops into the stand → Amer. sl., usually offensive
1940 ► ANNIE OAKLEY a base on balls → Amer. dial.
1940 ► THE DAISIES the outfield → Amer. sl.
1940 ► THREE-BAGGER a three-base hit; a triple → baseball usage
1941 ► JUNK pitches that rely on unpredictable movement rather than speed, such as breaking balls and knuckleballs → baseball usage
1942 ► ASPIRIN a fastball that is especially difficult to hit → Amer. sl.
1943 ► RHUBARB an argument on the field of play in baseball → US sl.
1945 ► BLOOPER in baseball: a slow, high-arching pitch; a weakly hit, high-arching ball → US sl.
1952 ► BLAST in baseball: a powerful hit → US sl.
1952 ► SUNDAY PUNCH a strong and effective pitch, esp. an overpowering fastball → US baseball usage
1959 ► WHEELHOUSE a batter’s preferred hitting zone over the plate → baseball usage
1959 ► ASPIRIN TABLET a fastball that is especially difficult to hit → Amer. sl.
1960 ► LONG TATER a home run → baseball usage
1960 ► SEED a baseball → African-American sl.
1960 ► TATER a home run → baseball usage
1961 ► CHIN-SKINNER a pitch thrown near a batter’s chin → Amer. sl.
1962 ► GUTS BALL baseball played with great aggressiveness and tenacity → Amer. sl.
1962 ► THE MONEY BONE a pitcher’s throwing arm
1964 ► DOWNER a good overhand curve → Amer. sl.
1965 ► MUDVILLE the world of baseball, usually with reference to a particular team and the disappointment or happiness felt after a loss or victory → N. Amer.
1968 ► SCRIMMAGE an informal game of baseball → Amer. dial.
1968 ► SKIRMISH an informal game of baseball → Amer. dial.
1969 ► CHIN MUSIC a pitch thrown near a batter’s chin → Amer. sl.
1970 ► UNGODLY SHOT a hard line drive → baseball usage
1970 ► COOKEY → COOKIE a base hit
1971 ► MONEY ARM a pitcher’s throwing arm
1974 ► NO-HITTER a baseball game in which a team makes no hits → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BANANA STICK a baseball bat made of inferior wood → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BANJO HIT in baseball: a hit between the infield and outfield → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BEEF TRUST a baseball or football team composed of exceptionally large, stout, or fat players → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BELT in baseball: a hit → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BLACK BETSY a baseball bat; orig. the name of Babe Ruth’s bat → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BLEEDER in baseball: a one-base hit, a lucky hit, or a weakly hit ball US sl. → US sl. (Bk.)
1976 ► CACTUS LEAGUE major-league teams holding spring training in the Southwest → US sl.
1978 ► DANCER a knuckleball → US sl.
1978 ► MARSHMALLOW a weakly pitched, easily hit ball → US sl.
1980 ► MELON a ball that is easy to hit or catch on the fly → US sl.
1980 ► WOUNDED DUCK a short looping fly that falls for a hit → baseball usage
1982 ► CHINESE HOMER a home run gained with little skill → Amer. sl., usually offensive
1983 ► OFER an instance of a pitcher holding a batter hitless throughout a ballgame → US sl.
1985 ► ASH-HANDLE a baseball bat → US sl.
1990 ► BASIE a baseball bat → sl.
2006 ► BEANBALL a pitched baseball that strikes the batter on the head, usually by accident → US sl. (Bk.)
2006 ► FOUR-BAGGER a home run in baseball → US sl. (Bk.)
NOUNS, PERSON
1845 ► TALLYKEEPER the scorekeeper
1856 ► BATSMAN a batter, ‘the striker at the bat’ → arch.
1858 ► TALLYMAN the scorekeeper
1866 ► BASEBALLIST a baseball player → orig. US
1867 ► BASEBALLER a baseball player → orig. US
1869 ► BACKUP a baseball player who fills in for a regularly assigned player when the latter is unable to play; a substitute
1874 ► HEAVY HITTER a particular powerful or skilled hitter → orig. US
1880 ► BAGMAN a baseman → arch.
