Eephus League Handbook by Bethany Heck

EEPHUS LEAGUE

THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL MINUTIAE HANDBOOK

Table of Contents FRAMEWORK

013

The History

016

Position Breakdown

018

The Equipment

020

The Diamond

026

LANGUAGE

035

Idioms

038

Jargon

044

Superstitions

046

Nicknames

052

NUMBERS

059

Scorekeeping

062

Statistics

068

NATIONAL LEAGUE

077

East

080

Central

086

West

092

AMERICAN LEAGUE

101

East

104

Central

110

West

116

E “Baseball? It’s just a game - as simple as a ball and a bat. Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes. It’s a sport, business - and sometimes even religion.” – Ernie Harwell

aseball is a living, breathing entity. It has its own traditions, language and rules. And this entity is always growing. Baseball has remained relatively unchanged throughout its history, but new players, coaches, commentators and fans pass through each day and add to its culture. Baseball is obsessed with record keeping. Every pitch, out and hit is recorded by hundreds of people each day. Anyone who has ever lived in the land of baseball has been immortalized and codified on a stat sheet. The Eephus League of Baseball Minutiae is an offshoot of that spirit of codification and history making. This handbook is designed to be a stepping stone for those seeking to build a knowledge base of baseball minutiae. It is filled with quotes, trivia, facts and

diagrams regarding every part of our game, covering oddities and intricacies from the earliest days of the sport. The handbook is divided into 5 sections of information. The Framework chapter is dedicated to the history, rules and equipment in the game. The Language chapter covers the unique verbal facets of the game, from nicknames to colorful jargon. The Numbers section contains an overview on how to keep score, as well as a glossary of statistics. The National and American League chapters have brief histories of every current Major League team as well as information about their ballparks. Each section contains a wealth of illustrations and trivia to enrich your knowledge of the game. We hope you find this to be an invaluable resource in your quest for more baseball knowledge.

N AME

THE FRAMEWORK

THE EEPHUS LEAGUE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK

N AME

Sections

The History

Position Breakdown

The Equipment

The Ball

The Bat

The Uniform

The Diamond

Mound to Plate

Home Plate

Infield Bases

The Outfield

1 “The game of base ball has now become beyond question the leading feature of the outdoor sports of the United States ... It is a game which is peculiarly suited to the American temperament and disposition; … in short, the pastime suits the people, and the people suit the pastime.”

aseball evolved from the British game of rounders, and is a cousin to cricket in that it also involves two teams that alternate on defense and offense and involve throwing a ball to a batsman who attempts to “bat” it away and run safely to a base. The first documentation of base ball is in 1838, but there are references to a game of base ball going back to the late 1700s. The first published rules of baseball were written in 1845 for a New York base ball club called the Knickerbockers. The author, Alexander Joy Cartwright, is one person commonly known as “the father of baseball.” Cartwright laid out rules for playing the game

014

Framework Introduction

for the first time, and made one important change. No longer could an out be recorded by “plugging” a runner (hitting him with the ball). The rules required fielders to tag or force the runner, which is still the rule today. Many of these original rules are still in effect today. The first professional team was formed in 1869 (the Cincinnati Red Stockings), and it gained in popularity to become United States’ “national pastime” in the late 1800s. The two major leagues were formed in 1876 (National League) and 1903 (American League) and the first modern World Series, pitting the two champions of the leagues against each other at the end of the season.

Framework Introduction

015

BALLPARK

BASES

PLAYERS INNINGS

OUTS

STRIKES

BALLS

THE KNICKERBOCKER RULES 1ST Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for exercise, and be punctual in their attendance. 2ND When assembled for exercise, the President shall

“No game in the world is as tidy and dramatically neat as baseball, with cause and effect, crime and punishment, motive and result, so cleanly defined.” – Paul Gallico

THE HISTORY Because of the equipment, baseball in the 19th century was very different than today. Balls were “dead” and didn’t travel as far, and players were looser with the rules involving spitballs and other tactics that are no longer legal. With the birth of the World Series and the two major leagues, baseball embarked on a golden age in the early 20th century. From 1900-1919, the “dead ball” was still used, and was a game dominated by great pitchers such as Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Cy Young. A rule change in 1920 prohibited doctoring of the ball by pitchers, and a new era began. One player, Babe Ruth, changed the game forever by introducing the power hitter to baseball. The basic rules for the game of baseball are quite simple, and have remained fairly static from the days of Ruth. There are nine innings in professional baseball games, and each inning is divided in half to the top of the inning (when the visiting team hits and the home team plays defense) and the bottom of the inning (when the home team hits and the visiting team plays defense). Each team gets three outs in each half of every inning.

Each team has nine players in its batting order, and they must stick to that order throughout the game (players may substitute in for other players). A play begins with a batter waiting to hit a pitch from the pitcher. If the batter hits the ball into the field of play, the batter runs to first base and can run to as many bases as he or she deems fit without getting “out.” A batter gets three strikes (a swing and a miss or a ball over the plate in what’s deemed the “strike zone” by an umpire) or he or she is out. If there are four balls (a pitch that is not in the “strike zone”), the batter is automatically allowed to go to first base. A batter gets a “hit” when he or she reaches a base without getting out, or forcing another runner to get out (and without the defense making an error). Runs are scored when a player completes a circuit of the diamond before there are three outs in the inning. The following page contains Alexander Carwright’s original Knickerbocker rules, written in 1845. Many of the precendents established then are still in effect today, though the rules have shifted decidely towards an increase in the ease of creating offensive production, which has helped the sport’s popularity.

appoint an Umpire, who shall keep the game in a book provided for that purpose, and note all violations of the By-Laws and Rules during the time of exercise.

3RD The presiding officer shall designate two members as Captains, who shall retire and make the match to be played.

History

The Bouncing Ball To understand how much of an emphasis was put on defense in the early days of baseball, one only has to glance at the original rules. Balls caught on the first bounce were considered outs, and balls that bounced over the fence yeiled only one base, instead of the 2 granted in modern play.

So Far off Base

12TH If a ball be struck, or tipped, and caught, either

The distance between bases on the diamond changed several times in the sport’s early years. 80 feet favored the offense too greatly and 100 the defense, so 90 feet was accepted as a happy medium.

13TH A player running the bases shall be out, if the ball is in the hands of an adversary on the base, or the runner is touched with it before he makes his base; it being understood, however, that in no instance is a ball to be thrown at him.

4TH The bases shall be from “home” to second base, forty-two paces. 5TH No stump match shall be played on a regular day

of exercise.

6TH

If there should not be a sufficient number of members of the Club present, gentlemen not members may be chosen in to make up the match.

7TH If members appear after the game is commenced, they may be chosen in if mutually agreed upon.

8TH The game to consist of twenty-one counts, or aces; but at the conclusion an equal number of hands must be played. 9TH The ball must be pitched, not thrown. 10TH A ball knocked out of the field, or outside the range of the first and third base, is foul.

016

11TH Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run.

flying or on the first bound, it is a hand out.

14TH A player running who shall prevent an adversary from catching or getting the ball before making his base, is a hand out.

15TH Three hands out, all out. 16TH Players must take their time to strike in regular

turn.

17TH All disputes and differences relative to the game, to be decided by the Umpire, from which there is no appeal. 18TH No ace or base can be made on a foul strike. 19TH A runner cannot be put out in making one base, when a balk is made on the pitcher.

20TH But one base allowed when a ball bounds out of the field when struck.

History

017

1. PITCHER 2. CATCHER

88 99

3. FIRST BASE 4. SECOND BASE 5 5. THIRD BASE

66 55

4 1

6 SHORTSTOP 6. 7 LEFT FIELDER 7. 8 CENTER FIELDER 8. 9 RIGHT FIELDER 9.

“When you're in a slump, it's almost as if you look out at the field and it's one big glove.” – Vance Law

The different positions also require different sets of equipment, most notably gloves. Infielders use small

018

Position Breakdown

2ND BASE

The Second Baseman, being a middle infielder, needs to be quick on his feet and able to get rid of the ball quickly, as he is usually the key player when turning a double play. Second basemen are not usually power hitters, and tend to be smaller players.

3RD BASE The Third Baseman has to make the longest throws of any of the infield positions, so a strong arm is very important. Third base is often referred to as the “Hot Corner” because of the frequency of hard hit balls to the position. Third Basemen has evolved into a power hitting position, much like first base. SHORTSTOP The Shortstop is an evolution of a “short fielder”, someone who played very shallow in the outfield. Shortstops are the most mobile of the infielders and are usually the best athletes, needing to be quick on their feet and good fielders. Shortstops are usually not power hitters, and try to use bat control and speed to get on base. PITCHER The Pitcher is expected to attempt to field

Position breakdown Each baseball player on the field has his own unique set of skills and responsibilities. Different positions are best played by players with diffent talents. Middle infielders are quick on their feet and tend to be lesser offensive players, while the corner infielders are more stationary, with less defensive ability, and hit for more power. The center fielder is the swiftest of any of the outfielders. Catchers take abuse on every play, and have a large impact on the strategy of the game.

1ST BASE The First Baseman’s main role is receiving throws on force plays to first base, resulting in him being involved in more plays than any players other than the pitcher and the catcher. First Basemen are traditionally power hitters, and speed as not as important a factor as it is with other infield positions.

gloves that they have a lot of control over with small pockets, allowing the ball to be retrieved quickly as they try to throw out baserunners. First basemen and catchers use mitts to protext their hands as they receive dozens of hard thrown ball every night. Outfielders gloves have large pockets to help them make running grabs. Pitchers always use closed web gloves to conceal their grip on pitches as the wind up. Catcher’s obviously have the most specialized set of equipment in an attempt to protect themselves. The following is a basic overview of the responsibilities of each position, both on offense and defense.

any ball hit up the center of the field. Pitchers are rarely considered good hitters in the National League, and in the American League, a Designated Hitter bats in place of the pitcher.

The Tenth Man On January 11, 1973, the American League owners voted 8-4 to approve the designated hitter as a replacement for a hitting pitcher for a three-year trial run. Almost 30 years later, the position is a mainstay for the American League, but has not been accepted in the National League.

CATCHER The Catcher is the most unique defensive

position on the baseball field. In addition to fielding pitches from the pitcher, the catcher has to try to throw out potential base stealers. Most catchers do not excel at the offesnive aspects of baseball.

LEFT FIELDER The Left Fielder typically has the weakest arm of any of the outfield positions, because left field is usually the most shallow part of a ballpark. Left fielders are usually good hitters who don’t have the defensive skills to play any other position.

