Baseball/softball

Foul ball

: Anytime that the batter makes contact with the ball but it does not go successfully into the field of play.

In the hole

A baseball term for the third man in order to bat for the hitting team.

bullpen

A blocked off area of a ball park where the pitchers warm up before taking the mound

change up

A change up is an off speed pitch made to look like a fastball to confuse the batter's timing. Since it appears to be traveling fast but is in reality about 15 miles/per hour slower the batter will swing too soon

Error

A defensive mishap by the team playing the field. It is a statistical term referring to when a fielder makes an unforced mistake that he/she should not have made.

tag

A method of the fielding team to earn an out by tagging a runner as he/she attempt to advance around the bases. Anytime a base runner is not on the bases, the fielding team can earn an out by tagging that runner with the ball.

Batting cage

A practice area for a batter usually covered by netting.

Ground rule double

A situation in baseball when the batter hits the ball in the field of play but it somehow goes where it cannot be played by the fielding team. The batter is awarded a double by the umpire

K

A slang term for the score book that represents when a pitcher strikes out a batter.

R.B.I

A statistical term for a batter referring to the number of runners he successfully advanced to home plate as a by product of his/her getting a hit.

E.R.A.

A statistical term for pitchers ability to get the batter out. The three letters stand for Earned Run Average. The lower the number the better the pitcher. (Earned runs divided by innings pitched multiplied by 9.)

No hitter

A statistical term for pitchers who do not give up a hit during a game.

Perfect game

A statistical term for pitchers who give up no hits, no runs, no errors, no one gets on base, 27 up, 27 down.

Sacrifice fly

A statistical term for when the batter hits a fly ball deep to the outfield that is caught in the air for the force out but one of his teammates on third base tags up and scores a run.

Home run

A statistical term for when the batter hits a pitched ball cleanly over the fence so that the fielding team automatically gives up all 4 bases to the batter.

Double Play

A statistical term for when the fielding team gets two outs during the same play. It usually happens when there is a batter on first and the batter hits the ball on the ground somewhere in the infield and the ball is played to second and then to first for the force out.

full count

A statistical term for when the umpire calls the pitch count as 3 balls and 2 strikes. It is important because the next pitch possibly will be either a hit or a walk.

Hold the runner

A strategic play of a pitcher and the fielder at the base of the base runner to prevent the runner from stealing by throwing to that base to keep that runner honest.

Bunt

A strategy for a batter to not swing at a pitch but rather to stick out the bat to make contact and steer the ball somewhere short in the infield to advance himself or possibly a runner

slide

A strategy for the base runner to avoid the tag of a member of the fielding team by coming into the base low, either feet or head first.

steal

A strategy where a base runner as the attempt to pitch to the batter runs to the next base without getting caught by the fielding team.

Barry bonds

He holds the record for the most home runs in a season and the most home runs in a career.

World series

Held every year in October, the winner of the American League and the National League play in a best of 7 game series to determine a World Champion

Babe ruth

His nickname was "The sultan of swat" because he changed the game of baseball in the 1920's because of his ability to hit home runs. He is probably the most famous baseball player of all time

extra innings

If the game is tied after 9 innings, the game will go into extra innings until someone breaks the tie by scoring a run.

N.L.

National League, one of the two divisions of Major League Baseball, the winner of this division qualifies to play for the World Championships in the World Series

Dugout

Separate bench areas for the home and visiting teams

infield fly rule

The situation when there are less than two outs, there are runners first and second base and the hitter pops the ball up to the infield in fair territory, the batter is automatically out.

Cut off man

The strategic play by the fielding team to use a fielder to act as a target on the line of the throw for the outfielder who attempts to make a long throw to home or third base.

Fair Ball

The successful hitting of a baseball by the batter that settles in fair ground between home and first base or home and third base, or lands inside the first base line or third base line beyond the bag at first or the bag at third

Box score

The term for how the score book is kept. It includes runs, hits, errors, inning per inning.

Cy Young award

This award is given to the best pitcher of the year

batting average

This is a statistical percentage of the number of hits in relation to the number of times up at bat. Ted Williams is the last major leaguer to have over a .400 average.

pinch hitter

This is a strategic play by the offensive team to put in a different hitter in a certain situation in the hopes that he can get on base

golden glove

This is an award given to one player per position, each year based on their defensive statistics in the field

south paw

This is an old school tern for a left handed pitcher.

warning track

This is the area between the outfield and the wall that is usually very level brown dirt to warn the outfielder that they are close to hitting the wall if they continue to run in that direction

pick off

This is when a base runner gets tagged out by being caught off a base, usually by the pitcher or catcher

cycle

This is when a batter gets a single, double, triple, and a home run in the same game

pickle

This occurs when a runner is caught off base and they attempt to escape between the fielders who attempt to tag him out.

grand slam

This occurs when the bases are full and the batter hits a home run. Four runs are scored.

fielder's choice

This occurs when the defense has the option for a put out other than the player who hit the ball.

batter's box

This refers to the area to the side of home plate where the batter awaits the incoming pitch. It is labeled with white chalk.

On deck circle

This refers to the area where the next batter waits and warms up their swing before it is their turn to bat

Clean up hitter

This refers to the batter who hits fourth in the order. Since the first three batters could fill the bases, the clean up hitter has the potential to hit a grand slam home run bringing in the first three batters. The clean up hitter is usually a power hitter who hits to the fences.

relief pitcher

This refers to the pitcher who comes to the aid of the starting pitcher in an attempt to finish the game.

Top of the order

This refers to the sequence of batters for the hitting team. Anytime the order of bat for the hitting team starts with the 1st batter.

closer

This refers to the specialized pitcher whose job it is to come in the latter innings of the game and pitch one or possibly two innings and strike out the side at the end a game.