1883 ► HITTER a batter, esp. one who hits the ball
1883 ► TEASER an especially deceptive pitcher
1883 ► TWIRLER a pitcher → baseball usage
1888 ► MONKEY a poor batter; so called because he ‘makes a monkey’ of himself in a futile attempt to get a hit
1891 ► GLASS ARM a player with a chronically weak or sore arm
1891 ► SACKER a defensive player assigned to cover first base, second base, or third base
1897 ► PIGTAIL a person who fetches out-of-bounds balls → Amer. dial.
1898 ► YANNIGAN a rookie, not a regular player; a player on the second team in a spring-training camp game; a young inexperienced athlete who has just joined a team; a crude or uncouth baseball player
1902 ► ACE an outstanding pitcher; a team’s best pitcher → Amer. sl.
1902 ► BARNSTORMER a person who plays exhibition games in small towns and cities with or without a baseball team of their own
1902 ► BIG GUNS a team’s best batters; the sluggers in the lineup
1902 ► GARDENER an outfielder → Amer. baseball sl.
1905 ► SLABMAN a pitcher
1905 ► WIND PADDIST a catcher
1906 ► MOUNDSMAN a pitcher → colloq.
1907 ► HITSMITH a good hitter
1908 ► BIFFER a hard-hitting batter → arch.
1908 ► BIG STICK a heavy hitter; one given to hitting home runs and extra-base hits
1908 ► BOX MAN a pitcher → Amer. sl.
1908 ► PRETZEL BENDER a curve ball; a curve-ball pitcher → baseball usage
1909 ► BATBOY a young man employed by a team to take care of its players’ equipment before, during, and after games; traditionally, the most important responsibility of the job is to retrieve each player’s bat from home plate where it has been dropped or tossed and put it back in its proper place in the bat rack; also responsible for keeping the home plate umpire supplied with baseballs
1909 ► WAITER a batter who swings only at strikes
1910 ► SLABSTER a pitcher
1911 ► BASE-GETTER a baseball player who achieves a base and advances with regularity → arch.
1911 ► SANDLOTTER a sandlot or amateur baseball player; a graduate of the lower realms of the game → arch.
1911 ► THIRD SACKER a third-baseman → baseball usage
1911 ► WALKER a batter who receives many bases on balls
1912 ► BEANER a pitcher who throws the beanball, a pitch thrown intentionally at a batter’s head for the purpose of either moving the batter away from home plate or to punish him, his team, or another player for something he has done
1913 ► CURVEBALLER a pitcher who specializes in throwing curveballs
1913 ► HAM a slow, awkward baseball player → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
1914 ► HEAVER a pitcher
1915 ► BATON SWINGER a batter → arch.
1915 ► BEANTOWNER a member of the Boston Red Sox baseball team
1917 ► TEACHER the manager of a baseball team
1920 ► BABE a large, fat baseball player → Amer. sl.
1920 ► BALL HAWK an especially fast and adept outfielder; one who covers a lot of ground
1922 ► BAD-BALL HITTER a hitter who willingly swings at pitches outside the strike zone
1925 ► BENCH JOCKEY a baseball player on the bench who verbally abuses or mocks members of the opposing team in an attempt to distract them
1926 ► BARNSTORMER a baseball player who plays outside his own leagues → Amer. sl.
1929 ► BIRD DOG a baseball scout who searches for promising athletes → Amer. sl.
1930 ► BASEBALLITE a person with an enthusiasm for the sport → arch.
1930 ► HARDBALLER a baseball player → orig. & chiefly US
1930 ► WINDOW-WEARER a baseball player who wore eyeglasses on the field
1932 ► WOOD-CARRIER a batter who often strikes out; one who carries his bat to and from the plate
1934 ► HITCHY-KOO a baseball player who is nervous in the batter’s box → US sl. (Bk.)
1934 ► TARZAN a slovenly, frowzy baseball player
1935 ► BALL DOG a person who will chase and return stray baseballs → baseball usage
1935 ► BALL HOUND a person who will chase and return stray baseballs → baseball usage
1937 ► YODELER the third base coach, esp. a noisy one who may be trying to unnerve the pitcher or who shouts instructions to the runner on second base
1939 ► BENCH JOCKEY a substitute who rides the bench or seldom gets to play
1939 ► GEORGE STALLINGS PITCHER ‘a 3-and-2 pitcher; one who gets behind every batter; a wild hurler’
1940 ► BANANA BOAT a baseball player who has played winter ball in Latin America
1940 ► CIRCUIT SLUGGER a talented home run hitter → US baseball sl.