Always Helping Out

449

Tris Speaker, an American League Center Fielder who played from 1907-1928 holds the record for most assists in a year by an outfielder.

CENTER FIELDER The Center Fielder has the most ground to cover in the outfield, so center fielders are usually fast runners and have good throwing arms. Center fielders are usually not power hitters, making up for a lack of offensive skills with defensive prowess. RIGHT FIELDER The Right Fielder typically has the

strongest arm of any of the outfield positions, because right field is usually the deepest part of a ballpark. Right Fielders are traditionally power hitters, and usually the best offensive outfielders play in right field.

Position Breakdown

019

THE BALL The materials and methods used used to create baseballs has changed drastically since the sport’s inception, particularily the tightness with which the ball is wound, and the material used to make up the core of the ball. Early baseballs were not wound as tightly as modern balls, causing them to deaden the force inflicted on them, resulting in far less offense than is seen in modern baseball. Baseballs have traditionally had cork cores, however, during material shortages due to WW2, rubber centers were used for a time.

Short Life of a Ball 1. Cork Core The core of the baseball is a small sphere of cork that forms the central part of the ball.

2. Rubber Layers

“Well, boys, it’s a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit the ball square.” – Joe Schultz, 1969

The equipment Among all the major sports, baseball allows for the most personal customization amonst positions and individual players. Different positions require different gloves, different catchers prefer certain mask styles, and almost every player has his own personalized bat. There is a large amount of equipment required for a game of baseball. Obviously, a major league sanctioned ball is needed, as well as gloves for all 9 players. A baseball diamond with 3 bases and home plate is also a must, though the variation in park sizes is immense.

020

The Equipment

Catchers need special mitts to handle the high speed pitches from the pitcher, as well as protection for their body, and umpires have their own mask preferences and option in protective gear. This section is a general overview of the most used equipment in baseball games, and why all the variation has crept into the game. Though the rules of baseball have remained relatively static throughout its history, the equipment is one of the most dynamically evolving aspects of the game.

Approximately 600,000 baseballs are used by all Major League teams combined during the course of a season. The average baseball remains in play for only four to seven pitches in a Major League game. In the early years of the sport, only one ball was typically used in each game, unless it was too damaged to be usable; balls hit into the stands were retrieved by team employees in order to be put back in play, as is still done today in most other sports. Over the course of a game, a typical ball would become discolored due to dirt, and often tobacco juice and other materials applied by players; damage would also occur, causing slight rips and seam bursts. However, after the 1920 death of batter Ray Chapman after being hit in the head by a pitch, an effort was made to keep clean, undamaged balls in play. The cover of the ball was traditionally horsehide through 1973, but due to dwindling supplies cowhide was introduced in 1974. Under the current rules, a major league baseball weighs between 5 and 5.25 ounces, and is 9 to 9.25”

Two layers of rubber are molded around the surface of the cork center.

3. Yarn Winding Yarn wound around the center of the ball to give it an increased circumference and added weight.

4. Leather Cover The ocver of a baseball is made from two piece of white leather that are stitched together, often with red yarn. in circumference, which translates to a diameter of 2 7/8” to 3”. There are 108 double stitches on a baseball Today, several dozen baseballs are used in a typical professional game, due to scratches, discoloration, and undesirable texture that can occur during the game. Balls hit out of the park for momentous occasions (record setting, or for personal reasons) are often requested to be returned by the fan who catches it, or donated freely by the fan. Usually the player will give the fan an autographed bat and/or other autographed items in exchange for the special ball.

The Equipment

021

BATS Baseball bats in the early days of baseball came in all shapes and sizes. In the 1850’s baseball was an extremely young sport and batters made their own bats and experimented with bats of all varieties (long, short, flat, heavy). They quickly learned that bats with rounded barrels seemed to work the best. Because bats of all shapes and sizes were being used, a rule was made in 1859 that bats could be no larger than 2.5 inches in diameter, although they could be of any length. Ten years later in 1869, another rule was added that stated the baseball bat could be no longer than 42 inches in length - the same maximum length allowed today. At this time there was no rule regarding the shape of the bat. In fact, some players sometimes used bats with flat surfaces when bunting. Although using a stick to hit a ball is a somewhat simple concept, the bat is a complex object. It is

Sawed Off

Bats rapidly wear down over the course of a season, flaking away through constant use and often breaking on poor swings, which result in the ball striking the bat away from the sweet, wide spot of the bat. On average a player will go through approximately 100 bats over the course of a season.

022

The Equipment

Barrel

Handle

Knob

30oz - 34” = -4 The bat drop of a baseball bat is its weight (in ounces) minus its length (in inches). For example the bat that Ted Williams used was a 30-ounce, 34 inch long bat has a bat drop of minus 4 (30 - 34 = -4). Larger bat drops help to increase swing speed. Bats with smaller drops create more power. carved or constructed very carefully to allow for a quick, balanced swing while providing power. The bat is divided into several regions. The barrel is the thick part of the bat, where the bat is meant to hit the ball. The part of the barrel best for hitting the ball, according to construction and swinging style, is often called the sweet spot. The end of the barrel is not part of the sweet spot, and is simply called the tip or end of the bat. The barrel narrows, and becomes the handle. The handle is very thin, so that batters can comfortably set the bat in their fingers. Sometimes the handle is wrapped with a rubber or cloth grip. Finally, next to the handle is the knob of the bat, a wider piece that keeps the bat from sliding out of a batter’s hands. Over the centuries, the baseball bat’s form has become more refined. During the 19th century, many shapes were experimented with, as well as handle designs. Today, the baseball bat is much more uniform in design.

Narrowing

Tip

“Well, boys, it’s a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit the ball square.” – Joe Schultz, 1969 Most wooden bats are made from ash. Other natural materials used include maple tree wood, hickory wood, and bamboo. Hickory has fallen into disfavor because it is much heavier than other woods, while maple bats have become more popular recently. This ascent in popularity followed the introduction of the first major league sanctioned maple baseball bat in 1997, by craftsman Sam Holman, founder of Sam Bat. The first player to use it was Joe Carter of the Toronto Blue Jays. Barry Bonds used the bats the season that he broke Mark McGwire’s single-season home run record in 2001 and Hank Aaron’s career home run record in 2007. Recently, Major League Baseball has debated whether maple bats are safe to use, due to the tendency for them to shatter. Within the standards set by the various leagues, there is ample latitude for individual variation, and many batters settle on an individual bat profile, or occasionally adopt a profile used by another batter. Formerly, bats were hand-carved to a template obtained from a fixed number of calibration points; today, they are machine-turned to a precise metal template: these

templates are kept in the bat manufacturers’ vaults; for example, Babe Ruth’s template, which became understandably popular among major-league players, is R43 in the Louisville Slugger archives. Once the basic bat has been turned, it is then branded by burning, with the manufacturer’s name, the serial number, and often the signature of the player for whom it was made: the brand is applied to the hard side of the bat, allowing the batter visual control of the hardness of the surface hitting the ball; the burn residue is then sanded off. (The first player to endorse and sign a bat was Honus Wagner.) The next step is the finishing of the head: bats are more often given a rounded head, but some 30% of players prefer a “cup-balanced” head, in which a cup-shaped recess is made in the head; this lightens the bat and moves its center of gravity toward the handle. Finally, the bat is stained in one of seven standard colors, which include natural white, red stain, black, and a two-tone blue and white stain. The baseball bat is a very personal object to any baseball player, just as much as their uniform or glove, and one that they have extraordinary control over, from weight, to length, material and even color.

The Equipment

023

The Red Hatter 1870’S

1880’S

1900’S

1940’S

THE UNIFORM In addition to the tools ballplayers use to play the game of baseball, there is another crucial set of equipment they all have: a uniform. The New York Knickerbockers were the first baseball team to wear uniforms, taking the field on April 4, 1849 in pants made of blue wool, white flannel shirts and straw hats. The practice of wearing a uniform soon spread, and by 1900, all Major League Baseball teams had adopted them. By 1882 most uniforms included stockings, which covered the leg from foot to knee, and were used to differentiate one club from another. The uniforms themselves had different colors and patterns that reflected the different baseball positions. In the late 1880s, the Detroit Wolverines and Washington Nationals of the National League and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms of the American Association were the first to wear striped uniforms. By the end of the 19th century, teams began the practice of wearing one of two different uniforms, one when they played in their own baseball stadium and a different one when they played on the road. It became common to wear white at home and one of gray, solid dark blue, or black on the road. An early examples of this is the Brooklyn Superbas, who started to use a blue pattern for their road uniforms in 1907. In 1916, on the Giants’ road uniforms, purple lines gave their uniforms a tartan-like effect and another kind of road uniform was a solid dark blue or black material with white around this time. Some teams used light blue for their road uniforms from the 1970s to the early 1990s. Early striped patterns developed into long stripes along the length of the uniforms, called

024

The Equipment

pinstriping. This was first worn on some major league baseball team’s uniforms in 1907, and the pinstripes were then widened in 1912, so that the crowd could see them more clearly.

Away from Home N AME

N AME

Traditionally, home uniforms are predominantly white, and road uniforms are grey or black. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms started to use pinstriping in 1907, 1916 and 1917. Satin and other items were added soon after pinstripes were added. Pinstripes were commonly worn on the uniforms of the New York Yankees. Legend had it that the stripes were adopted to make Babe Ruth look slimmer, but since the Yankees had already been wearing pinstripes a few years before Ruth played for them in 1920, the legend was found to be a myth. In 1916, the Cleveland Indians became the first team to add numbers on their uniforms, positioned on the left sleeve of the home uniforms only. In 1929, numbers were first added on the backs of uniforms by the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. By 1932, all major league baseball teams had numbers on their players’ uniforms. The Brooklyn

PITCHERS CATCHERS 1ST BASE 2ND BASE 3RD BASE SHORTSTOP LEFT FIELDER CENTER FIELDER RIGHT FIELDER

Light Blue Scarlet Scarlet with White Stripes Orange with Black Stripes Blue with White Stripes Maroon White Red with Black stripes Grey

but some persisted with flat-topped caps, such as the Giants in 1916, and the Pittsburgh Pirates as recently as during the 1979 World Series. In recent years, baseball caps have changed very little, although over time, the peak has enlarged slightly to further protect the player’s eyes from the sun.

