This is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, along with their definitions, including illustrative examples for many entries.

0–9

0

1

The number 1 in baseball refers to the pitcher's position, a shorthand call for throwing to first, a single hit, and a fastball sign.

1-2-3 inning

1-2-3 double play

1-6-3 double play

2

Catcher (2) gets a "Two!" call for throws to second, a "two-bagger" is a double, and the number 2 signs for a curveball.

2–2–2 (2 balls, 2 strikes, 2 outs)

20–80 scale

3

The first baseman (3) receives throws with shouts of "Three!", nabs runners attempting triples ("three-baggers"), and the number 3 might signal a slider from the pitcher.

3-2-3 double play

3-6 double play

3-6-1 double play

3-4-3 double play

3-6-3 double play

4

4-6-3 double play

45-foot line

4 wide ones

5

5 hole

5.6 hole

5-4-3 double play

5-4-3 triple play

5-tool player

6

6-4-3 double play

7

7-2, 8-2, or 9-2 double play

8

9

9 to 0

12–6

30-30 club

40-40 club

50-50 club

55-footer

90 feet

A

A-Ball or Class A

AA

AAA

AAAA player

aboard

ace

advance a runner

ahead in the count

aim the ball

airmail

alabaster blast

alley

ambush

American League (AL)

American League Championship Series (ALCS)

American League Division Series (ALDS)

Annie Oakley

appeal play

Arizona Fall League (AFL)

arm

around the horn

arsonist

ash

aspirin

assist

associate team

asterisk

at 'em ball

at bat

at the letters

ate him up

ate the ball

attack the strike zone

automatic double

automatic strike

away

B

backdoor breaking ball

backstop

back-to-back

backup

bad-ball hitter

bad hop

bag

bail

balk

ball

ball in play

banana stalk

bandbox

bang

banjo hitter

barehand it

barrel

barrel up

base hit

base knock

Baseball Annie

bases loaded

basement

baserunner

basket catch

bat

bat around

bat drop

bat flip

bat the ball

batter

batter's eye

batter's box

battery

battery mates

batting average

batting practice

battle

bazooka

BB

BBCOR

bean

beat out

beat the rap

behind in the count

belt

bench

bench jockey

bender

big as a grapefruit

big fly

big inning

Big Leagues

big swing

bigs

bingle

blast

bleachers

bleeder

blistered

block the plate

bloop curve

blooper

blow

blow open

blown save

blowser

blue

bomb

boner

bonus baby

bonus baseball

booted

bottom of the inning

bottom dropped out of it

box

box score

BP

BR

brand new ball game

breaking ball

break one off

break open the game

bring

broken-bat

Bronx Bombers

bronx cheer

browsing

brushback

buck and change

bug on the rug

Bugs Bunny change-up

bullpen

bullpen by committee

bullpen game

bullpen session

bullpenning

bump

bunt

bush league

businessman's special

bust him in

butcher

butcher boy

buzz the tower

C

Cactus League

caddy

called up

cannon

can of corn

Captain Hook

carve up

cash in

catbird seat

catch up to a fastball

catcher's interference

caught looking

caught napping

cellar

cement mixer

center cut

the chair

challenge the hitter

change the eye level

changeup

charge

charging the mound

chase

chatter

Chavez Ravine

cheap run

check the runner

checked swing

cheddar

cheese

chin music

Chinese home run

chinker

chopper

choke up

chuck

circle

circus catch

clean hit

clean inning

cleanup hitter

clear the bases

climbing the ladder

clinic

closer

close the book

clothesline

clubhouse

clutch

cock-shot

collar

comebacker

command

complete game

complete game shut out

contact hitter

contact pitcher

contact play

control artist

cookie

Cooperstown

corked bat

corners

corner outfielder

cornerman

count

cousin

covering a base

crack of the bat

crackerbox

crackerjack

crafty

crank

crash

crooked number

creature

crossed up

crowd the hitter

crowd the plate

crush the ball

cue the ball

cup of coffee

curveball

cut

cut fastball

cut down on his swing

cut the ball off

cut-off

cut-off man

cycle

D

daisy cutter

dance

dark one

dead arm

dead ball

dead-ball era

dead pull hitter

dead red

deal

decided in the last at bat

deep in the count

defender

defensive efficiency rating

defensive indifference

deliver

designated for assignment

A process that allows a player to be removed from his team's 40-man roster.