3 up, 3 down

This refers to when the defensive team gets 3 outs in a row without getting anyone getting on base.

check swing

This when the batter attempts to stop their swing midstream so as to not be called for a strike.

slider

a pitch that makes the ball tail laterally through the hitting zone. It is slower than a fastball but faster than a curve ball.

Intentional walk

the strategy of the defensive team to walk a batter on purpose so as not to pitch to him. It is a calculated strategy of a manager to avoid a strong hitter or to fill a base so that there is a force out by putting that hitter on base

Hit

the successful attempt of an offensive team to strike the pitched ball in the field of play and run safely to an unoccupied base without being tagged or called out by the fielding team.

pitching from the stretch

this is a tactical strategy of a pitcher to be used when there is someone on base. Some pitchers will pitch this way all the time because of comfort

pinch runner

this is the strategic play of the offensive team to substitute a runner for someone on base usually because of their speed

safe signal

when a Safe call is made by an umpire, he will move both arms in front of his chest away from his body on a horizontal plane.

strike out

when a batter fails to hit the ball after swinging 3 times

out signal

when an out is called by a umpire, he will make a fist with one hand, flexes that arm in an upward fashion in front of his chest

triple

when the batter hits a pitched ball cleanly into the field of play and he/she runs to third base without getting caught by the fielding team

Out

when the fielding team is successful in catching a fly ball by the batter, throwing the batted ball to first base before the runner arrives, forcing the runner out by touching the base ahead of him or tagging the runner as he attempt to advance to the next base. Each batting team is allotted 3 outs for each turn at bat.

Ball

A term that represents that the pitcher was unsuccessful in throwing the ball over the plate to the batter. 4 balls= the batter gets to go to first base.

knuckle ball

A type of pitch thrown to minimize the spin on the ball causing an erratic and unpredictable ball flight. It is hard for the pitcher to control and hard for the batter to predict its flight.

curve

A type of pitch used by a pitcher that because of the grip imparts forward spin on the ball causing it to dive in a downward path across the plate

Inside the park home run

A unique situation for when the hitter advances to all for bases for a score when the hit did not leave the park for an automatic home run

inning

A unit of measurement where both teams are given a turn at bat. In Major League Baseball a baseball consists of a minimum of 9 innings. Each batting team attempts to score base runners by successfully hitting the ball in the field of play while avoiding getting put out by the receiving team.

A.L.

American League, one of the two divisions of Major League Baseball, the winner qualifies to play for the World Championships in the World Series

Designated hitter

An American League term for a player who plays in the offense line up by hitting but does not play any position in the field.

Balk

An illegal motion by the pitcher during his/her delivery to the plate that is meant to deceive the runner on base. It is called by the umpire and the runner is awarded a free base

interference

An illegal move by a base runner to disturb the fielder's opportunity to play a ball. 60.

Force out

Any situation where the runner must advance to the next base as the ball is hit so that the fielding team can touch the base with the ball in hand and earn an out and they do not have to tag the runner. If there is no one on base, the batter can be called out at first base as a force out. Another example is that when there is a man on first base, there is a force out at second

Shut out

Anytime the defensive team in the field is successful in not allowing the offensive team to score.

Triple play

Anytime the fielding team can earn 3 outs in the same play. It is very rare.

Double header

Anytime when a baseball team plays two games in the same day

Turn two

Baseball lingo for the strategic play of the fielding team's attempt to make a double play

Base

Each batter upon hitting the ball in play will attempt to run to first, second, and then third base.

switch hitter

Someone who based on the situation can hit either right or left handed

baseball hall of fame

The Baseball Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, NY. Players are inducted into the hall of fame based on their statistics and contribution to the game.

Jackie Robinson

The first African American to play in the major leagues breaking the color barrier.

lead off hitter

The first batter in the hitting team's line up. Usually this batter is consistent in getting on base.

rally cap

The habit of a baseball team to wear their baseball caps in an odd fashion in an effort to psychologically inspire a team to make a comeback.

Home Plate

The objective of the offensive team is to advance runners across each of the bases and score a runner by crossing home plate. Home Plate is used as a target for the pitcher in his attempt to get the batter out, by throwing strikes.

Around the horn

The practice of the defensive team of throwing the ball around the infield after a successful out with no men on base

pitchers mound

The raised area from which a pitcher delivers a pitch to a batter.

rubber

The rectangular piece of rubber that a pitcher begins sets his foot to begin his delivery on the mound to home plate

manager

his is the head coach of a baseball team who decides line ups and batting order for the team.

What's the count

refers to a question of, or the announcement by the umpire as to the number of balls and strikes on the batter

Strike

represents that the pitcher was successful in forcing the batter to swing and miss, foul off the pitch or if the batter did not swing but the umpire called it a strike because the ball was in the strike zone.

double

term for when the batter hits a pitched ball cleanly into the field of play and he/she runs to second base without getting caught by the fielding team.

Single

term for when the batter hits a pitched ball into the field of play and they runs to first base without getting caught by the fielding team

pennant race

the battle of either the American League or National League teams to vie for the best record possible in order to win their division

shift

the defensive strategy to move the fielders so that they can cover the tendency of the batter.

Seventh Inning Stretch

the habit of a baseball team to have a short break for the fans to get up and stretch in the middle of the seventh inning. Usually the fans will sing, "Take me out to the ball game."

seams

the laces on a ball that when used correctly can make a pitch do certain tricks.

Umpire

the name of the referee for baseball behind the plate whose responsibility is to call balls and strikes for the pitcher and enforce all the other rules of the game.

Walk

the situation where the pitcher is unsuccessful throwing the ball over the plate and therefore pitches 4 balls, earning the batter a free trip to first base

Fast ball

the strategy of a pitcher to attempt to throw a ball past the batter by using velocity