Vanishing Stirrups

In the early days of baseball, the position that a person played was marked by what color hat their wore. Dodgers, in 1952, became the first baseball team to add numbers to the fronts of their uniforms. Major league teams typically assign the highest numbers (#50 and above) in spring training to the players who are not expected to make the regularseason roster; hence the lower numbers are considered more prestigious, although there are many veterans who wear high numbers anyway. Two Hall of Famers who wore high numbers are Don Drysdale, who wore #53 for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers and Carlton Fisk, who wore #72 for the Chicago White Sox. Caps, or other types of headgear with eye-shades, have been a part of baseball uniforms from the beginning. Baseball teams often wore full-brimmed straw hats or no cap at all since there was no official rule regarding headgear. From the 1840s to the 1870s, baseball players various types of hats, such as straw hats, boating caps, jockey caps, and even cycling caps. Caps, or other types of headgear with eye-shades, have been a part of baseball uniforms since the beginning. The Brooklyn Excelsiors were the first team to wear what would later become the baseball cap, with its distinctive rounded top and peak, in the 1860s. By the early years of the twentieth century, it became common for players to wear hats with rounded tops,

Once an integral part of the baseball uniform, stirrup socks have become a rarity in the sport, only worn by a handful of modern day players. Inspired by the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the stocking colors of teams in the 1860s onward were a principal device in distinguishing one team from another (hence team names such as Chicago White Stockings, St. Louis Brown Stockings (or Browns), etc.). Except for a few “candy-cane” varieties (particularly by the Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Senators), striping was quite minimal during the 1920s and, in contrast, a revival of other sorts in the early ‘30s. By the 1990s, new styles of close-trimmed pants legs made it possible for players to wear pants that ran clear to the shoetops, in lieu of the traditional kneebreeches style that had prevailed for generations, and into the 21st century, players began favoring a looser cut of the full length pant, and the once standard practice of wearing stirrup socks has slowly died out, leaving only a few players wearing them.

The Equipment

025

MOUND TO PLATE It is the pitching distance, and other aspects of the pitcher’s mound, and of pitching itself, that have been tinkered with from time to time over the many decades, in an effort to keep an appropriate balance between pitching and hitting. In contrast to the distance between the bases, which seems natural enough, the very specific pitching distance of 60 feet 6 inches is one of those sports oddities that seems like a mistake unless one knows the history: By the time major league baseball began in the 1870s, the pitcher was compelled to pitch from within a “box” whose front edge was 45 feet from the “point” of home plate. Although he had to release the ball before crossing the line, as with bowlers in cricket, he also had to start his delivery from within the box; he could not run in from the field as bowlers do. Furthermore,

“I can sit in a ballpark after a game and love looking at the field. Everybody’s gone, and the ballpark is empty, and I’ll sit there. I sit there and think, ‘Is this as close to heaven as I’m going to get?’ Or, ‘If I get to heaven, will there be baseball?” – Kim Braatz-Voisard

The basic layout of the diamond has been little changed since the original Knickerbocker Rules of the 1840s. The distance between bases was already established as 90 feet, which it remains to this day. Through trial and error, 90 feet had been settled upon as the optimal

026

The Diamond

distance. 100 feet would have given too much advantage to the defense, and 80 feet too much to the offense. As athleticism has improved on both sides of the equation, 90 feet remains the appropriate balance between hitting and fielding, as it continues to provide frequent tests between the speed of a batter-runner and the throwing arm of a fielder. Outisde of the diamond is considered fair game and the configurations allowed are very diverse, with different ballparks having a wild vareity of space, wall distances and shapes in both fair and foul territory.

In an attempt to “increase the batting”, the front edge of the pitcher’s box was moved back 5 feet in 1881, to 50 feet from home plate. The greater distance between the pitcher’s box and home plate allowed for better pitch recognition and more reaction time. The size of the box was tinkered with over the next few years. Pitchers were allowed to throw overhand starting in 1884, and that tilted the balance of power again. In 1887, the box was set at 4 feet wide and 5 1/2 feet deep, with the front edge still 50 feet from the plate. However, the pitcher was compelled to deliver the ball with his back foot at the 55 1/2 foot line of the box, thus somewhat restricting his ability to “power” the ball with his overhand delivery. In 1893, the box was replaced by the pitcher’s plate. Exactly 5 feet was added to the point the pitcher had to toe, again “to increase the batting” (and hopefully to increase attendance, as fan interest had flagged somewhat), resulting in the peculiar pitching distance of 60 1/2 feet.

The Diamond The baseball field is one of the most unique facets of the game of baseball. While there are elements to the field which remain uniform across each stadium, every ballpark is extremely unique, with it’s own design aesthetics, playing surfaces and dimensions.

he had to throw underhand. By the 1880s, pitchers had mastered the underhand delivery quite well. The year 1880 saw two perfect games within a week of each other.

‘45

‘50

‘60 1/2

1870

1887

1893

The distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate was changed several times during the early years of baseball.

Originally, the pitcher threw from flat ground, but over time the mound was developed, tipping the balance back towards pitching dominance somewhat. The dirt path between the pitcher and the catcher was once as wide as the pitchers box and resembled the “pitch” area used in the game of cricket. Sometimes this path extended through the batting area and all the way to the backstop. Once the rounded pitcher’s mound was developed, the path became more ornamental than practical, and was entirely abandoned by the late 1940s, although some recent teams (such as the Detroit Tigers) re-created the path in their new ballparks, for nostalgic reasons.

The Diamond

027

17”

HOME PLATE In addition to the variations to the distance from pitcher to hitter, something that was also constantly evolving in early baseball was the shape of home plate. The base went through several different iterations before arriving at the iconic shape we know today. The modern day design offers a number of advantages, including being safer than harder materials as well as making it easier for umpires to determine balls and strikes.

During the Winter of 1899/1900 The Rules Committee elected to re-design the configuration of home plate, introducing the five-sided figure in use today. This design is a 17” square with the plate’s left and right far corners eliminated. The stated intent of the design change was to provide the pitcher with a larger target at which to aim. An unintended side effect provided the umpire with a better view of whether or not the pitch cut the plate.

During the early stages of baseball, home plate was circular in shape. Whatever object was available could and would be used (wood, cast iron, stone, white marble), and sometimes the object was a dish. Thus, the name plate came into use. In 1869 "home base" was transformed into a 12-inch square shape. The square was put into the ground with one point directed towards the pitcher and the opposite point directed toward the catcher. The disadvantage of the square shape was that it was difficult for both the umpires and the pitchers to pinpont the strike zone.

Going Home

There must have been a significant number of injuries from players sliding across a hard plate because in 1885 the American Association directed that home plate be made of rubber that year; The National League mandated the conversion to a rubber plate two years later (1887).

Pre-1866 Wood, Cast Iron or Stone 12” diameter

028

The Diamond

1869-1885 Stone or White Marble 12” Square

8.5”

12”

15”

“Ninety feet between home plate and first base may be the closest man has ever come to perfection.” ~Red Smith

THE INFIELD BASES

It is remarkable how similar the 19th century baseball batters area is to the modern design, even with a different home plate shape.

1885-1899 White Rubber 16” across

1899-Present White Rubber 17” across

The first written mention of the dimensions of the bases was mentioned in the 1857 playing rules. It was specified that the bases were to cover one square foot, made of canvas, painted white and filled with sand or saw-dust. The design of a baseball base has not changed since the proliferation of baseball in the mid-nineteenth century. It began as a white canvas bag with a soft filling. While the location of baseball bases have been moved around the field a little since then, the components of baseball bases retain a similar appearance. Baseball bags are slightly larger now and some are made of rubber rather than canvas, but they are essentially the same. Traditional baseball bases are wrapped in a white canvas or rubber covering. The official rulesonly stipulate that bases contain soft-filling. Historically, sawdust and sand have been popular materials. In recent years, foam has become a common filling for bases. Modern professional bases have a stanchion that is used to

attach the bases to the playing field. A stanchion is similar in appearance to a spike and is inserted into a corresponding hole on the playing field. Some cheaper bases have a hard plastic waffled bottom that grips the playing field to keep it in place. According to Eric Miklich at the website 19th Century Baseball, the oldest known baseball base specifications were written in 1857. Bases were to be canvas bags filled with sand or sawdust. The bags would be painted white, attached to the field at the corners, and their dimensions were required to be one square foot. The overall size of a baseball base hasmorphed over time. It is now 15 inches square and between three to five inches thick. These three bases combine with home plate to form the ouline of the baseball diamond, where the majority of the action occurs. The pitcher’s mound rests directly in the middle of the diamond.

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THE OUTFIELD The outfield is made from thick grass or artificial turf. It is where the outfielders play. The positions to play in the outfield are right, center, and left field (named in relation to the batter’s position; thus left field is beyond third base and right field is beyond first base). Outfields vary in size and shape depending on the overall size and shape of the playing field. The warning track typically refers to the strip of dirt in front of the home run fence. Because the warning track’s color and feel differs from the grass outfield, an outfielder can remain focused on a fly ball near the fence and take his proximity to the fence into consideration while attempting to catch the ball safely. It is also used for grounds maintenance so as to not drive on the grass field. A warning track is also a common feature along the left and right sides of a field. A warning track’s width varies from field to field. It is generally designed to give about three steps of warning to the highest level

Going Yard

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The first ballpark used by the American League in New York City was Hilltop Park. The park got its name because it was situated on the top of a hill overlooking the Hudson River. The deepest part of the park was just left of center field and was over 540 feet from home plate, making it one of the deepest parts of any park in baseball history.

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players using the field. Typical widths run from about six feet for Little League fields to about 10–15 feet for college- or professional-level play. The track can be composed of finely ground rock particles such as cinders, which is why announcer Bob Wolff called it the “cinder path” rather than the “warning track”.