designated hitter

deuce

deuces wild

DFA

DH

dial long distance

dialed up

Referring to a fastball. "He dialed up that pitch."

diamond

die

dig it out

dinged (up)

dinger

dirt-nap

disabled list

dish

diving over the plate

DL

doctoring the ball

dong

dot

double

double clutch

double parked

double play

'Roll a bump' is a colloquial east coast slang for turning a 1-6-3 double play or a 1-4-3 double play.

double play depth

double steal

double switch

double up

doubleheader

doubles hitter

"down"

down the line

down the middle

down the stretch

DP combo

drag bunt

draw

drawn in

dribbler

drilled

drive

drop

drop ball

drop off the table

dropped third strike

duck snort

ducks on the pond

due

dugout

dump

duster, dust-off pitch

dying quail

E

ERA

early innings

earned run

earned run average

earnie

easy out

eat the ball

Eephus

eject

elephant ear(s)

emergency hack

emergency starter

emery ball

erase

error

even count

everyday player

Evil Empire

excuse me swing

expand the strike zone

expanded roster

extend the arms

extra bases

extra innings

extra frames

extra out

eyewash

F

fall classic

The World Series—the championship series of Major League Baseball, in which the champion of the American League faces off against the champion of the National League. Typically, this series takes place in October, so playing in October is the goal of any major league team. Reggie Jackson's moniker "Mr. October" indicates that he played with great distinction in the World Series for the Yankees. Another Yankee, Derek Jeter, picked up the nickname "Mr. November" after he hit a walk-off home run in Game4 of the 2001 World Series just after midnight local time on November1. By comparison, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's dubbing another of his players (Dave Winfield) "Mr. May" expressed his disappointment with that player's performance in the Fall Classic. The one time the Fall Classic was actually played in the summer was 1918, when the season was curtailed due to World War I and the Series was played in early September. The first time the Fall Classic extended in to November was in 2001. Jeter's walk-off homer was the first plate appearance in the month of November in MLB history; the 2001 season had been delayed for several days following 9/11, eventually pushing the start of the World Series into the last week of October – and the end of the Series in to November. The 2009, 2010, and 2015–17 World Series would subsequently have games in November.

fall off the table

A pitch is said to "fall off the table" when it starts in the strike zone or appears hittable to the batter and ends low or in the dirt. This term is mainly used for change ups and split-fingered fastballs, and occasionally for an overhand curveball.

fan

To "fan" a batter is to strike him out, especially a swinging strike three.

fan interference

When a fan or any person not associated with one of the teams alters play in progress (in the judgment of an umpire), it is fan interference. The ball becomes dead, and the umpire will award any bases or charge any outs that, in his judgment, would have occurred without the interference. This is one of several types of interference calls in baseball. If a fan touches a ball that is out of the field of play, such as a pop fly into the stands, it is not considered to be fan interference even if a defensive player might have fielded the ball successfully. So the infamous case in Game6 of the NLCS in which a Chicago Cubs fan, Steve Bartman, attempted to catch a ball in foul territory thereby possibly preventing Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou from making a circus catch, was not a case of fan interference.

fancy Dan

A fielder who puts an extra flourish on his movements while making a play in hopes of gaining the approval of the spectators. Wilbert Robinson was manager when Al López started out as a catcher in the majors. Robinson watched Lopez' style and finally hollered, "Tell that punk he got two hands to catch with! Never mind the stuff." Lopez went on to eventually surpass Robinson's record of games behind the plate.

farm team

A farm team is a team or club whose role it is to provide experience and training for young players, with an expectation that successful players will move to the big leagues at some point. Each Major League Baseball team's organization has a farm system of affiliated farm teams at different minor league baseball levels.

fastball

A pitch that is thrown more for high velocity than for movement; it is the most common type of pitch. Also known as smoke, a bullet, a heater (the heat generated by the ball can be felt), the express (as opposed to the local, an offspeed pitch), or a hummer (the ball cannot be seen, only heard).

