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.

L

;late innings

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:The seventh, eighth and ninth innings of a regulation nine-inning game.

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;Lawrence Welk

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:a 1-2-3 double play (and a one, ana 2, ana 3...)

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;lead off (batting order)

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:The player who is first in the batting order for a given team. Also, the first batter in any given inning.

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;lead off (base running)

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:When a base runner steps off of the base in order to reduce the distance to the next base, before a pitch is thrown.

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;Lively Ball Era

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:The time starting around 1919 (many say 1920) when several factors came together to shift baseball away from the time-honored inside game to the power game. Following World War I, the construction of the baseball improved significantly, with a cork center and tighter-wound yarns that made the ball inherently "livelier". Also, there were significant rules changes that abolished abuse of the ball (such as the spitball) and also required substitution of a new ball when the previous ball became dirty or scuffed. This gave a great advantage to hitters, especially power hitters. Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby were most notable among those who took full advantage of these changes and rewrote the record books.

Related Topics:
1919 - 1920 - World War I - Babe Ruth - Rogers Hornsby

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;load the bases

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:The act of causing runners to occupy the three numbered bases (first, second, and third bases).

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;lollipop

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:a soft straight pitch with a lot of arc

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