389

420 380

310 37’ 2”

The idea of a warning track originated in Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track was built for use in track and field events. When ballpark designers saw how the track helped fielders, it soon became a feature of every ballpark. Despite the warning track’s presence, it is common to see outfielders crash into the wall to make a catch, due either to a desire to field the play regardless of the outcome or because they fail to register the warning. For this reason, outfield walls are typically padded for extra safety, where feasible. Wrigley Field’s brick wall is covered only by ivy, which is not especially soft. There are pads on the walls of the tight left and right field corners in foul ground. Warning-track power is a derogatory term for a batter who seems to have just enough power to hit the ball to the warning track for an out, but not enough to hit a home run. The term more generally refers to someone or something that is almost but not quite good enough for something. The outfield wall is the wall that separates the outfield from the out of play zone. Certain ballparks give up more home runs depending on the height of their walls. Fenway Park’s left field wall, the “Green Monster”, is the tallest of these walls at 37 ft. Many ballparks have padding on the walls for the protection of outfielders trying to make plays and some others are covered by chain link fences or even organic materials, such as ivy. Many modern ballparks feature LED scoreboards embedded within the outfield walls, which are covered

8’ 9”

5’

Wall Height

Wall Depth

with a fencing material to allow outfielders to climg it without damanging the electronics. Besides Fenway Park, there are other stadiums with unique outfield walls. Wrgley Field is famous for its outfield walls which are covered by ivy. In the first weeks of the baseball season, the ivy has not leafed out, and all that is visible are the vines on which it grows. However, as the baseball season progresses further into spring, the ivy grows thick and green, disguising the hard brick surface of the outfield wall. In San Diego’s Petco Park, The Western Metal Supply Co. building, a hundred-year old brick structure that had been scheduled for demolition to make way for the baeball park, was saved and incorporated into the design of the ballpark. The building was renovated and contains the team store, private suites, a restaurant and rooftop

Fenway Park is the best baseball stadium to reference when showing the amount of variety in wall heights and depths in each major league park. The famous “Green Monster”, the main wall in left field, is both the highest wall (at 37 feet, 2 inches) and the shortest distance between a wall and home plate (310 feet) in the majors. To contrast, the center field area, known as “the Triangle” is 420 feet deep at it’s greast distance from home plate.

seating. The southeast corner of the building serves as the left field foul pole, and is protected by a strip of bright yellow angle iron. At Minute Maid Park, the dead-center wall is 436 ft (133 m) from home plate. Fielding is a challenge there as well, due to the 90-foot (27 m) wide center field incline known as Tal’s Hill. No two outfields are the same shape or depth, and many teams are built around the characteristics of the stadium they play in. Certain fields favor right or left handed hitters, and certain fields favor the offensive or defense. Ballpark fields are also differentiated by the type of grass grown in the field, and certain fields even use an artificial surface. In the middle of the 20th century, Astroturf was a common playing surface for indoor parks. Baseball diamonds are by far the most unique and varied sport fields.

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$%@#*!!!

THE LANGUAGE

THE EEPHUS LEAGUE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK

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$%@#*!!!

Sections

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Idioms

Jargon

Superstitions

Nicknames

2 “Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem.” – Saul Steinberg

learly, no other sport has contributed more words to American English than baseball. As Tristram Potter Coffin observed in The Old Ball Game (1971), “The true test comes in the fact that old ladies who have never been to the ballpark, coquettes who don’t know or care who’s on first, men who think athletics begin and end with a pair of goal posts, still know and use a great deal of baseball-derived terminology.” And “right off the bat,” of those terms, a few (just a “ballpark figure”) spring to mind. At one time or another, we’ve all been “shut out,” “caught flat-footed,” and then “left on the bench.” Invariably, just when we thought we were “batting a thousand,” we “choked” in the “clutch” and “struck out.” Oh, once we might have tried to “play the field,” maybe even “got to first

base.” But failing to keep an “eye on the ball,” we found ourselves “out in left field” or even “out of our league” altogether. “In a pinch,” we’ve probably “gone to bat” for a friend who had “taken his licks” and already had “two strikes against him.” This booklet is a starting point to get you familiar with some of the many intricacies in the language of baseball, from idioms that we use in everyday life to the jargon used by players and coaches. In addition to this world of vocabulary, there is also information about common superstitions that make up the more abstract anf fantastical nature of baseball. The last section is a look into the rich tradition of bestowing nicknames to players, based on physical attributes, playing style and even dietary preferences.

Language Introduction

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Language Introduction

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HIT A GRAND SLAM

“I would say that number is in the ballpark.” BALLPARK “Ballpark” has been used to mean a broad

CALL IN A PINCH HITTER PLAY BALL

WE NEED THEM TO KNOCK THE COVER OFF THE BALL

WE’RE DOWN TO OUR LAST OUT

“Go on and step up to the plate, pitch a shutout, swing for the fences, avoid any curveballs, knock it out of the park, cover your bases and play hardball.”

IDIOMS Baseball is important to Americans. In fact, it’s officially the “national pastime”. Most Americans grow up having a basic grasp of the game. Many American English idioms also are derived from the game of baseball. Chances are you use idioms derived from baseball on a daily basis and don’t even realize it. Baseball is so engrained in our culture that no one bats an eyelash when someone says “Step up to the plate!” It is a testament to the longetivity of baseball that these phrases are still such an integral part of our language.

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Idioms

Paul Dickson says in his introduction to The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, “The influence of baseball on American English at large is stunning and strong.” No other sport has contributed so richly to American English as baseball. Slang terms (as distinct from jargon) have evolved a usage and meaning independent of baseball and are often used by those with little knowledge of the game. Many of these terms are deeply entrenched in the American psyche; many have spread to other dialects of English, such as Canadian English.

area of approximation or similarity, or a range within which comparison is possible. A “ballpark figure” or “ballpark estimate”, one that is reasonably accurate, dates to 1967. The meaning of “out of the ball park” is to hit a home run; its non-baseball equivalent is to do something well or exactly as it should be done.

BAT Getting an opportunity to contribute; your opportunity to shine. Also can mean stepping in for someone as a substitute, being an aid to someone in need. “Going to bat” for someone. See also “Pinch Hitter”.

ball league and therefore its players (as in bush-league pitcher etc.). Oxford English Dictionary cites its first baseball use as 1906, non-baseball in 1914.

CAT BIRD SEAT an advantageous position. It is a popular expression among baseball broadcasters as they sit high above the ballpark. CHARLEY HORSE sudden stiffness or cramp in the leg. Of unknown etymology; CDS cites its first use c. 1887 as baseball slang; Oxford English Dictionary states such cramps occur “especially in baseball players” and cites this usage to 1888. COVER ONE’S BASES Ensure safety. In baseball, a defensive player covers a base by standing close to it, ensuring a runner can not reach it safely. In business, covering one’s bases means being prepared for every possible contingency.

BATTING A THOUSAND Getting everything in a series of items right. In baseball, someone with a batting average of one thousand (written as 1.000) has had a hit for every at bat in the relevant time period (e.g. in a game). AHDI dates its non-baseball usage to the 1920s.

“That problem was a real curveball, I was surprised.”

“This is the Big Leagues, it’s time to play ball.”

CURVEBALL A surprise, often completely and totally unexpected, and usually unpleasant. The curveball is a pitch in baseball designed to fool the batter by curving unexpectedly. AHDI dates this usage to the mid-1900s.

BIG LEAGUES at the highest level; used as a noun (“You’re in the big leagues now”) or an adjective (“bigleague lawyer”). Oxford English Dictionary cites “big league” as specifically American major-league baseball, and cites its first use in 1899. BRUSH BACK

To subvert or threaten verbally. In baseball, a nickname for any pitch intended to establish a pitcher’s command of the inside portion of the strike zone, usually involving throwing a pitch at or near a hitter who may be covering that portion of the strike zone.

BUSH-LEAGUE amateur, unsophisticated, unprofessional. From the baseball term for a second-rate base-

DOWN TO THE LAST OUT To have just one last chance, to be near the end of the competition. Also sometimes expressed as “down to the last strike”, or similarly, “the bottom of the ninth.”

“He put his foot in the bucket and failed.” FOOT IN THE BUCKET To act timidly or cowardly. A batter who steps away from home plate with his leading foot (in fear of being struck by a pitched ball) instead of a straight-ahead stride is said to be “stepping in the bucket”.

Idioms

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“IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER!” YOGI BERRA

GRAND SLAM Any sudden sweeping victory. A batter who hits a home run with bases loaded has hit a fourrun “grand slam”, a term originally borrowed from contract bridge for winning thirteen tricks. Aside from baseball, the term now refers to a situation which may or may not end badly for the protoganist but from which he emerges as an obvious winner.

“It’s time to start playing some real hardball.” HARDBALL (Be or act) tough, aggressive. Refers to the comparison between balls in baseball and softball. As a synonym for baseball, Oxford English Dictionary dates this use of “hardball” to 1883. HEAVY HITTER A powerful or commanding person, a leader. In baseball a heavy hitter is a slugger, someone who hits a lot of extra base hits or home runs. In business, the heavy hitters may be those who draw the most clients or make the most sales, or who serve a leadership role in the organization. KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK To achieve complete or even a spectacular success; compare home run, below. A home run is automatically scored when a batter strikes the ball with such force as to hit it out of the stadium or playing field. HIT OR MISS To either achieve success or completely fail. Referencing a baseball batter’s swing at a pitched ball, and the two results that could occur.

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Idioms

“It was a great success, a real home run.” HOME RUN A complete success (opposite of strike out); often used in the verb phrase “hit a home run”. Synonymous with “knocking it out of the park”. INSIDE BASEBALL Within the sport, “inside baseball” refers to the stratagems that managers use to get their team to score runs, perhaps not as obvious as simply getting players to hit home runs or to catch the ball, but to do the little things that move runners towards home plate. Akin to the idea of playing small ball. Outside the game, “inside baseball” may refer to the behind-the-scenes machinations of politicians, bankers, or other professionals. “IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER!”

A famous quotation from baseball player Yogi Berra; one of many yogiisms. In sports, it means that a game is not over until time expires, the final out is registered, etc., and that the players need to stay mentally focused until the game is officially over.

“IT’S LIKE DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN!”

Another famous (attributed) yogiism. It’s a redundant way of saying “Here we go again!” It has come into general circulation in the language to describe any situation that seems to be observably repeating itself.

KNOCK THE COVER OFF THE BALL

to succeed beyond expectation. Derived from the act of hitting

the ball exceptionally hard, so as to make the leather covering come off. Tearing the cover off the ball was possible in the early days of baseball, since a single ball was often used for the entire game (as also used to be the case in the game of cricket). Possibly derived from the poem Casey at the Bat, which features the verse, “And Blake, the much despis-ed, tore the cover off the ball.”

LEADOFF HITTER In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning. In other fields of endeavor the leadoff hitter is the one who goes first in a series.

OFF BASE Unawares or by surprise, usually in the phrase “caught off base”. Meaning misguided, mistaken, or working on faulty assumptions, this usage dates to 1940. Both of these uses derive from the situation of a runner being away from a base and thus in a position to being put out. ON DECK Next in line to face a particular challenge. In baseball, a batter emerges from the dugout and loosens up in preparation of his at bat.