fastball count

A count in which the pitcher would be ordinarily expected to throw a fastball, such as 3–1, 3–2, or 2–1, as fast ball are usually easiest to locate in the strike zone. Occasionally a pitcher will pull the string by throwing an off-speed pitch.

fastball happy

When a pitcher relies too much on his fastball, perhaps because his other pitches are not working well for him during that game, he is said to be "fastball happy". This can get a pitcher into trouble if the batters can anticipate that the next pitch will be a fastball. "Andy is at his best when he trusts his breaking stuff and doesn't try to overpower guys. When he gets fastball happy he gets knocked around."

fat pitch

A pitch that is located exactly where the hitter is expecting it. The ball may look bigger than it actually is, and the batter may hit it a long way.

feed

To throw the ball carefully to another fielder in a way that allows him to make an out. A first-baseman who has just fielded a ground ball will "feed the ball" to the pitcher who is running over from the mound to make the force out at first base. An infielder who has fielded a ground-ball will feed the ball to the player covering second base so the latter can step on the base and quickly throw to first base to complete a double play.

fencebuster

A slugger.

field

fielder

Any defensive player (the offense being batters and runners). Often, defensive players are distinguished as either pitchers or position players. Position players are further divided into infielders and outfielders.

field manager

The head coach of a team is called the manager (more formally, the field manager). He controls team strategy on the field. He sets the line-up and starting pitcher before each game as well as making substitutions throughout the game. In modern baseball the field manager is normally subordinate to the team's general manager (or GM), who among other things is responsible for personnel decisions, including hiring and firing the field manager. However, the term manager used without qualification almost always refers to the field manager.

fielder's choice

A fielder's choice (FC) is the act of a fielder, upon fielding a batted ball, choosing to try to putout a baserunner and allow the batter-runner to advance to first base. Despite reaching first base safely after hitting the ball, the batter is not credited with a hit but would be charged with an at-bat.

figger filbert

An old-fashioned and more colorful way of saying "numbers nut" or stathead, for a fan with a near-obsessive interest in the statistics or "figures" of the game. The first true "figger filbert" was probably Ernest Lanigan, who was the first historian of the Baseball Hall of Fame and prior to that was one of the first, if not the first, to publish an encyclopedia of baseball stats, in the 1920s. In the modern era, Bill James could be said to be the iconic "figger filbert". He is also a founding father of the field of baseball research called sabermetrics.

fight off a pitch

When a batter has two strikes on him and gets a pitch he cannot hit cleanly, he may be said to "fight off the pitch" by fouling it off. "Langerhans fought off one 3-2 pitch, then drove the next one to the gap in left-center to bring home the tying and winning runs."

filthy

A compliment for a pitcher, especially one who specializes in breaking balls with a lot of movement. Also for a particularly impressive breaking ball, especially one thrown for a third strike. Synonymous with "nasty". Bert Blyleven was an example of a pitcher with an absolutely filthy curveball.

find a hole

To get a base hit by hitting the ball between infielders. "The 13th groundball that Zachry allowed found a hole."

find his bat

When a batter has been in a slump perhaps for no evident reason, but then starts getting hits, he may be said to have "found his bat". "With the Tigers having found their bats for a night, they reset the series and put themselves in position to all but lock up the AL Central."

find his swing

When a batter has experienced a slump, he may take extra practice or instruction to "find his swing". Perhaps he has a hitch in his swing, or his batting stance has changed. Having "lost his swing", now he must "find it". This phrase is also used in golf.

find the seats

As if a ball leaving the bat is in search of a place to land, a ball that "finds the seats" is one that leaves the field of play and reaches the stands. It may either be a home run or a foul ball (out of the reach of the fielders).

fireballer

A pitcher who throws extremely high-velocity fastballs, in excess of 95 miles per hour. A flamethrower.

fireman

A team's top relief pitcher who is often brought in to end an offensive rally and "put out the fire". The term has been attributed to New York Daily News cartoonist Bruce Stark, who in the 1970s first depicted relievers for the New York Mets and Yankees as firemen coming in to save their teams from danger.

