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Baseball's Strange Language

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How did strikeouts become "Ks"? I've always assumed that it was boxscore shorthand, but why "K" and not "SO"?

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How did strikeouts become "Ks"? I've always assumed that it was boxscore shorthand, but why "K" and not "SO"?

 

Amazing what you can find online. :lol:

 

As The Straight Dope explains, we owe the "K" to an early sportswriter named Henry Chadwick. In fact, Chadwick and another writer named M.J. Kelly are largely responsible for the scoring system baseball uses today.

But whence the K? Chadwick already had "S" slated for "sacrifice." So a strikeout became a "K", after the last letter of the word "struck." The reason a strikeout isn't a "T" is because "struck" was the preferred term of the day.

 

http://ask.yahoo.com/20040604.html

Amazing what you can find online. :lol:

 

As The Straight Dope explains, we owe the "K" to an early sportswriter named Henry Chadwick. In fact, Chadwick and another writer named M.J. Kelly are largely responsible for the scoring system baseball uses today.

But whence the K? Chadwick already had "S" slated for "sacrifice." So a strikeout became a "K", after the last letter of the word "struck." The reason a strikeout isn't a "T" is because "struck" was the preferred term of the day.

 

http://ask.yahoo.com/20040604.html

Very interesting and I always thought the "K", was credited to SticKymitts....since he could never hit.

 

:D

Very interesting and I always thought the "K", was credited to SticKymitts....since he could never hit.

 

:D

 

I'm changing my name to Sticymitts...:irked:

How about, " There are ducks on the pond"

Curve-ball descriptions like "yakker", "Uncle Charlie" and "yellowhammer"

"bush league"

Weak hitters are "banjo hitters" or "punch and judy" hitters"

The pitcher and catcher are the "battery"

the "Eephus pitch"

the "Mendoza line"

the "Hot Stove league"

I like this phrase, "Paint the corner". Throwing a pitch that passes over the outer or inner edge of the strike zone.

The ole "uncle Charley"

 

"rock and fire"

  • Author
That was 'tattooed'...

'A screamin BB'...

'A frozen rope'...

'Turn it over'...

'Twist it'...

'He's squeezin it'...

Coach to Pitcher: "Don't aim!"

Coach to Catcher: "Give him a good target."

'Pick it'...

'2-Bagger'...

'Good eyes'...

'Cajun ball!'...

 

That's it for now...

 

 

Don't forget the "atom ball" as in "he hit it right atom."

Growing up listening to the Hawk call White Sox games, I can't believe I forget this one.

 

"Ducksnort"

 

:lol:

Some of my favorites that haven't been mentioned:

 

"We got ice"

"Throw 'em a chair"

"He booted the ball" - I've always wondered exactly how this came about

"2-ball"

"Roll it up"

"Fat pitch"

Why are left-handers described as "crafty"? Who was the last pitcher you heard described as the "crafty righty"?

 

How come right-handed pitchers aren't called "Northpaws"?

 

Why does a winning pitcher "scatter six hits" but a losing pitcher never "scatters" six hits?

 

Why is a bloop hit called a "Texas leaguer"? Were there no power hitters in Texas?

 

Have you really ever tried to catch a can of corn thrown high in the air?

 

The term "Bolster" is only used in the English language when referring to the addition of a pitcher to the roster. You've never "bolstered" your family with the addition of a child have you?

 

Generally, because that one probably holds true...suppose two pitchers both allow 6 hits...I'd say more often than not, the losing pitcher has allowed a few of those in one big bunch...perhaps, a couple of singles and a 3-run HR...whereas the winner actually scattered the hits over several innings...a hit every inning or so, which didn't result in any runs. Just a thought...:thumb:

"way to throw a seed"

"tater"

"good wheels"

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