One step at a Time

“That really came out of left field, I was surprised.” LEFT FIELD Unusual, unexpected, or irrational. Rumored to originally describe fans who came to Yankee Stadium to see Babe Ruth (a right fielder, and also a left-handed hitter whose home runs most frequently went to right field) but who bought tickets for the wrong side of the field. MENDOZA LINE — a line marking a very poor performance, referring to the Mendoza line of a .200 batting average in baseball. NINTH INNING An expression that an event or process is near the end – in the last of a nine-inning game. Referring to a trend in market expansion, a financial analyst may say “We’re in the eighth or ninth inning.”

“I took an O-fer today, I didn’t have any luck.” O-FER If a baseball batter gets 0 hits in 4 at-bats in a game, he’s said to have an “o-fer.” In business, an “o-fer” would be failing to make any sales.

ONE BASE AT A TIME In baseball a manager may adopt a strategy of moving runners along one base at a time rather than emphasizing power hitting and high scoring innings. In other walks of life, such a step-bystep approach may also be referred to as a one-base-ata-time approach.

“I am struggling with this proposal, I need a pinch hitter to help out.” PINCH HIT to act as a substitute or stand-in for someone, especially in an emergency. In baseball, sometimes a substitute batter would be brought in, especially at a crucial point in the game. A pinch hitter is someone who preforms a duty as a substitute to someone else.

Idioms

041

PITCH A SHUTOUT to not allow an opponent any wins. In baseball, a shutout occurs when a pitcher does not allow the opponent any runs.

“It’s time to play ball and get this deal wrapped up very soon.” PLAY BALL To get going, or to start. Before every baseball game, and after a dead ball situation such as a foul ball or a time-out, the umpire traditionally shouts “play ball” in order to (re-)start the game. RAIN CHECK a ticket given to a spectator at an outdoor event providing for a refund of his or her entrance money or admission at a later date, should the event be interrupted by rain, or a (sometimes vague) promise to accept a social offer at an unnamed later date. RHUBARB

A heated argument or noisy dispute; especially, between players on a playing field. Originally the word traditionally muttered by actors in a play to provide background noise. Online Etymology Dictionary attributes the “loud squabble on the field” usage to broadcaster Garry Schumacher in 1938, while Oxford English Dictionary and CDS both credit sportscaster Red Barber at a baseball game in 1943.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT immediately; without any delay. “SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOE!” An expression of disbelief. A reference to the Black Sox scandal of 1919, when several members of the Chicago White Sox conspired

with gamblers to lose the World Series on purpose. When Shoeless Joe Jackson was implicated in the scandal, an apocryphal story says that a young fan approached him and said, “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”

SCREWBALL Eccentric, zany, or crazy; Oxford English Dictionary dates this usage to 1933. The screwball is a rarely used pitch (because of its effect on the arm) that is intended to behave erratically — it “breaks” in the opposite direction a curveball would break. STEP UP TO THE PLATE To rise to an occasion in life. Refers to when a player must approach home plate to take a turn at batting. Oxford English Dictionary cites baseball usage in 1875, general usage in 1919.

“I’m afraid I really struck out on that date.” STRIKE In baseball, a strike is when the batter swings at and misses a pitch, or when the pitch crosses the strike zone without the batter swinging. The word strike has crept into common English usage to mean a failure or shortcoming. When a person has “gotten three strikes” and “struck out”, they have failed completely. The “three strikes laws” refer to more severe punishments for criminals with a third conviction. Someone seeking romance with another person may “strike out” and fail to impress on a first meeting. SWING AND MISS To try and fail, like swinging a bat and missing the ball. This phrase is normally reserved for smaller mishaps and events that are not considered critical.

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Idioms

“You should always be on bases, and avoid being off of them. bases should also be touched and covered whenever possible.” SWING FOR THE FENCES To try for a substantial gain; to make big score. In baseball, to swing for the fences is to try to hit a home run. Occassionally this produces negative results. SWITCH-HITTER Refers to baseball players who are capable of hitting as a left-handed or right-handed batter. “Switch-hitting” can refer to an ability to perform double functions or roles. Switch hitters are excellent multitaskers and excel is a variety of roles.

“She took some nasty cuts at me yesterday.” TAKE CUTS AT SOMEONE

TOUCH BASE

To ensure everyone has the same information. In baseball, a player who is touching a base is not in danger of being put out. Another explanation is that a player briefly touches each of the bases when he runs around after hitting a home run; therefore “touching base” is briefly checking in.

“This is right in my wheelhouse.” WHEELHOUSE

It is derived from the term for a batter’s power zone, usually waist high and over the middle of the plate. Pitches that are in a hitters wheelhouse are usually “grooved” down the middle of the plate at belt height.

In baseball, a batter swinging the bat at a ball is sometimes said to “take cuts” at the ball. A person who “takes cuts” at somebody else may be taking a verbal swing or striking a blow at the person’s reputation.

WHIFF

TOOK THE COLLAR

WHOLE NEW BALL GAME

from the phrase for failing to get any hits, leaving a zero on the scorecard, which resembles a collar. It can be used to indicate failure at something.

from the baseball term for when a batter swings and misses a pitch, often creating a “whiffing” sound from the bat speed.

In the most common usage, a “whole new ball game” or “brand new ball game” signifies a drastic turn of events, a completely altered situation.

Idioms

043

5.5 HOLE The space between the third baseman and shortstop on the field. San Diego Padres icon Tony Gwynn made hitting balls through the 5.5 hole routine.

BUTCHER A very poor fielder.

Grocers & Baseball

AIR MAIL Slang for a fielder’s errant throw that sails

high over the player to whom he intended to throw it.

ASPIRIN TABLET Slang for a fastball that is especially hard to hit due to its velocity and/or movement. To batters who are in a slump, a pitched ball may appear to be much smaller than its actual size. BALTIMORE CHOP

“That poor guy is a butcher in the field. I wish he would learn to dig it out. That banjo hitter slapped a daisy cutter right at him and he booted it into left field.”

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Jargon

“Listen to the twang of that bat, he’s a Banjo Hitter.” BANJO HITTER A batter who lacks power. The name

Jargon In addition to the language that everyday people use that comes from baseball, those who coach, manage and play the game have a massive vocabulary of their own jargon. Paul Dickson’s “Baseball dictionary” contains over 7,000 words and phrases specific to baseball. Baseball jargon has become a universal language, recognized, understood and used routinely around the baseball world. Most players interpret very specific meanings from terms like “Cheese”, “Rabbit ears”, and “Fencebuster”. Coaches, managers and veteran players introduce these terms to younger players, who keep the terms alive by passing them on themselves as time passes.

A short downward swing intended to make the ball rebound off home plate or the packed dirt immediately in front of the plate. The goal is to produce a bounce high enough so that, even if the ball can be fielded by an infielder the batter will reach first for a base hit. This was a tactic of the Baltimore Orioles of the National League in the 1890s. John McGraw is supposed to have had the earth in front of home plate compacted for this purpose.

is said to come from the twanging sound of the bat at contact, like that of a banjo. The boys of summer use it profusely. The crowd out at the ballpark hear baseball talk and terms which makes baseball seem like a festive live wire account of life being lived to the fullest.Many of the terms date back over 50 years, reflecting the respect for history and the longetivity of baseball. Baseball players are determined to keep the tradition alive and lend their sport with just a little more soul than your average athletic event. It’s these colorful pieces of language that flesh out a sport that could easily be dominated by numbers, statistics and math and make baseball the unique entity that it is.

BOTTOM DROPPED OUT OF IT Sometimes said of a sinker or drop ball, implying that a pitch suddenly moved downward as if it fell through a trap door. BUCK & CHANGE A player batting between .100 and .199 is said to be batting “a buck and change” or, more specifically, the equivalent average in dollars (bucks) and cents (change). A batter batting .190 is said to be batting “a buck ninety”. BUST HIM IN To throw a fastball in on the hitter’s hands to back him off the plate or jam him.

Corn

When small markets were prevalent with just one grocer, the canned corn would be stored on the top shelves because it lasted for a long time. The common way to retrieve them was take a broomstick and knock the can toward you, catching it in the apron.

CAN OF CORN An easily-caught fly ball. Supposedly comes from a general store clerk reaching up and dropping a can from a high shelf. CAPTAIN HOOK A manager who often takes a pitcher out of the game at the first sign of trouble. Sparky Anderson is perhaps the best example of a “Captain Hook” at the major league level. See hook. CEMENT MIXER A baseball pitched with the intent to break out of the strike zone that fails to break and ends up hanging in the strike zone; an unintentional slow fastball with side spin resembling a fixed-axis spinning cement mixer.

“Go give hime some high cheese, Ace!” CHEESE A fastball, particularly one that reaches the mid- to upper-90s in velocity. CHIN MUSIC A high and tight, up and in pitch meant to knock a batter back from home plate to avoid being hit on the chin. Also known as a brush-back pitch.

Jargon

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BALL

STRIKE

OUT

loaded and there are many runners on base. “His batting average is .350 when there are lots of ducks on the pond.”

EEPHUS A very slow pitch with a high arcing trajectory. Invented by 1930s Pittsburgh Pirates hurler Rip Sewell and still seen occasionally in modern baseball. ELEPHANT EAR(S) When the lining of a player’s pockets are sticking out of the pockets. EXCUSE ME SWING When a batter inadvertently makes contact during a check swing.

CRACKERJACK A player or team with power and whom are exceptionally skilled. CRANK To hit a ball for extra bases, typically a home run. Also, a turn of the century (19th century) euphemism for baseball spectators, referring to the cranking of the turnstiles as they pass into the ballpark. CROOKED NUMBER A number other than a zero or a

one, referring to the appearance of the actual number.

DAISY CUTTER A hard-hit ground ball, close enough

to the grass to theoretically be able to lop the tops off any daisies that might be growing on the field.

DANCE The term used to describe the erratic move-

ment that defines a well-thrown knuckleball.

“Our Ace is really dealing some heat today.” DEAL Delivery of a pitch, commonly used by play-byplay announcers as the pitcher releases the ball, e.g., “Smith deals to Jones”. DEUCES WILD When a large quantity of the number “2” appears on the scoreboard at the same time: 2 baserunners, 2 outs, 2 balls and 2 strikes on the batter. Derived from poker term “deuces are wild”.

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Jargon

DIG IT OUT To field a ball on or near the ground. Usually a first baseman taking a low throw from another infielder. To “dig it out of the dirt.” Someone who digs it out would not be said to have “stone fingers”, or to be a “butcher”. DIRT-NAP When a player trips or falls in the outfield or on the base paths. A blown save may also be referred to as a dirt-nap. Also used when two outfielders collide into each other on a play.