fireplug

A player, often one of small stature, who is known for his energy, extroversion, and team spirit – sometimes perhaps more than for his playing ability. "Morgan defied this mold by outworking everybody and employing his moderate athletic gifts to become one of the best all-around players of his era. He hit for power, he hit for average, he stole bases and manufactured runs and he was one of the toughest, smartest defensive second basemen the game has ever seen. He was a relentless fireplug, respected by opposing players and hated by opposing fans."

first-ball hitter

A hitter who likes to hit the first pitch in an at bat, especially if the hitter often gets a hit on the first pitch.

fisted

When a batter swings at a pitch that is inside and the ball hits the bat close to his fists (hands). "Following the top half of the first, the Bulls offense struck early when junior leftfielder Junior Carlin fisted a pitch back up the middle on a 1–0 count."

five and dive

A derogatory term referring to a starting pitcher who is unable to go beyond five innings before wearing out. In the current era in which managers are increasingly aware of the risk of injury to pitchers who have high pitch counts, and in which relief pitching has become a critical part of the game, starters achieve fewer and fewer complete games. Headline: "Vasquez Disputes Five-and-Dive Label".

five o'clock hitter

A hitter who hits really well during batting practice, but not so well during games. These were formerly known as "ten o'clock hitters" or "two-o'clock hitters" back when there were no night games.

five-tool player

See 5-tool player.

FL or F.L.

Abbreviation for Federal League, a major league that existed from 1914 to 1915. This would be the last "third Major League" to come into existence.

flag down

To catch or knock down a line drive, as if flagging down a speeding train. "Cody Ross, who singled and moved to second on a ground-out, was stranded when Ramírez's scorched liner... was flagged down by a diving Jones."

flamethrower

A fireballer.

flare

A fly ball hit a short distance into the outfield. "Pudge hit a flare just out of the shortstop's reach."

flashing the leather

Making an outstanding or difficult defensive play. A player who regularly makes difficult defensive plays may be described as a "leather flasher". See leather.

flip

floater

A knuckleball. A pitch that may appear to the batter to float or bob up and down on its way to the plate.

fluke hit

A base hit that results from a weakly batted ball or one that takes an odd bounce.

flutterball

A knuckleball, a floater.

fly ball

A ball hit high in the air. See also pop fly, infield fly, and ground ball.

fly ball pitcher

A pitcher who tends to induce more fly balls than ground balls. Those pitchers are disadvantageous in that they allow more home runs than any other pitcher.

fly out

force play

When a runner must advance to another base because the batter becomes a runner and, as such, must advance to first base. In this situation, the runner is out if a fielder with the ball touches the base the runner is being forced to; this is considered a "force out". A play when a fly ball is caught and a fielder touches a base prior to the runner tagging up is not a force play, but an appeal play.

forkball

A type of split-finger fastball or splitter in which the fingers are spread out as far as possible. The ball drops sharply and typically out of the strike zone, maybe even into the dirt.

foul ball

A batted ball that settles into foul territory.

foul lines

Two straight lines drawn on the ground from home plate to the outfield fence to indicate the boundary between fair territory and foul territory. These are called either the left-field foul line and the right-field foul line, or the third-base foul line and first-base foul line, respectively. The foul poles on the outfield walls are vertical extensions of the foul lines. Despite their names, both the foul lines and the foul poles are in fair territory. Any fly ball that strikes the foul line (including the foul pole) beyond first or third base is a fair ball (and in the case of the foul pole, a home run). Note that while the foul lines in baseball are in fair territory, just like the side- and end-lines of a tennis court, in basketball or American football the sidelines are considered out of bounds. In other words, hitting the ball "on the line" is good for the offensive player in baseball and tennis, but stepping on the line is bad for the offensive player in basketball and American football. The situation is slightly different in association football (soccer): the sideline and the goal line are inbounds, and the ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the side line (touch line) or the goal line, whether on the ground or in the air.

