List of baseball jargon

The following is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, and explanations of their meanings. See also baseball slang for slang in general usage that originated in baseball. For an exhaustive list, see The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, by Paul Dickson.

B

;bad hop

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:a ball that bounces in front of an infielder in an unexpected way, usually because it hit some irregularity on the ground

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;balk

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Any pitching motion that violates the rules and is noticed by an umpire. Typically it happens with one or more runners on base and the pitcher is in the stretch position. It could be a quick pitch, or any other motion that could deceive the runners, such as a slight jerk of the hands that looks like it could be a pickoff attempt. When a balk is called, each runner can freely advance one base.

Related Topics:
Umpire - Pitcher - Pickoff attempt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;Baltimore chop

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A ball hit so that it makes contact with home plate, then takes a high bounce over the infield, usually for a base hit. Named for hitters on the Baltimore Orioles of the National League in the 1890s, who frequently attempted this kind of hit purposely.

Related Topics:
Home plate - Baltimore Orioles - National League

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;banjo hitter

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A batter who lacks power. A banjo hitter usually hits bloop singles, often just past the infield dirt, and would have a low slugging percentage. The name has said to come from the twanging sound of the batter's swing like that of a banjo.

Related Topics:
Batter - Banjo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;batter's eye

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:a blank, usually dark place beyond the centerfield wall that is the visual backdrop for the batter looking out at the pitcher. To allow the batter to see the pitched ball against a dark and uncluttered background.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;battery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:The pitcher and catcher.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;batterymates

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A pitcher and catcher from the same team.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;beanball

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A pitch intentionally thrown to hit the batter if he does not move out of the way, especially when directed at the head (or the "bean" in old-fashioned slang).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;big fly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:a long home run.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bonehead play or just "boner"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A mental mistake that changes the course of a game dramatically. See "Merkle boner".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bonus baseball

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:See "extra innings".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bottom of the inning

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:The second half of an inning, during which the home team bats.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bring

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:To pitch; "bring the gas", "bring the heat", "bring it".

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;brush-back

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A pitch intentionally thrown close to a batter to intimidate or misdirect, i.e. to "brush him back" from the plate. Also chin-music. A batter targeted by such a pitch is sometimes said to have had a "close shave". 1950s pitcher Sal Maglie was called "the Barber" due to his frequent use of such pitches.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bunt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:To bat the ball weakly and deliberately, by holding the bat nearly still and letting the ball hit it, trying to place the ball in a particular spot on the infield. Also, the play resulting from that action. Typically, a bunt is used to advance other runners and is then referred to as a "sacrifice". When done correctly, fielders have no play except to retire the batter-runner. Speedy runners also bunt for base hits when infielders are playing back.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

;bush-league

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:A slang term used to describe play that is of inferior or unprofessional quality.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~