Peppy chattter out on the playing diamond, dads using baseball terms explaining the action, young gentlemen talking baseball and woo to their lady companion and the grandstand hawkers selling goods all over the ballpark.
"Come on Big Hoss make him leave there running."
"Son that scoop by Jimmy Knowles there at shortstop flipping the ball to Dicky at second getting the runner coming from first and then Dicky rifling it on over to first for the second out we call a twin killing."
"Ginny that's Bill Panter out there at shortstop and he played his high school baseball at Shades Valley." "Remember playing against him and Bobby Smokes a feller from Irondale during our American Legion Baseball playing days."
"Hot Peanuts Popcorn--Ice Cold Beer!-- Get Your Programs Here--Cotton Candy While It Lasts...Get Your Coney Now...."
Around and around the grandstands and the bleachers area of the ole ball field the ballpark lingo rings in a never ceasing ebb and flow each carrying its own unique purposeful message.
Baseball ballparks all over the globe will often find a Dad and Son totally talking the talk while engrossed in their sharing of ballpark lingo. This is one sight so much a part of our Americana scene it simply makes ones heart literally leap for joy seeing this Dad and son sharing togetherness at the ole ballpark.
It is not a neccesity to hear the banter in words for it is the animated body language and bright eyed intensity being shared which is a picture worth more than a million words for the emotional descriptive heart tugs.
"High above the din of all the ballpark lingo noise such as those hawkers carrying their load of goods harkening to the fans get your "Ice Cold Cokes Here".. "Get Your Game Souvenirs" "Hot Peanuts" "Big Orange Belly Washers"
"There in the box seats in the hot sun sits the Lady who knows well this ballpark lingo. I think she sang the goodnight tune last evening just as the last batter went down swinging--- The Game was Over. "Ironically she was now letting the sun do a thing on her plump and rotund womanly figure and she was heard to exclaim, "How could it be so hot with so many fans?"
The festive spirited atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the constant buzz through out the stadium as ballpark lingo takes on it's very own and unique clamor.
Catch the camaraderie of encouraging words being passed between the players out on the diamond. There is the where and the why you will become to know that ballpark lingo has a true meaning for it is the pepper words forming the glue keeping track of the winning world series ball teams.
Ballpark lingo being used in the hushed but designed talk between a young suiter bringing his girl friend to the game is slanted not to all baseball strategy of play but the play of boy for girl.
The ballpark lingo between these two for sure will often center on one knowing and teaching and the other showing an intense interest to learn this baseball and ballpark lingo.
What excitement so permeates the air as the Cola and Souvenir Hawking professional as these ballpark lingo salesmen ply their sing song very loud attention getting announcements of their goods. The baseball ballpark lingo of these seasoned experts at the sales pitch have all the stretch with no bashful reluctance of expression so stressed in the Dale Carnegie Courses.
Never should we forget to share some of our ballpark lingo which is totally baseball and also part of the ball game atmosphere.
ace -- A team's best starting pitcher. When he twirls he usually wins.
alley-- The section of the outfield between the outfielders. Also "gap."
around the horn-- A double play going from third base to second to first. This we refer to as getting the twin killing the hard way.
backdoor slider -- A pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone, but then breaks back over the plate.
bag -- A base. The first second and third base bags are canvas covered square cushioned square bases.
Baltimore chop -- A ground ball that hits in front of home plate (or off of it) and takes a large hop over the infielder's head.
bandbox-- A small ballpark that favors hitters.
bang-bang play -- A play in which the baserunner hits the bag a split-second before the ball arrives or vice versa. usually draws vociferous complaint by the opponent the call is against.
basket catch -- When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level. The "Say Hey Kid" baseball-hall-of-fame
Willie Mays was recognized as the master of the basket catch. Bronx cheer -- When the crowd boos.
brushback -- A pitch that nearly hits a batter.
bush -- Also "bush league." An amateur play or behavior. can of corn -- An easy catch by a fielder.