foul off

Purposely batting a pitch foul with two strikes in order to keep the at-bat going, in part to tire the pitcher and in part to get another, different pitch that might be easier to hit. Luke Appling was said to be the king of "fouling them off". Such a hitter might also be said to be battling or working the pitcher.

foul pole

A pole located on each foul line on the outfield fence or wall. The left-field foul pole and right-field foul pole are used by umpires to determine whether a batted ball is a home run or a foul ball. The foul pole is a vertical extension of the foul line. The term "foul pole" is actually a misnomer, because the "foul pole" (like the foul line) is in fair territory and a fly ball that hits the foul pole is considered to be a fair ball (and a home run).

foul tip

A batted ball that is hit sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's mitt and legally caught by the catcher. It is not a foul tip, as most announcers and journalists mistakenly use the term, if the ball is not caught by the catcher. In this case, it is simply a foul ball. It is also not considered a foul tip if it rebounds off something, like the ground, catcher's mask, the batter, etc. after being struck by the bat but before touching the catcher's mitt. A foul tip is considered in play, not a foul ball, and also counts as a strike, including the third strike (and is also considered a strikeout for the pitcher). It is signalled by the umpire putting his right hand flat in the air and brushing his left hand against it (imitating the ball glancing off the bat) and then using his standard strike call. If the out is not the third out then the ball is alive and in play (unlike on a foul) and runners are in jeopardy if they are trying to advance.

four-bagger

A home run. Note that the 4th "bag" is actually a plate.

four-fingered salute

An intentional base on balls, from the manager's signal to direct the pitcher to issue one, or to direct the umpire to award the batter first base.

four-seam fastball

A standard fastball, which does not necessarily break though a good one will have movement as well as velocity and location that makes it difficult to hit. The batter sees the four parallel seams spin toward him. A four-seamer. See two-seamer.

frame

free baseball

Slang for extra innings. The fans get to see extra innings "for free".

free pass

A base on balls. "Free" because the batter does not have to hit the ball to get on base. Also referred to as a "free ticket" and an Annie Oakley.

freeze the hitter

To throw a strike that is so unexpected or in such a location that the batter doesn't swing at it. "As Cashman spoke, Pettitte fired a strike on the corner, which froze the hitter." "But the right-hander reached in her bag of tricks and threw a tantalizing changeup that froze the hitter for the final out."

friendly confines

A nickname for Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

frozen rope

A hard-hit line drive. Also a strong throw from the outfield.

full count

A count of 3 balls and 2 strikes; another strike will result in a strikeout, while another ball will result in a walk. At that point, only a foul ball will extend the at-bat.

full house

fungo

A fly ball hit for fielders to practice catching. It is not part of the game, but is accomplished by a batter tossing the ball a short distance up in the air and then batting it himself.

fungo bat

A lightweight bat with a long, skinny barrel used to hit fungoes. It is not a legal or safe bat to use in a game or even in practice with a live pitcher, because it is too light.

G

gamer

gap

gap hitter

gas

gascan

gate receipts

GEDP

general manager

gem

get a good piece of it

Getaway Day

Getaway Day lineup

get on one's horse

get good wood

get off the schneid

GIDP

glove

GM

go-ahead run

go deep

go down in order

go quietly

go the distance

go the route

go yard

going bridge

gold glove

golden sombrero

golfing

gone

good eye

good hit, no field

good piece of hitting

A situation where a batter puts the ball in play in a way that maximizes the result for his team. "Good pieces of hitting" tend to result in runs scoring and draining several pitches out of an opposing pitcher, especially in situations where the pitcher's team was looking for a decent amount of length.

good take

Goodbye Mr. Spalding!

goose egg

gopher ball

got a piece of it

got him

got to him early

When a team's batters gets several hits and runs off of the opposing starting pitcher in early innings the batters are said to "get to him early".

got under the ball

When a hitter swings slightly under the center of the pitched ball, thereby leading to a high fly ball out instead of a home run, he's said to "get under the ball".