1940 ► SATCHELFOOT a baseball player with large feet requiring large brogans
1942 ► BANJO HITTER a weak hitter who seams to ‘strum’ the ball as one would a banjo; one who habitually makes ‘banjo hits’; a weakly hit ball that falls between the infield and the outfield → US sl.
1942 ► BATGIRL a young woman engaged by a team to take care of the players’ bats and other equipment during a game
1942 ► DISHER OF DIAMOND DIRT a baseball sports-writer → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1943 ► GAZOONIE a rookie
1945 ► BENCH COACH an assistant coach, typically taking on the responsibilities of a second in command to the head coach
1945 ► MOVE-AROUND FIELDER a fielder with a wide range, who covers more than the average amount of territory
1947 ► PADDIST the catcher
1948 ► HALL OF FAMER a baseball player elected or belonging to a Hall of Fame (a place where famous persons are commemorated) → orig. & chiefly US
1948 ► STOPPER a dependable relief pitcher → US baseball usage
1949 ► BASEBALL ANNIE an unattached woman who favours the company of baseball players
1954 ► JUNK ARTIST in baseball: a pitcher who specializes in throwing off-speed pitches such as breaking balls and knuckleballs
1958 ► BAUER AND BLACK PLAYER a baseball player who is always playing with a lot of bandage tape, from the name of a company that makes such tape
1959 ► CADDY a second-string player used esp. as a pinch-runner or substitute fielder in late innings → US sl.
1960 ► BAD HANDS a baseball player with poor fielding ability, esp. one who has difficulty holding on to the ball; one who has trouble with short hops
1962 ► HIGH POCKETS a very tall baseball player → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1962 ► HIND SNATCHER the catcher → arch. (Bk.)
1962 ► HIS HONOR an umpire → Amer. baseball sl. (Bk.)
1962 ► PASTURE-MAN an outfielder → Amer. baseball sl. (Bk.)
1964 ► BANANA a good baseball player; a prospect that makes the team
1964 ► BASEBALL SADIE an unattached woman who favours the company of baseball players
1966 ► BIRD DOG a paid tipster → Amer. (Bk.)
1966 ► MONEYBAGS a sarcastic term applied to a bonus player by envious veterans → (Bk.)
1966 ► MOP-UP MAN a pitcher used late in the game when the outcome of the game is no longer in doubt (Bk.)
1966 ► OFER a second-rate baseball player → US sl.
1966 ► TAKE-CHARGE GUY a baseball player who assumes the leadership of a team, particularly during a situation of stress → Amer. (Bk.)
1969 ► HEADHUNTER a pitcher who deliberately aims pitches near a batter’s head to intimidate him → US sl.
1970 ► MOLLY PUTZ a baseball player who performs badly on the field
1974 ► FLY-CHASER an outfielder → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BALL-EATER a proficient baseball fielder → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BARBER a pitcher who is willing and able to force batters away from the plate by pitching fast balls close to their heads → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BARKER a first-base coach in baseball → US sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► BLIND TOM a baseball umpire → US baseball sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► HAND GRENADER a pitcher → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► HEAVY-STICKER a hard hitter → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1975 ► YAN a professional baseball player, esp. a young inexperienced athlete who has just joined a team; a crude or uncouth baseball player → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1978 ► GIMME a baseball player who is easily put out → US sl.
1980 ► BIG TIMER a major league baseball player → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1982 ► BLACK AND DECKER a baseball player used for odd jobs, such as warming up bullpen pitchers
1983 ► MENTAL MIDGET a baseball player who makes dumb mistakes → US sl.
1985 ► BASE CLOGGER a slow runner
1988 ► BIG TIME a baseball player who has a major impact on the game
1989 ► NAILS a baseball player who is tough → Amer. sl.
1992 ► ACE HURLER a team’s best pitcher → sl. (Bk.)
1994 ► APPLE KNOCKER a baseball player; a batter → US sl.
1999 ► ACE the ‘star’ of any baseball team (Bk.)
