Glossary of baseball terms
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 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 receives throws with shouts of "Three!", nabs runners attempting triples, 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
45-degree 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 curveball
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 ball
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-runner
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 league
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
call-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
- When a pitcher is throwing strikes on the corners of the strike zone, it is said he is dotting the corners.
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
- An error is a fielder's misplay which allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases when, in the judgment of the official scorer, that advance could have been prevented by ordinary effort. An error is also charged when a fielder fails to catch a foul fly ball that could have been caught with ordinary effort. The term error can also refer to the play in which an error was committed. Because the pitcher and catcher handle the ball so much, some misplays by them are called a "wild pitch" or a "passed ball", and are not counted as errors.
- SYNONYMS: bobble, blooper, muff, miscue, flub, kick or boot