grab some pine

grand slam

grandstand play

granny

Grapefruit League

great seats

green light

green monster

groove a pitch

ground ball

ground ball with eyes

ground ball pitcher

ground-rule double

ground rules

guess hitter

gun

gun down

gyroball

H

hack

Hall of Fame

Hall of Very Good

hammer

handcuff

handle

hang

happy

hard hands

hardball

hat trick

HBP

head of lettuce

headhunter

heart of the plate

heat

heavy hitter

help his own cause

herky-jerky

hesitation pitch

hidden ball trick

high and tight

high cheese

high hard one

high heat

high let it fly; low let it go

hill

hit

hit a bullet

hit and run

hit away

hit behind the runner

hit by pitch

hit 'em where they ain't

hit for average

hit for the cycle

hit it where the grass don't grow

hit on Christmas Day

hit parade

hit the ball on the screws

hit the deck

hit the dirt

hitch in his swing

hitter

a person who hits a ball with a bat in baseball.

hitter's count

hitter's park

hitterish

hold

hold the runner on

hold up on a swing

hole

hole in his glove

hole in his swing

hole in the lineup

home

home cooking

home advantage/home field advantage

home game/home team

home half

home plate

home run

home run derby

home run trot

Unfortunately for his personal power totals, Milledge was bamboozled into believing his liner in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night had cleared the left-field fence at PNC Park for his first career grand slam. Dead certain he had gone deep, Milledge raised his fist rounding first base, put his head down and went into a trot. Cool. Double-dog certain because the fireworks guy at PNC set off the pyrotechnics that explode every time a Bucs player goes deep. Music also began to blare. What a glorious moment for the Bucs!... only, the ball had not cleared the fence. It hit the top and stayed in the field of play. As Bucs announcer Bob Walk said, "Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh oh—we got a problem here." Milledge was not quite midway between second and third base when he realized the Cubs had him in a rundown. And, yeah, um, he was tagged out. Score that a two-run double and a big ol' base-running blunder.

home stand

home team

homer

hook

hook foul

hopper

horsehide

hose

hot

hot box

hot corner

hot stove league

house by the side of the road

howitzer

human rain delay

humpback liner

hurler

I

ice cream cone

I have it. You get it.

immaculate inning

in the batter's eyes

infield fly rule

infielder

inherited runner

Inherited runners or inherited baserunners are the runners on base when a relief pitcher enters the game. Since a previous pitcher has allowed these runners to reach base (or was simply pitching when the runners reached base, such as in the case of a fielding error), any inherited runners who score when the relief pitcher is pitching are charged to the previous pitcher's runs allowed and/or earned runs allowed total, depending on how each runner reached base. Modern box scores list how many runners each relief pitcher inherits (if any), and how many of those inherited runners the relief pitcher allows to score, called inherited runs allowed (IRA).

in jeopardy

injured list

inning

innings eater

"The success of most pitchers is based on statistics such as won-loss record, ERA or saves, but the unsung 'innings eater' is judged by how many innings he pitches and the impact his work has on the rest of the staff. 'I don't have a whole lot of goals going into the season. I don't shoot for a certain ERA or a certain strikeout number or certain number of wins,' says Blanton, entering his second full season. 'I try to go out and get a quality start every time, six innings or more, and not miss any starts. I feel if I can do that, I'll get my 200 innings in a year and everything else falls into place with that.'"

inside baseball

inside the ball

inside-out swing

inside-the-park home run

insurance run

intentional pass/intentional walk

interference

interleague play

Internet baseball awards

interstate

in the books

in the hole

in the (his) kitchen

in play

IO (in and out)

