Baseballisms

Baseball Language and Its Impact

The vivid language of baseball pervades and invigorates American and other forms of English. Its many figures of speech, metaphors and idioms not only add color and drama to the national pastime but also provide eloquence and enlightenment in everyday life.

We don't say batters present a challenge to the team on the field--we say they are a "Murderers' Row" striking dread in the hearts of opposing pitchers. We don't say we're going to try hard to achieve ambitious goals--we say we're going to "swing for the fences." Instead of talking about precision teamwork, we might invoke "Tinker to Evers to Chance" (the Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs infielders).

This book discusses the origins and various uses of such lively expressions in baseball and beyond.