“He must be double parked with how fast he’s working this afternoon!” DOUBLE PARKED A pitcher who is getting a lot of quick outs. Implies that he has parked his car illegally and is trying to get back to it and avoid a ticket, and this is why he is trying to get outs quickly. DUCK SNORT A softly hit ball that goes over the infielders and lands in the outfield for a hit. Originally called a “duck fart,” the term was popularized by White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson to make it more family friendly. DUCKS ON THE POND Said when there are Runners

on base. Used most frequently when the bases are

2 Hours Difference

“That curveball really fell off the table.” FALL OFF THE TABLE 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.

FENCEBUSTER A slugger. FASTBALL HAPPY When a pitcher relies too much

on his fastball.

FAT PITCH A pitch that is located exactly where the

hitter is expecting it. The ball may look bigger than it actually is, and the batter may hit it a long way.

“Put away your calculator, Figger Filbert, and try .”

Fencebuster

Punch & Judy

FIVE O’CLOCK HITTER A hitter who hits really well during batting practice, but not so well during games. These were formerly known as “ten o’clock hitters” or “two-o’clock hitters” back when there were no night games and games were played in the early afternoon. FOUR-FINGERED SALUTE An intentional walk. The umpire holds up four fingers to signify the four balls. GO YARD To “go yard” is to hit a home run, i.e., to hit the ball the length of the baseball field or “ball yard”.

“He really grooved that fastball” GROOVE A PITCH When a pitcher throws a pitch down the middle of the plate (“the groove”). The results are often poor. GUESS HITTER A hitter who may not be the best at reading what kind of pitch is coming toward him so he guesses what the next pitch is going to be.

FIGGER FILBERT An old-fashioned and more colorful way of saying “numbers nut”, for a fan with a nearobsessive interest in the statistics or “figures” of the game of baseball.

HANDCUFF A hard-hit ground ball that bounces directly at an infielder may be difficult for him to get his hands up in time to grab. Also used to describe an awkward swing on an inside pitch to a hitter.

FIVE & DIVE A derogatory term referring to a starting pitcher who is unable to go beyond 5 innings before wearing out.

HIT THE BALL ON THE SCREWS To hit the ball even center with measured force, often resulting in a loud crack of the bat. The phrase derives from golf.

Jargon

047

“He dumped a Humpback Liner into Left Field.” HUMPBACK LINER

A term frequently used to describe a ball hit deep in the infield that has a trajectory in between that of a fly ball and a line drive. They would often fall in for hits, but the extra topspin on the ball makes them take a dive before they can get to the outfield.

ICE CREAM CONE Colorful term used to describe the appearance of a baseball caught in the tip of the webbing of a glove. The partially protruding white ball contrasted with the tan-colored glove resembles a large waffle cone. This phenomenom is also referred to as a “snow cone” catch.

“He got up in his kitchen with that fastball.” IN THE KITCHEN Another term used to describe pitching in on the hitter’s hands. JELLY LEGS

When a batter is fooled by a pitch (normally an off-speed or curve ball heading at an unusual angle) and departs from a good batting stance.

LAUGHER A game in which one team gets a large lead, perhaps early in the game, and it appears that the other team has no chance at all of catching up. With nothing to worry about, the manager and team can relax. An easy win; a romp; a blowout. LOOGY

A mildly derogatory nickname for a lefthanded specialist. An acronym for “Lefty One Out GuY,” a left-handed pitcher who may be brought into the game to pitch against just one or two left-handed batters to take extreme advantage of platoon effects.

MUSTARD Refers to a high amount of velocity on a throw or pitch. A player may be exhorted to “put some (extra) mustard on it”.

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Jargon

NICKEL CURVE A slider. Also used to mean an average or possibly “hanging” slider. Hitters look at the spin on a ball when it is released by the pitcher, so the “dot” (circle which is created from the pitcher’s rotation on the ball that the batter sees to identify a pitch as a slider out of the pitcher’s hand) is said to be “nickel sized.” NINTENDO To strike out a batter on three pitches.

Alternatively, to strike out on three pitches.

On the Road

I-85

ON THE INTERSTATE A player batting between .100

and .199 is said to be “on the interstate.” The term refers to the fact that a batting average in the .100s can resemble an interstate name (e.g. .195 resembles I-95). A hit to put an average above .200 gets a batter “off the interstate.” A batter whose average is below .100 is sometimes said to be “off the map”.

PAYBACK If after the pitcher from one team tries to bean or otherwise hit a batter, the opposing pitcher retaliates by trying to hit a batter from the first pitcher’s team, it’s a “payback.” PUNCH AND JUDY HITTER A hitter with very little

power or slugging ability.

RABBIT EARS Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for his own good.

STICK IT IN HIS EAR!!! A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz him is said to have “rabbit ears”.

ROOM SERVICE A ball hit directly to a fielder such that he hardly has to move to get it. STICK IT IN HIS EAR “Stick it in his ear!” is a cry that that may come from fans in the stands, appealing to the home team pitcher to be aggressive (throw the ball at the opposing batter).

“Our shortstop has stone fingers.” STONE FINGERS A player who often misplays easy

ground balls.

TABLESETTER A player placed high in the batting

order for his tendency to hit for average and steal bases is said to “set the table” for the power hitters behind him in the lineup.

TAKE THE HILL When a pitcher moves to his defen-

TWO-WAY PLAYER A term borrowed from American

football to describe either a player who can pitch and hit well, or a player who can pitch and play another defensive position well. The most famous Major League ballplayer who was truly a two-way player was Babe Ruth.

“Whoa! There goes an Ugly Finder into the dugout.” UGLY FINDER A foul ball hit into a dugout, presumably destined to “find” someone who is ugly, or to render him that way if he fails to dodge the ball. UNCLE CHARLIE A slang term used to describe a looping curveball.

UPPERCUT When instead of being horizontal or level, a batter’s swing moves in an upward direction as the bat moves forward. UP THE ELEVATOR SHAFT A pop-up that travels straight upwards off the bat, very easy to catch.

sive position on the mound he is said to “take the hill.”

YACKER A curveball with a big break.

TEA PARTY

YELLOW HAMMER

THROUGH THE WICKETS When a batted ball passes

ZEROES A no-hitter or perfect game, so-called because

Conference on the mound, involving more players than just the pitcher and catcher, and sometimes coaches and managers.

through the legs of a player in the field it’s often said, “That one went right through the wickets.” The term refers to the metal hoops (called wickets) used in the game of croquet through which croquet balls are struck (resembling a pair of legss).

A sharp-breaking curveball. Supposedly named after the yellowhammer bird and its apparent habit of diving steeply to catch prey.

the line score shown on the scoreboard is 0–0–0, though it is subjective when referring to a no-hitter and perfect games, because the opposing team can make errors. However, it will normally show as 0–0–0 (no runs, no hits, no errors) on the scoreboard.

Jargon

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Friday

5:00 PM

Saturday

5:00 PM

Sunday

5:00 PM

“Just one (superstition). Whenever I hit a home run, I make certain I touch all four bases.” – Babe Ruth

Superstitions Of all the major sports, baseball players are certainly the most superstitius. These superstitions stretch form on field behavior, to diet and the way a player wears his socks (or how often he washes them). This atmosphere is not limited to players, as managers, coaches, announcers and fans all carry their own superstitious tendencies. Fans turn their caps inside out to create a “rally cap”, announcers refuse to mention a no hitter in progress, and coaches refuse to tarnish the white chalk along the foul line. Baseball superstitions have been around for as long as the game itself. In the 1870s, Cap Anson refused to speak to his starting pitcher on the day that he was pitching. The 1894 Baltimore Orioles sat down

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Superstitions

together one hour before batting practice and chugged glasses of turkey gravy. Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs ate fried chicken before every game. It worked: Boggs won five batting titles, two Gold Gloves, a World Series and collected 3,000 hits. Baseball has always held a sort of ehtereal status in our culture, so perhaps that is why superstitions have such staying power. There must be forces beyond the players in the field watching each game and swaying things in one direction or another, so players err on the side of caution. The following is a list of the most common superstitions. Most ballplayers believe in at least one of these anti-jinx methods, no matter how silly, disgusting or unhealthy.

“Superstition is good for a ballplayer… It keeps a player’s mind revolving around baseball.” – Lefty O’Doul

Not stepping on the foul line when taking the field, thus disturbing the chalk line. Pitchers and managers are always very cautious not to touch that foul line.

Refusing to wash a piece or part of an entire uniform during a hot playing streak, including equipment like bats and helmets.

Tapping one’s bat on home plate before an at-bat. This has become a very common habit among major league hitters.

Not talking about the outcome of a 7 game series before it is over. This is similar to rules 2 and 3, and is supposed to avoid jinxes.

Drawing in the batter’s box before each at-bat. Different players draw different things, such as crosses or their initials.

Not shaving after a first post season win. This superstitious practice was first done by the 1908 Chicago White Sox on their run to the World Series title.

Eating the same thing at the same place at the same time before every game. Most players have regimented meals before games.

02 Not talking about a no-hitter or perfect game in progress. Mentioning the feat might risk jinxing the acheivment.

03 “Statting” a player by mentioning his excellent statistics in this situation is seen to jinx that player.

04 Holding on to a lucky bat or glove, no matter how old, chipped, wornout, or covered with pine tar that piece of equipment may be.

08 Chewing only one wad of gum per game. Because any more than that would just be greedy.

12 Sitting in the same place in the dug out. Players tend to sit in a specific area in the dugout with the same group of guys.

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HELLO, MY NAME IS

“The Flying Dutchman” “Flea was hung on me by Del Baker, a former manager of the Detroit Tigers in Beaumont, Texas, in 1933. I was a good sized flea at 5’11”, and 165 pounds. If you have ever been bitten by a Sand Flea, you know why I got my name.” – Herman Clifton

Nicknames Baseball nicknames have become an integral part of the sport’s culture: “In no sport are nicknames more pervasive than baseball.” Receiving a nickname is immortalizing in many aspects, lending the players a larger than life heft to their persona. Did you know that Joe DiMaggio was introduced in ballparks (after his Major League career) by another nickname — “The Greatest Living Ballplayer!” James Galvin, who was better known as Pud, had another great nickname which was probably better suited to his pitching skill. Walter Johnson, pitcher for the Washington Senators, was nicknamed the Big Train. Sportswriter Grantland Rice gave him the nickname because of his size and the speed of his fastball. Johnson played professional baseball from 1907 to 1927. He was one of the first

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Nicknames

players inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936. Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd was known for his fiery temper on the mound. Boyd earned his nickname in his native Mississippi, where “oil” is slang for beer. The name stuck and Boyd went on to become one of Boston’s most popular athletes in the 1980s. The stroeies of the origins of nicknames are just as wild and colorful as the nicknames themselves. Many nicknames have been bestowed upon hundreds of people for well over a century. Baseball will never be without a large share of “Docs”, “Lefties” and “Reds”. NIcknames are given based on a players background, his hair color, fashion sense and athletic abilities. Some were given by plays and some were carried onto the baseball diamond from childhood. The wide variety of nicknames are just another layer of color and history that enriches the baseball watching experience.