J

J-run

jack

jake

jam

janitor throw

jelly legs

jerk

Judy

juiced

jump

Junior Circuit

junk

junkball pitcher

K

K

keep off the boards

keep the hitter honest

keep the line moving

keystone

kicked

kill

knee-buckler

knock

knuckleball

L

lace

Lady Godiva

LAIM

large sausage

laser show

late innings

laugher

launch

launch angle

launch pad

Lawrence Welk

lay down

lay off

lead

leadoff hitter

leaning

leather

left-handed bat

left-handed hitter

left-handed specialist

left on base

leg out

letter high

lift

lights-out

Linda Ronstadt

line drive

lineup

lineup card

Little League home run

live arm

Live Ball Era

live on the corners

lively fastball/life on the ball

load the bases

LOB

locate

lock him up

lollipop

long ball

long ones

long out

long reliever

long strike

LOOGY

look the runner back

looper

Lord Charles

lose a hitter

losing record

losing streak

loss

lost his swing

lost the ball in the sun

loud out

Louisiana ball

lumber

M

Maddux

Magic number

magic words

make a statement

make the pitcher work

make-up call

make-up game

manager

Manfred man

manufacturing runs

masher

matchsticks

meat

meatball

Mendoza line

men in blue

mercy rule

metal bat swing

middle infielders

middle innings

middle of the inning

middle of the order hitter

middle reliever

midnight

miscue

miss some bats

miss some spots

mistake

mitt

mix up pitches

MLB

money pitch

money player

moneyball

moonshot

mop up

morning journal

motor

mound

mound visit

moundsman

movement

mow 'em down

muff

murderer's row

mustard

MVP

N

NA

nail-biter

nailed

nails

neighborhood play

next batter's box

nibble

nickel curve

nightcap

NL or N.L.

NLCS or N.L.C.S.

NLDS or N.L.D.S.

NOBLETIGER

no decision

no-doubter

no-hitter

no man's land

no room at the inn

no-no

northpaw

NRI

nubber

O

obstruction

OBP

O-fer

official game

official scorer

off day

off-speed pitch

off the hook

off the trademark

OFP

ol' number one

Olympic rings

on a line

on-base percentage (OBP)

on deck

on his horse

on the black

on the board

on the farm

on the interstate

on the ropes

on the rug

on the throw

one-game wonder

one-hitter

one-two-three inning

opener

opening day

opposite field hit

OPS (On-base Plus Slugging)

ordinary effort

out pitch

outfielder

outside corner

overpower the hitter

overshift

overthrow

P

paint

pair of shoes

paper doll cutter

parachute

park

park effects

passed ball

paste

patient hitter

patrol

payback

payoff game

payoff pitch

PCL

pea

pearl

pearod

PECOTA

peeking

peg

pen

pennant race

pepper

percentage points

perfect game

perfect inning

permanently ineligible

PFP

phantom ballplayer

phantom tag

pick it clean

pick me up

pick up the pitch

picket fence

pickle

pickoff

pill

pimping

pinch hitter

pinch runner

pine tar

pink hat

pinpoint control

pitch

pitch around

pitch count

pitch to

pitch to contact

pitch tracking

pitcher

pitcher of record

pitcher's best friend

pitchers' duel

pitcher's mound

pitcher's park

pitcher's pitch

pitcher's spot

pitching from behind

pitchout

pivot man

PL or P.L.