1999 ► BABE RUTHER a person who plays Babe Ruth Baseball (a nonprofit organization founded in 1951 and located all over the United States that supports summer leagues for age groups 9-12, 13-15, and 16-18) (Bk.)
1999 ► BABY BOOMER a nickname for a strong, young power hitter of the mid-1980s → (Bk.)
1999 ► BACKWARD RUNNER a baserunner who, having advanced one or more bases, is forced to return to a previous base; if such a runner has tagged a new base while advancing, he must retouch that base before returning to the original one → (Bk.)
1999 ► BAD ACTOR a baseball player who is difficult to deal with (Bk.)
1999 ► BAD HEAD a baseball player with a bad psyche (Bk.)
1999 ► BAGGER a first baseman, second baseman, or third baseman, who can be a first bagger, second bagger, or third bagger, respectively (Bk.)
1999 ► BALL HAWK a person who collects as souvenirs balls that are hit outside a ballpark (Bk.)
1999 ► BALLIST a 19th-century baseball player (Bk.)
1999 ► BALLITE a baseball fan → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► BAMBI a meek or extremely mild-mannered player, manager, or coach (Bk.)
1999 ► BANGER a big hitter in the heart of a team’s lineup (Bk.)
1999 ► BANJO a hitter who habitually makes ‘banjo hits’ (a weakly hit ball that falls between the infield and the outfield) (Bk.)
1999 ► BASE JOCKEY a runner who, when on first base, yells derisive comments to the opposing pitcher → (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL BRIDE the wife of a baseball player (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALLEER a baseball player or fan in the earlier days of the 20th century → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL IMMORTAL a baseball player inducted into the Hall of Fame (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL MAN a professional who knows, loves, and understands the game of baseball, whether he be an owner, manager, coach, scout, player, or trainer → (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL MOTHER a dedicated woman who, in the process of ferrying her children to baseball practice and games, becomes a dedicated supporter (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL NUT a baseball fan who is unusually exuberant about the game (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL WIDOW a woman who loses her husband to the ballpark, television set, or radio during the baseball season; the husband spends so much time watching and listening to the games that the wife is virtually abandoned → (Bk.)
1999 ► BASEBALL WIDOWER a man who loses his wife to the ballpark, television set, or radio during the baseball season (Bk.)
1999 ► BASHER a hitter with great power (Bk.)
1999 ► BAT a baseball player seen in his role as a hitter (Bk.)
1999 ► BAT BREAKER a hard hitter who swings the bat with tremendous force; one whose powerful swings often result in a broken bat (Bk.)
1999 ► BATES → BATESY a worn-out or declining baseball player; a veteran player who has seen his best days → (Bk.)
1999 ► BATTER-RUNNER a baserunner who has just completed his time at bat but before he is put out or until the play on which he became a runner is completed (Bk.)
1999 ► BATTERY MATE the pitcher or the catcher (Bk.)
1999 ► BATTLIN’ BACKSTOP a rough, combative catcher → (Bk.)
1999 ► BELLCOW the leader of a pitching staff (Bk.)
1999 ► BELLWETHER the leader of a pitching staff (Bk.)
1999 ► BENCH BLANKET a substitute player whose constant presence on the bench is said to ‘warm’ it (Bk.)
1999 ► BENCH PERFORMER an exceptionally good utility player who is always ready to replace another player whose performance is faltering during the course of a game → (Bk.)
1999 ► BENCH POLISHER a substitute player whose constant presence on the bench is said to ‘polish’ it (Bk.)
1999 ► BETWEEN-INNINGS COMMENTATOR a baseball announcer who fills in with baseball talk and trivia between innings (Bk.)
1999 ► BIBLE HITTER a baseball player who receives very few bases on balls (Bk.)
1999 ► BIG BAT a club’s leading hitter (Bk.)
1999 ► BIG BERTHA the cleanup hitter; the fourth player in the batting order (Bk.)
1999 ► BIG CANNON a hitter who hits the ball hard (Bk.)
1999 ► BIG-NAME PLAYER a baseball star (Bk.)
1999 ► BILL KLEM any person in baseball who is never wrong (Bk.)
1999 ► BLADE a nickname for a thin, wiry baseball player → (Bk.)
1999 ► GAME-ENDER a late-inning relief pitcher; the ‘closer’ (Bk.)
