Glossary of baseball terms

This is an alphabetical list of selected unofficial and specialized terms, phrases, and other jargon used in baseball, along with their definitions, including illustrative examples for many entries.

The number 1 in baseball refers to the pitcher's position, a shorthand call for throwing to first, a single hit, and a fastball sign.

In the US semifinal, Louisville, Kentucky beat Fort Worth, Texas in 11 innings, with a final score of 2-1.

Reggie Jackson's moniker "Mr. October" indicates that he played with great distinction in the World Series for the Yankees.

Jeter's walk-off homer was the first plate appearance in the month of November in MLB history; the 2001 season had been delayed for several days following 9/11, eventually pushing the start of the World Series into the last week of October – and the end of the Series in to November.

A pitch is said to "fall off the table" when it starts in the strike zone or appears hittable to the batter and ends low or in the dirt.

The ball becomes dead, and the umpire will award any bases or charge any outs that, in his judgment, would have occurred without the interference.

So the infamous case in Game 6 of the NLCS in which a Chicago Cubs fan, Steve Bartman, attempted to catch a ball in foul territory thereby possibly preventing Cubs left fielder Moisés Alou from making a circus catch, was not a case of fan interference.

A fielder who puts an extra flourish on his movements while making a play in hopes of gaining the approval of the spectators.

Robinson watched Lopez' style and finally hollered, "Tell that punk he got two hands to catch with!

A count in which the pitcher would be ordinarily expected to throw a fastball, such as 3–1, 3–2, or 2–1, as fast ball are usually easiest to locate in the strike zone.

An old-fashioned and more colorful way of saying "numbers nut" or stathead, for a fan with a near-obsessive interest in the statistics or "figures" of the game.

"Langerhans fought off one 3-2 pitch, then drove the next one to the gap in left-center to bring home the tying and winning runs.

"With the Tigers having found their bats for a night, they reset the series and put themselves in position to all but lock up the AL Central.

"[107] When a batter has experienced a slump, he may take extra practice or instruction to "find his swing".

A team's top relief pitcher who is often brought in to end an offensive rally and "put out the fire".

[108] A player, often one of small stature, who is known for his energy, extroversion, and team spirit – sometimes perhaps more than for his playing ability.

"Morgan defied this mold by outworking everybody and employing his moderate athletic gifts to become one of the best all-around players of his era.

When a batter swings at a pitch that is inside and the ball hits the bat close to his fists (hands).

In the current era in which managers are increasingly aware of the risk of injury to pitchers who have high pitch counts, and in which relief pitching has become a critical part of the game, starters achieve fewer and fewer complete games.

"Cody Ross, who singled and moved to second on a ground-out, was stranded when Ramírez's scorched liner ... was flagged down by a diving Jones.

Note that while the foul lines in baseball are in fair territory, just like the side- and end-lines of a tennis court, in basketball or American football the sidelines are considered out of bounds.

It is not a foul tip, as most announcers and journalists mistakenly use the term, if the ball is not caught by the catcher.

A standard fastball, which does not necessarily break though a good one will have movement as well as velocity and location that makes it difficult to hit.

"[114] "But the right-hander reached in her bag of tricks and threw a tantalizing changeup that froze the hitter for the final out.

It is not part of the game, but is accomplished by a batter tossing the ball a short distance up in the air and then batting it himself.

Unfortunately for his personal power totals, Milledge was bamboozled into believing his liner in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night had cleared the left-field fence at PNC Park for his first career grand slam.

Dead certain he had gone deep, Milledge raised his fist rounding first base, put his head down and went into a trot.

Double-dog certain because the fireworks guy at PNC set off the pyrotechnics that explode every time a Bucs player goes deep.

An extra-base hit in which the runner reaches base easily without needing to slide, i.e. remains standing up as he touches the bag.