“SCOOPS” George Carey (1895-1903) Carey was

a fancy fielding first baseman known for his ability to scoop throws out of the dirt.

“MAD DOG”

Joseph Zdeb (1977-79) Zdeb was nicknamed by Royal’s manager Whitey Herzog during spring training camp in 1977. It refers to his all out hustle. It looked as if he was playing mad.

“JEEP” Roy Hughes (1935-46)

“Jeep” referred to Hughes’ speed. He was also called “Sage” referring to his knowledge and “Whispering” because he talked softly and close to the listener’s ear.

“MONK.” John Cline (1882-91) Cline did not smoke or drink. At 5’3” and 140 pounds, he was one of the smallest of all baseball outfielders.

“THE WALKING MAN.” Edward Yost (1944-62)

Yost, usually a lead-off man, earned his nickname by an uncanny ability to attract walks. Just an average hitter with a career batting average of .254 and with only modest power, 139 home runs in 18 campaigns, Eddie accounted for 1,614 bases on balls. He ranks seventh on the all-time list. Yost led the American League in walks six times. His highest total achieved was 151 in 1956. Only Ruth and Williams drew more bases on balls in a season than “The Walking Man.”

“THE MIGHTY MITE.” Miller Huggins (1904-16)

Miller Huggins stood 5’61/2” and weighed 140 pounds. He played second base in the National League for 13 years, 1904-16. He began his career in organized baseball however, in 1899, with the Mansfield, Ohio, team in the Inter-State League, using the name of “Proctor,” since he was attending college at the time. While playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, his size and ability to get on base, steal bases, and score runs earned him the nickname of “Rabbit.” Most often, however, he was addressed as “Hug.” His worst finish was seventh place in 1925. Between 1921-28 he won six pennants and three World Series with the New York Yankees. It was during his years with the Yankees when he had to control the strong-willed Yankee players such as Babe

The Mighty Mite

5’6” Miller Huggins, a second baseman who played from 1904 – 1916 stood at an intimidating 5 feet six inches. Contrast that with Jon Rauch, a pitcher who broke into the majors in 2006, who was six feet, eleven inches tall. The average height of a major league player is six feet tall.

Ruth, Joe Bush, and Joe Dugan, that “the Mighty Mite” sobriquet was most appropriate.

“ZAZA.”

Erwin Harvey (1900-02) Tom Shea reports that Harvey had red hair. “Zaza” was a popular theater play of the time in which Mrs. Leslie Carter was the heroine and she had red hair.

“HIPPITY.” John Hopp (1939–52) Hopp was called

“Cotney” by his godparents as a child because of his light blond hair. “Hippity” is a response to both cotton as in tail (bunny) and to the last name of Hopp.

“DUCK EYE”

Myles Thomas (1926-30) Thomas’ eyes were slightly flattened at the top lids, while the bottom was generously curved. Duck’s eyes are constructed this way, only more so. Babe Ruth gave Thomas his nickname, because he could not remember his name. Ruth had great difficulty with names.

“THE COUNT”

John Montefusco (1974-86) He received his nickname while playing for Amarillo in the Texas League. His last name reminds one of the

Nicknames

053

character in the novel by Alexander Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo. An El Paso, Texas, sportswriter called him “Count Monte.”

“OWL”

Robert Thurman (1955-59) Thurman’s teammates nicknamed Thurman “Owl” because his eyes gave an owl appearance.

Seeing Red

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There are over 138 documented players with the nickname “Red” in major league history, making it one of the most common nickname in baseball history.

“RED” Samuel Camnitz (1904-15) The nickname

refers to hair color. Tom Shea states that Camnitz was known as “The Kentucky Rosebud,” a place nickname.

“HANDSOME JACK”

John Carney (1889-91) Carney was considered one of the most handsome players of his time.

“BUGS”

It was actually quite common at the turn of the century for aspiring doctors to play baseball professionally for a few years to fund their schooling.

“DOC” James McJames (1895-1901) McJames was

a practicing physician who worked his way through medical school by pitching major league baseball.

“HIGHPOCKETS” Benjamin Hunt (1910-13) Hunt had unusually long legs on his 6’1” frame.

“TWIGGY”

Charles Hartenstein (1965–77) Hartenstein was nicknamed by Chicago Cub teammate, Dick Radatt, after the thin English model who was popular during the mid-1960s.

“BOOTS” Albert Hollingsworth (1935-46) Before

he became a pitcher, Hollingsworth played first base. He booted so many ground balls, players called him · “Boots” even after he started pitching.

“PUT PUT”

Don Ashburn (1948–62) Richie, as Ashburn was addressed, was a speedster in the outfield and on the base paths. Ted Williams once reparked, “That Put Put has twin motors on his pants.” He was also called “The Cornhusker Express” denoting his speed and home, Tilden, Nebraska. “Whitey” was a third nickname, describing Ashburn’s hair color.

the Wali of Wallop the Rajah of Rap The Colossus of Clout The Behemoth of Bust The Colossus Of Crash The Kid of Crash the home run king

the Caliph of Clout the Wazir of Wham Maharajah of Mash The King of Clout The King Of Swing The Terrible Titan The Jovial Giant

“RIFLE JIM”

“ALPHABET” Craig Smajstrea (1988-) Smajstrea

was said Yowell did his best pitching during twilight hours at sunset.

is of Czech descent. The pronunciation of his name

“PLOWBOY” Torn Morgan (1951-63) Morgan was

nicknamed “Plowboy” because he took so long walking to the mound.

“BLUEJACKET”

James Smith (1914-22) Smith was discharged from the navy because of bad eyes. When he showed up at the Bartlesville, Oklahoma, team in 1908, the only clothing he had were old navy uniforms, so a reporter dubbed him “Bluejacket”.

“FLOP EARS” Julian Wera (1927–29) Wera was a

Babe Ruth had a hard time remembering names, so he frequently gave his teams nicknames instead. Ruth himself can claim the most nicknames of any player.

reserve third baseman with the 1927 Yankees. Babe Ruth could not remember his name and called him “Flop Ears” because of his protruding ears.

had PA announcers befuddled. Manager Hal Lanier nicknamed him “Alphabet,” but his Houston Astro teammates simply call him “Smash.”

MacGillicuddy

“GOD”

Douglas Harvey (1962–77, 79-88) According to Tony Kubeck, “God” was used out of respect for Harvey. He was also called “Silver” when he first started umpiring because of his premature grey hair.

Gone Fishing

At 13 letters long, Connie Mack’s given name was quite a mouth (and jersey) full. In 2007, Jarrod Saltalamacchia was called up by the Atlanta Braves, with a surname with 14 letters, making his last name the longest in baseball history.

“THE TALL TACTICIAN”

Cornelius Mack (188696) Mack was born Cornelius MacGillicuddy, but changed his name so that it would fit more easily into a box score. Through the good years and poor years Connie Mack was a master of baseball strategy, earning him the nickname of “The Tall Tactician.” It was Mack who said, “Pitching is 70% of baseball.”

“FLEA” Herman Clifton (1934–37) “A strong wind

minor league hitter and earned the nickname of”Rip” a much more acceptable baseball tag than the first name, Virgin.

“SUNDOWN” Yowell, Carl Columbus (1924-25) It

Nicknames

The Great Bambino

“RIP” Virgin Cannell (1904-05) Cannell was a good

Moran, Carl William (1974 P) Moran was nicknamed after the famous Chicago gangster “Bugs” Moran. The nickname meant that he was a little strange. Before his first major league game, Carl Moran asked if they played the national anthem or taps! He was a notoriously odd character James Middleton (1917-21) The nickname refers to the strength of his pitching arm.

054

What’s up, Doc?

There have been three players with the nickname “Catfish”, most famously Catfish Hunter, a pitcher for the Yankees.

“CATFISH”

George Metkovitch (1943-54) According to William Mead, in 1940 Metkovitch caught a three-foot catfish off a bridge.

could blow Flea Clifton from one corner of the diamond to the other.”Clifton himself claimed; “Flea was hung on me by Del Baker, a former manager of the Detroit Tigers in Beaumont, Texas, in 1933. I was a good sized flea at 5’11”, and 165 pounds. If you have ever been bitten by a Sand Flea, you know why I got my name.”

“DAD GUM”

William Atwood (1936-40) “Dad Gum” was the strongest expletive the mild mannered Atwood ever used.

Nicknames

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A M E R I C TA HN E L NE AU GMUBEE RO SV E R V I E W

THE EEPHUS LEAGUE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK

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Nicknames

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Sections

058

Nicknames

Scorekeeping

Scorekeeping overview

Scorecard overview

Statistics

Batting Statistics

Pitching Statistics

Baserunnings Statistics

Fielding Statistics

3 “A baseball fan has the digestive apparatus of a billy goat. He can, and does, devour any set of diamond statistics with insatiable appetite and then nuzzles hungrily for more.” – Arthur Daley

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Numbers Introduction 060

ost baseball historians point to a single man as being the cornerstone of how we have recorded baseball scores throughout its history. Henry Chadwick (1824-1908) was born in England and grew up following Cricket. After moving to Brooklyn with his family and following cricket for years as a reporter, Chadwick encountered baseball and became involved in the statistics of the sport.

As baseball grew, scorekeeping became more complex from both additional counting statistics such as Runs Batted In as well as mathematical equations to determine things such as batting averages. Baseball fans have adopted these new measurements into the linguistics of baseball and they are all crucial to fans, managers and players when analyzing players, teams and strategy.

Chadwick is credited with devising the baseball box score (which he adapted from the cricket scorecard) for reporting game events. The first box score was a grid with nine rows for players and nine columns for innings. The basic format and structure of the box score has changed little since the earliest of ones designed by Chadwick.

To start an overview of numbers in baseball, you have to start where the numbers are first recorded; the scorebook. This practice is the foundation for all of the statistical worship that happens on the baseball diamond. This section will begin with an overview of the basics of scorekeeping, then will discuss the various statistics, from simple to advanced.