caught looking -- When a batter is called out on strikes.
cellar -- Last place. Also "basement."
cheese -- Also "good cheese." Refers to a good fastball.
chin music -- A pitch that is high and inside.
circus catch -- An outstanding catch by a fielder.
closer -- A team's relief pitcher who finishes the game.
cutter -- A cut fastball pitch (one with a late break to it).
cycle -- When a batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. Qiite a feat and is rather a rare thing.
dinger -- A home run. come even use the expression "going yard"
dish -- Home plate.
fireman -- A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher.
fungo -- A ball hit to a fielder during practice. It's usually hit by a coach using a "fungo bat," which is longer and thinner than a normal bat.
gap -- See "alley." A ball hit here is a "gapper."
gopher ball -- A pitch hit for a home run, as in "go for."
heat -- A good fastball. Also "heater." Ole timers many times referred to Walter Johnson's pitches as heat.
high and tight -- Referring to a pitch that's up in the strike zone and inside on a hitter. Also known as "up and in."
hill -- Pitcher's mound.
homer -- A home run. Other terms include: blast, dinger, dong, four-bagger, four-base knock, moon shot, tape-measure blast and tater.
hot corner -- Third base.
in the hole -- The batter after the on-deck hitter.
jam -- When a hitter gets a pitch near his hands, he is "jammed." Also when a pitcher gets himself in trouble, he is in a "jam."
leather -- Refers to how good a player plays defensively or handles the glove. Ex: "He flashed some leather on that play."
meatball -- An easy pitch to hit, usually right down the middle of the plate.
Mendoza line -- A batting average of around .200.
moon shot -- A very long, high home run.
nail down -- As in "nail down a victory." Refers to a relief pitcher finishing off the game.
on the screws -- When a batter hits the ball hard. Also "on the button."
painting the black -- When a pitcher throws the ball over the edge of the plate.
pea -- A ball traveling at high speed, either batted or thrown.
pepper -- Pepper is a common pre-game exercise where one player bunts brisk grounders and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing about 20 feet away. The fielders try to throw it back as quickly as possible. The batter hits the return throw. (Some ballparks ban pepper games because wild pitches could land in the stands and injure spectators).
pick -- A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also a shortened version of "pick-off."
pickle -- A rundown. sometimes called a goose chase.
punchout -- A strikeout.
rhubarb -- A fight or scuffle.
ribbie -- Another way of saying RBI. A run batted in. Also "ribeye."
rope -- A hard line drive hit by a batter. Also "frozen rope."
rubber game -- The deciding game of a series. for the winner of the series to win the series.
run-down -- When a baserunner gets caught between bases by the fielders.
Ruthian -- With great power.
seeing-eye single -- A soft ground ball that finds its way between infielders for a base hit.
set-up man -- A relief pitcher who usually enters the game in the 7th or 8th inning.
shoestring catch -- A running catch made just above the fielder's shoetops.
southpaw -- A left-handed pitcher.
sweet spot -- The part of the bat just a few inches from the barrel.
table setter -- Batter whose job is to get on base for other hitters to drive him in. Usually a leadoff or No. 2 hitter.
tape-measure blast -- An extremely long home run.
tater -- A home run.
Texas Leaguer -- A bloop hit that drops between an infielder and outfielder.
tools of ignorance -- Catcher's equipment.
touch 'em all -- Hitting a home run (touching all the bases).
twin killing -- A double play, two outs with only one hard hit grounder to an infielder,a toss to one base in front of a runner relayed on to first is poetry in motion.
Uncle Charlie -- Curve ball.
utility player -- A player who fills in at many positions.
wheelhouse -- A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate.
wheels -- A ballplayer's legs.
whiff -- Strikeout.
yakker -- Curve ball.
Filled with good information unless expressed would make the game of baseball and the fun visit to the game is lively indeed with our ballpark lingo.
Batter Up----Let's Play Ball....