1999 ► GAMER any player in a baseball game → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► GAME WINNER the pitcher credited with winning a game (Bk.)
1999 ► GAP HITTER a hitter who hits the ball between the outfielders (Bk.)
1999 ► GET-UP-OFF-THE-BENCH HITTER a pinch hitter who comes in cold and is often successful (Bk.)
1999 ► GIVER the pitcher → obs. (Bk.)
1999 ► GLOVE DOCTOR a person (sometimes a trainer) who helps players customize their gloves (Bk.)
1999 ► GLOVE MAN a good defensive player; an outstanding fielder (Bk.)
1999 ► GLOVE MAN a weak hitter whose defensive ability keeps him on the team → (Bk.)
1999 ► HACKER a batter with poor form at the plate or one who regularly takes reckless or undisciplined swings at pitches outside the strike zone (Bk.)
1999 ► HAM-AND-EGG RELIEVER a relief pitcher who is usually brought in after the game has been decided (Bk.)
1999 ► HAM HITTER an inferior hitter → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► HAMMER a baseball player who hits pitches with hammerlike blows; an effective pitcher (Bk.)
1999 ► HANDYMAN a baseball player who can play several positions as well as bat (Bk.)
1999 ► HARD OUT a baseball player who is difficult to retire; a batter with a good eye for balls outside the strike zone (Bk.)
1999 ► HAWK an outfielder who covers his territory with speed and skill (Bk.)
1999 ► HEAD CASE a temperamental baseball player (Bk.)
1999 ► HIGH-BALL HITTER a hitter with a reputation for swinging at balls that come in above his belt (Bk.)
1999 ► HIT BATSMAN → HIT BATTER a batter hit by a pitched ball; if the batter makes a reasonable effort to get out of the way of the pitch and does not swing at the ball, he is awarded first base (Bk.)
1999 ► HITSMAN a batter, esp. one who hits the ball → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► HITTING COACH an offensive team coach responsible for the welfare and success of the team’s hitters (Bk.)
1999 ► MEXICAN JUMPING BEAN a major-league player who played in the outlaw Mexican League in 1946-47 (Bk.)
1999 ► MICHELANGELO a superlative pitcher; one who is able to ‘paint a masterpiece’ from the mound (Bk.)
1999 ► MONEYBAGS any highly paid player, esp. one who makes more than most of his teammates (Bk.)
1999 ► MONEY HITTER a hitter with a high batting average (Bk.)
1999 ► MOTOR a baseball player who can run fast (Bk.)
1999 ► PAINT MASTER a pitcher who ‘paints the black’ or pinpoints his pitches (paint the black – to throw pitches over the black borders [inside or outside corners] of home plate) (Bk.)
1999 ► POTATO a baseball player brought up from a farm club (Bk.)
1999 ► RABBIT a baseball player with great speed (Bk.)
1999 ► SABERMETRICIAN a person who engages in or is a fancier of sabermetrics (the study and mathematical analysis of baseball statistics and records) (Bk.)
1999 ► SACRIFICE HITTER a hitter who makes a sacrifice bunt or a sacrifice fly (Bk.)
1999 ► SAFE CARRIER a slow runner; one who seems as if he is running with a safe on his back (Bk.)
1999 ► SAFETY a reserve player (Bk.)
1999 ► SPACE CADET an eccentric baseball player; a ‘flake’ who seems to have come from another planet or outer space (Bk.)
1999 ► SPALDING GUIDE a baseball player whose every move seems posed, as if he were being photographed for the popular ‘Spalding Base Ball Guides’ of yore → arch. (Bk.)
1999 ► SPARE BAT a dependable baseball player normally assigned to the bench but put in the game when a hit is needed (Bk.)
1999 ► SPARK PLUG a baseball player or manager with a fiery temper, one with the ability to spark the team (Bk.)
1999 ► TABLE-SETTER a baseball player whose role is to get on base and/or advance others to set up a scoring opportunity (Bk.)
1999 ► TAGGER a baseball player who makes a tag (Bk.)
1999 ► TALESMAN the official scorer in some circles in the very early days of baseball → obs. (Bk.)
1999 ► TAPPERITIS HITTER a hitter who hits tappers (a lightly hit ball without power, but perhaps well placed) (Bk.)