place hitter

plate

plate appearance

plate discipline

platinum sombrero

platoon

platter

play

play by the book

player to be named later

players' manager

playing back

playing in

playoffs

plunked

plus

plus pitch

plus plus pitch

plus player

poke

pop

portsider

position

position player

post-season

pound the batter inside

pound the strike zone

powder river

power alleys

power hitter

power outage

power pitcher

power stroke

power surge

pow wow

prep

pro ball

probable pitcher

productive out

projectable

protested game

pull

Punch and Judy

punch out

purpose pitch

push

put a charge on the ball

put a hurt

put away

Q

qualifier

quality at bat

quality start

quick pitch

quiet bats

quiet swing

R

rabbit ears

rag arm

railroad

rain delay

rainbow

rainout

rake

rally

rally cap

range

reach or reached

RBI

RBI situation

receiver

regular season

regulation game

rehab assignment

relay

relief pitcher

reliever

replacement-level player

replacement player

restricted list

retire the batter

retire the runner

retire the side

rhubarb

ribbie, ribeye

rifle

right-handed bat

right-handed hitter

ring him up

rip

RISP

RLSP

road game

road trip

robbed

rocking chair

ROOGY

rookie

roll a pair

room service

rooster tail

rope

roster

rotation

roughed up

roundhouse curveball

round-tripper

rubber

rubber arm

rubber game

run

run on contact

run rule

rundown

rung up

runners at the corners

runners in scoring position

Ruthian

S

sabermetrics

sack

sacrifice bunt

sacrifice fly

safety

safety squeeze

salad

salami

Sally League

sandwich round

save

saw off

scoring position

scratch hit

screaming line drive

screwball

seal the win

seamer

season

seasoning

secondary pitch

seed

seeing-eye ball

send a runner

senior circuit

sent down

sent to the showers

series

serve

set position

set the table

setup pitcher

seventh-inning stretch

shade

shag

shake off

shell

shift

shine ball

shoestring catch

short hop

short porch

short rest

shorten his swing

shorten the game

shot

the show

show bunt

show me

shutout

shuts the door

side retired

sidearmer

sign

single

sinker

sitting on a pitch

situational hitting

skids

skip

sky

skyscraper

slap hitter

slash line

slice foul

slide

slider

slug

slump

slurve

small ball

smoke

snap throw

snicker

snow cone

snowman

soft hands

soft toss

soft tosser

solo home run

sophomore jinx

southpaw

spank

sparkplug

Spider Tack

speed merchant

spike

spitter

split-finger

splits

spoil a pitch

spot starter

spray hitter

spring training

square around

square up

squeeze play

squeeze the zone

squibber

staff

stand-up double or triple (or standing/standing up)

An extra-base hit in which the runner reaches base easily without needing to slide, i.e. remains standing up as he touches the bag. Also referred to simply as "standing" i.e. "the runner from 3rd base scores standing (up)."

stance

stanza

starting pitcher

starting rotation

station

station-to-station

stathead

stats

stayed alive

steady diet

steaks

steal

stealing signs

stepping in the bucket

stick it in his ear

stick it in his pocket

sticky stuff

stolen base

stole first

stone fingers

stopper

stranded

streak

stretch

stretch a hit

stretch the lineup

stretch run

strike

strike out

strikeout pitch

strikeout pitcher

strike 'em out/throw 'em out

strike out the side

strike zone

string

struck out looking

struck out swinging

struck out bunting

stuff

submarine

subway series

Sunday Funday

suicide squeeze

summer classic

sweep

sweeper

sweet spot

swing

switch hitter

T

tablesetter

tag

tag up

tailgate

take a pitch

take sign

take something off the pitch

take the bat out of his hands

take the crown

take the field

take-out slide

tap

tape measure home run

tater

tattoo

tax evader

TB

tea party

tee off

telegraph

terminator

Texas Leaguer

third of an inning

three-bagger or three-base hit

three true outcomes

three up, three down

through the wickets

throw a clothesline

throw him the chair

thrower

throwing seeds/throwing the pill/throwing BBs

tie him up

tilt

time play

tin glove

tipping

toe the slab

took the ball out of the catcher's glove

took the collar

tomahawk

Tommy John surgery

tools

tools of ignorance

Different sources have credited Muddy Ruel and Bill Dickey with coining the phrase.

toolsy

TOOTBLAN

top of the inning

top of the order batter

top-step pitcher

tore the cover off the ball

tossed

total bases

touch all the bases

touched up

touchdown

TR

track down

trap

triple

triple crown

triple play

turn two

twin bill

twin killing

twirler

two away or two down

two-bagger or two-base hit

two-seam fastball

two-sport player

two-way player

U

UA or U.A.

Uecker seats

ugly finder

ukulele hitter

ultimate grand slam

umpire

unassisted play

Uncle Charlie

uncontested steal, undefended steal

up

up and in

up in the zone

up the middle

upper decker

uppercut

upstairs

up the elevator shaft

up the middle

utility

V

visit

VORP

vulture

W

waiting for the express and caught the local

wallop

walk

walk-off

warning track

warning track power

waste a pitch

wave

wearing a pitch

web gem

went deep

went fishing

wheelhouse

wheel play

wheels

whiff

whiffout

whip

whitewash

wild card

wild in the strike zone

wild pitch

win

window shopping

windup

winning record

winning streak

winter leagues

wire-to-wire

wood

work the count

worm burner

worm killer

wrapped around the foul pole

WW

Y

yabo

yacker/yakker

yank

yard

yellow hammer

yips

Z

zeroes

zinger

zip

zone

Sources