Author Archives: Baseball Lingo

B-L Term of the Week: Hot Stove League

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Baseball Lingo 1 Comment

Hot Stove League noun:  sports followers (as of baseball) gathering for off-season discussion. via Merriam-Webster.com As I looked for a good official definition of hot stove league, I was finding that many of the traditional sources (such as the one … Continue reading →

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B-L Term of the Week: Tools of Ignorance

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Baseball Lingo Leave a comment

Tools of ignorance noun:  A catcher’s gear.  The coining of the phrase is attributed variously to catcher Muddy Ruel and to Yankee catcher Bill Dickey. via Wikipedia When Bleacher Report made their list of the best catchers of all time, … Continue reading →

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Voles host Uncle Joe Cannon Base Ball Jamboree

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Baseball Lingo Leave a comment

Yesterday at beautiful Kennekuk State Park near Danville, Illinois, the Vermilion Voles vintage base ball team hosted the 2012 Uncle Joe Cannon Base Ball Jamboree and I was a happy spectator.  Other fine participants in the tournament were the Indianapolis … Continue reading →

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B-L Term of the Day: Tater

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Baseball Lingo 1 Comment

    Tater noun:  a homerun variances:  ‘long tater’   I have heard the term ‘tater’ used to describe a homerun since I was a kid but never knew the origins of the term.  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one.  … Continue reading →

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B-L Term of the Day: Hitting Shoes

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Baseball Lingo Leave a comment

  Hitting Shoes noun:  a nonsensical term that describes the condition of a player or team which they are hitting the ball better than usual (i.e “Pujols had his hitting shoes on today.  He went 3 for 3 with a … Continue reading →

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Is baseball losing its touch with slang?

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Baseball Lingo Leave a comment

Allen Barra writes about what he sees as the demise of baseball jargon in the Atlantic Monthly. Baseball language once drew newcomers into the game. Now, it’s becoming a language that shuts many people out, one that makes them feel … Continue reading →

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B-L Term of the Day: Texas Leaguer

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Baseball Lingo 1 Comment

  Texas Leaguer noun:  A Texas Leaguer (or Texas League single) is a weakly hit fly ball that drops in for a single between an infielder and an outfielder. (definition from Wikipedia’s Glossary of Baseball) Variances:  flare, blooper, bloop single … Continue reading →

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A crank’s perspective of the Northern Illinois Vintage Base Ball Tournament on July 7, 2012

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Baseball Lingo 1 Comment

  Yesterday, I traveled three hours north to Wheaton, Illinois and attended the Northern Illinois Vintage Base Ball Tournament.  Nine teams participated and played a total of 13 games. If you’re new to the concept of vintage base ball, the … Continue reading →

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July 7th Northern Illinois Vintage Base Ball Tournament (and what’s a tintypist?)

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Baseball Lingo Leave a comment

A few weeks ago, I plugged a vintage base ball event at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.  It’s happening tomorrow and I managed to wrangle a ride with one of the players on the Vermilion Voles, the local team here.  … Continue reading →

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Rub-down: Lena Blackburne’s Baseball Rubbing Mud at the HOF

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Baseball Lingo 1 Comment

Here’s a “down-to-earth” story for you.  The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has posted an article about Baseball Rubbing Mud.  Discovered by then Philadelphia Athletics third base coach Lena Blackburne and now produced by Jim Bintliff, Blackburne’s Baseball Rubbing … Continue reading →

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