1999 ► TATTOOED MAN a pitcher who has been hit hard or off whom several hits have been made (Bk.)
1999 ► TEAM PLAYER a baseball player who works with others for the benefit of the team rather than playing for his own recognition; e.g. a player who hits to right field to advance a runner (Bk.)
1999 ► UKULELE HITTER a hitter who hits weak ground balls to the infielders; a poor hitter (Bk.)
1999 ► UKULELE UMPIRE the umpire stationed at third base (Bk.)
1999 ► UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF the umpire positioned behind the plate when there are two or more umpires assigned to a game; he is the official in charge of the game and the only person with the authority to declare a forfeit; he makes all decisions regarding the batter, which includes calling balls, strikes, and foul balls (Bk.)
1999 ► VACUUM CLEANER an excellent fielder → (Bk.)
1999 ► WAITER a batter who attempts to get on base by waiting for a base on balls → (Bk.)
1999 ► WAITER a batter who swings late → (Bk.)
1999 ► WALKING MAN a batter who receives many bases on balls → (Bk.)
1999 ► WALK-UP a fan who makes a single-game ticket purchase at the box office on the day of the game (Bk.)
1999 ► WALLY PIPP a baseball player who takes himself out of the lineup, such as for illness or injury; one who makes a bad move (Bk.)
1999 ► WIG-WAGGER a base coach (Bk.)
1999 ► YANKEE HATER a person who has a long-standing aversion to the New York Yankees (Bk.)
1999 ► YANKEE KILLER a baseball player who performs well against the New York Yankees (Bk.)
1999 ► YOUNG HOPEFUL a newly acquired baseball player with promise → (Bk.)
1999 ► ZEBRA a very fast outfielder (Bk.)
2007 ► ACTOR a baseball player who very convincingly mimes the pain of being hit by a pitch → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
PHRASES
1962 ► OUT AUNT MAGGIE’S WINDOW of a homerun: out of the ballpark → US sl.
VERBS
1873 ► JUGGLE in baseball, of a fielder: to mishandle a ball without dropping it, thereby failing to prevent a runner reaching a base
1880 ► POKE to hit the ball, esp. to hit fairly lightly with precise aim
1886 ► FAN → FAN OUT to strike out; said of a batter → Amer. colloq.
1889 ► FUNGO in baseball: to hit a fly ball, esp. one that has been tossed into the air by oneself
1890 ► SHACK to retrieve stray balls for a baseball or tennis player; to retrieve a stray ball; broadly, to go in search of → Amer. dial.
1891 ► LACE to hit a ball hard → US sl.
1897 ► PIGTAIL to fetch out-of-bound balls → Amer. dial.
1904 ► BALLOON to hit a baseball high in the air → colloq.
1911 ► HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL to throw a pitch with unusual speed or an unusually deceptive motion → US sl.
1916 ► WHIFF to strike at a ball and miss; to strike out → baseball usage
1920 ► NAB to field a ball successfully → Amer. sl.
1939 ► NAB to put out a runner → Amer. sl.
1941 ► HORSECOLLAR to keep a batter hitless during a game → US sl.
M20. ► PULL A ROCK to make a mistake in baseball → US sl.
1950 ► SWING LIKE A RUSTY GATE to swing at a baseball awkwardly or wildly → US baseball usage
1952 ► BLAST in baseball: to hit → US sl.
1952 ► BLOW to throw a baseball fast and hard → US sl.
1970 ► COWTAIL to drive a baseball away out yonder → Amer. dial.
1970 ► SWING FOR THE FENCES to swing very hard, trying for a home run → US baseball usage
1971 ► DOWNTOWN to hit a long home run → Amer. sl.
1974 ► FOG IT IN to pitch a fast ball; to throw hard → Amer. baseball sl. (Bk.)
1977 ► GO DOWNTOWN to hit a long home run → Amer. sl.
1977 ► HIT IT DOWNTOWN to hit a long home run → Amer. sl.
1977 ► TAKE IT DOWNTOWN to hit a long home run → Amer. sl.
1978 ► BUTCHERBOY to bat a ball with a sharp downward motion → US sl.
1978 ► TAKE DOWNTOWN to hit a home run off (a pitcher) → Amer. sl.
Lexicophilia 