Common Baseball Expressions
The booklet’s last page, 46
Thirty-five terms, as the booklet defines them. Some are still in every broadcast; others went out with the decade. A ball hawk still covers ground, but nobody calls second base the keystone sack any more, and the jug handle curve is gone entirely.
- Around the horn
- Double play, third to second to first.
- Balk
- Illegal pitching action on which runners may advance base.
- Ball hawk
- Outfielder who can cover a lot of ground.
- Bobble
- When a fielder mishandles a ball.
- Can of corn
- High fly which results in an easy out.
- Change-of-pace
- A slow ball.
- Clutch hitter
- Batter who comes through consistently with men on.
- Cross fire
- Delivery on which pitcher steps toward base line instead of toward plate.
- Dead ball
- A ball not in play.
- Dish
- Home plate.
- Foot-in-the-bucket
- Batter who pulls away from plate before swinging.
- Force-out
- Retiring runner by touching base to which he is forced to advance.
- Garden
- The outfield.
- Glass arm
- A chronic weak or sore arm.
- Good move
- Pitcher’s ability to hold runner close to base.
- Hit the dirt
- Slide.
- Hot corner
- Third base.
- In the hole
- Pitcher is behind batter, such as three balls and two strikes.
- Infield fly
- A fair, pop fly, which can be caught by infielder is automatic out with less than two out and first and second or first, second and third occupied.
- Initial sack
- First base.
- Jug handle curve
- A curve with a big break.
- Keystone sack
- Second base.
- Passed ball
- Pitched ball which catcher should stop but doesn’t and runner or runners advance.
- Peg
- To throw.
- Pick-off
- Catching runner off base.
- Pinch-hitter
- A substitute batter.
- Pivot man
- Shortstop or second baseman pivoting at second to make double-play throw to first.
- Pull hitter
- Batter who usually hits to same side of field on which he stands at plate. Example, right-hander who hits to left.
- Punch
- Batting power.
- Rubber arm
- Pitcher who works frequently without losing his stuff.
- Screw ball
- A ball which breaks in opposite way from curve ball.
- Sinker
- Fast pitch which drops slightly.
- Slider
- Modified curve.
- Spark plug
- Fiery competitor.
- Wild pitch
- Pitch which catcher cannot be expected to block.
All thirty-five as printed on page 46, in the booklet’s own wording and its own order.