Numbers Introduction

061

third baseman and caused the force out of the runner. This system prevents confusion by avoiding terms such as “1B” or “3B”, because those abbreviations are commonly used to denote singles and triples.

OPENING DAY

ALL STAR BREAK

It is often asked why the shortstop is designated with a 6 and not a 5, which would make logical sense in a counterclockwise progression. Some have suggested that it originated from early opinion that the shortstop was more of a short outfielder, since he was not designated a base.

PLAYOFFS

“No thirty six inch bat ever made as many hits as the scorer’s little pencil.” – Richard McAnn

Scorekeeping Overview Though many people are intimidated by the idea of scoring a game, the process is quite simple and easy for anyone to pick up. All that is required is a scoresheet, a pencil, and a basic grasp of scorekeeping shorthand. Scores are kept using a fairly uniform set of abbreviations, allowing for lots of detail with minimal notation. Many fans who choose to keep score claim that making a record of the evets of the game as it happens allows them to recall it more swiftly and with more detail. Keeping score makes any fan an active participant in the game, and requires them to pay closer attention

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Socrekeeping Overview

and become more absorbed in the sport. Nearly every sportscaster keeps score as they call each game. Though there are a wide range of scorekeeping techniques and systems, there are several shared devices between them. Position players are designated a number, corresponding to the position they play, making it easy to keep track of who was responsible defensively for outs made in the field. For example, a groundout to the third baseman is designated 5-3, five for the third baseman, who fielded the ball, and 3 for the first baseman, who received the throw from the

This shorthand is the foundation to scorekeeping, making it simple for anyone to jot down a play with great detail and little effort. Being comfortable with the abbreviations for players and actions on the field is crucial for effective scorekeeping.

This lined diagram is helpful in remembering which postitions are designated by which numbers in a scorebook.

In addition to keeping track of the players on the field, a good scorekeeper needs to know the shorthand for any of the plays that could happen out on the field. There are simple abbreviations for any play that happens on the field, no matter how rare. Each type of hit has an abbreviation, including special cases like ground rule doubles. In addition, methods of creating an out are listed, as well as things such as balks, errors and interference.You can combine these outcome abbrevia-

tions with the positional numbers to record any even on the field. A double play turned by the shortstop, second baseman and first baseman could be written “6-4-3 DP”. These simple shorthand methods will cover almost any instance on the field, and can be used to deduce common patterns among players. It’s easy to tell if a hitter likes to pull the ball simply by noting where the balls he has hit in the game have traveled. That is the beauty of keeping score.

Single

Passed Ball

Double

HBP

Hit By Pitch

Intentional Walk

Triple

Balk

Strikeout

Home Run

Caught Stealing

Stolen Base

Ground Rule Double

Double Play

Wild Pitch

Base on Balls

Fielder’s Choice

Great Play

Designated Hitter

IFR

Infield Fly Rule

Error

GRD

Interference

These are the most common abbreviations used in all scorekeeping techniques for recording what happens during an at bat. These are used in combination with the position numerical designations to describe onfield events.

Socrekeeping Overview

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WAYS A PLAYER MAKES AN OUT 33

FO3

2 Strike Out

Strike Out Looking

Forced Out to Right Field

Lined out to 3rd Base

Flyed out to Left Field

Ground out to 1st Base

Groundout Unassisted

2-4-3-4

Grounded Out to 3rd

Forced out

Caught Stealing

HBP Caught in a Run Down

1B Double

Fielder’s Choice

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HPB Hit by Pitch

Socrekeeping Overview

This player hit a double to center field, designated here by the number 8, with one out.

Whenever a player scores a run, the diamond is filled in.

In this example, the hitter reached base by hitting a single to left, then stole second base.

GRD

DP 6–4–3

The batter hit a ground ball to the third baseman, who then turned a double play to end the inning.

WAYS A PLAYER GETS ON BASE

Single

This hitter walked, then was forced out at second base, the second out of the inning.

6-4 2

Infield Fly Rule

The circle is to designate outs, if applicable, and the diamond is for recording actions of the batter.

IFR

5-3

3B Triple

BB Home Run

WP Reached on Wild Pitch

E Reached on Error

Ground Rule Double

PB Reached on Passed Ball

Walk

CI Reached on Catcher’s Interference

Once you are familiar with the designations used for plays and positions, you are ready to fill out the scorecard. The final step in filling out a scorecard is illustrating the actions of each at bat on paper. There are notation methods used to add a final layer of detail in addition to the position designations and outcome shorthand. The examples show how a wide variety of information can easily be recorded and referenced in a scorecard. Some scorekeepers like to include a line or arrow showing the path a base hit took, making for a more personal and more illustrative scorecard. Another way of recording where a ball is hit would be to put the numerical designation for the part of the field the ball was hit in the upper left corner of the box. For example, a single to right field would be designated with a “9”.

Almost no two people keep score in the same manner, with different people preferring different methods and scorecard layouts.The one thing in common among all scorecards in the intention and the result. Looking at five scorecards from the same game will yield five very different looking documents, but they all reveal the same set of information. As early as 1874 Henry Chadwick, the “Father” of scoring observed: “It is about time that one system of scoring should be adapted throughout the country.” Then as now, there is no single system of scoring, and Chadwick’s call for unity has gone unheeded. However, the urge to score and keep track of the game remains keen, for baseball begs to be recorded and recalled in shorthand.

Socrekeeping Overview

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SCORECARD OVERVIEW PO

Player

The basic template on a scorecard includes a box for each player and each inning. There is an outline of a baseball diamond as well as a circle to note the outs in the inning at the time of the plate appearance. As each player comes to bat, his actions are recorded in the space dedicated to him for that particular inning. If a player reaches base, lines are drawn around the perimeter of of diamond to mark his progression on the basepaths. If a player manages to come all the way around to home, the diamond is filled in to signify the scoring of a run. A diagonal slash is made on the lower right corner of a box when the third out is made for the inning.

The right side of the scorecard has columns for tallying certain individual stats for each player at the end of a game, including at-bats, runs scored, hits and walks. Most scorecards will provide space for you to compile these stat totals for the entire team for the game. Many scorecards also provide space to keep track of pitchers and their stats, such as innings pitched, batters faced and runs allowed. Scorekeeping can be as simple or complicated as the participant chooses to make it. It is one of the most personalized experiences in the game, and brings thousands of fans together every afternoon.

6-4

F7 3

5-3 1B

U3 1B

Seemingly every ballpark promotes a different set of symbols and scorecard layout. The one featured by the Eephus league is a combination of features from multiple designs, resulting in a simple and visually interesting hybrid you can easily manage and use for reference. Players in the lineup are listed vertically, and there is a space in the scorecard to account for their plate appearance in every inning. The first column on the scorecard is for the numerical designation of the player, which is immedaitely followed by a space to jot down the players name. The real meat of the scorecard is the middle section, which is where the inning by inning action is recorded by the fan.

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Socrekeeping Overview

1. The Player’s Position

6–4–3

2 2-4-3-4

2. The Player’s Name 3. This is where you diagram what happens in each players plate appearance in each inning 4. This section is for tallying the game totals for At Bats, Runs, Hits and Walks

IFR

5-3 1

HBP

U1 2B

This is an example of a scorecard featuring the results of the first five batters in the lineup for all nine innings. If a batter does not come to bat in a particular inning, the space is left blank.

Socrekeeping Overview

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BATTING SATISTICS

BSR Base Runs Another run estimator, like Runs Created; a favorite of writer Tom Tango

1B Single Hits on which the batter reached first base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.

FC Fielder’s choice The times reaching base when a fielder chose to try for an out on another runner

2B Double Hits on which the batter reached second

GO/AO Ground ball fly ball ratio The number of

base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.

3B Triple Hits on which the batter reached third base safely without the contribution of a fielding error.

GDP Ground into double play Number of ground balls hit that became double plays

AB At bat Total number of batting appearances, not including bases on balls, hit by pitch, sacrifices, interference, or obstruction.

GPA Gross Production Average 1.8 times on-base percentage plus slugging percentage, divided by four

AB/HR At bats per home run At bats divided by

GS Grand Slam A home run with the bases loaded,

This section is dedicated to the dozens of statistics used to dissect baseball. Stats can be divided into two major categories. “Counting stats” are actions that happen on the field that are added one by one, such as at bats or hits. “Forumla stats” are stats that take a variety of factors and distill them into a percentage or number.

The Georgia Peach

H Hits The total number of times a player reached base because of a batted, fair ball without an error by the defense.

Throughout much of modern baseball, several core statistics have been traditionally referenced—batting average, RBIs, and home runs. To this day, a player who leads the league in these three statistics is referred to as the “Triple Crown” winner. For pitchers, wins, ERA, and strikeouts are the most often cited traditional statistics, with a pitcher leading a league in these statistics referred to as a “Triple Crown” winner. General managers and baseball scouts have long used the major statistics, among other factors and opinions, to understand player ability. Managers, catchers and pitchers use statistics of batters against opposing teams to develop pitching strategies and set defensive positioning on the field. Managers and batters study opposing pitcher performance and motion in attempts to improve hitting, making statistics valuable not only for record keeping, but for tactics.

Ty Cobb, also known as “The Georgia Peach” is the all time career batting average leader, with a career mark of .366. The all-time major league batting average is .275, which sheds light on how incredible Cobb’s achievement was.

“Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything.” – Toby Harrah, 1983

Statistics Baseball is the most well documented sport in America. Since the flow of a baseball game has natural breaks to it, the sport lends itself to easy record-keeping and statistics. Statistics have been kept for professional baseball since the creation of the American League and National League, now part of Major League Baseball. The practice of keeping records of player achievements was started in the 19th century by Henry Chadwick.Based on his experience with cricket, Chadwick devised the predecessors to modern day statistics including batting average, runs scored, and runs allowed. Traditionally, statistics such as batting average (the number of hits divided by the number of at bats) and earned run average (approximately the number of runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings) have dominated attention in the statistical world of baseball. However, the recent advent of sabermetrics has created statistics drawing from a breadth of player performance measures and playing field variables. Sabermetrics and comparative statistics attempt to provide an improved measure of a player’s performance and contributions to his team from year to year, frequently against a statistical performance average.

068

Statistics

ground ball outs divided by number of fly ball outs

total home runs.

366 > 275

BA Batting average (also abbreviated AVG) Hits divided by at bats. BB Base on balls (also called a “walk”) Times receiving four balls and advancing to first base

BABIP Batting average on balls in play Frequency of which a batter reaches a base after putting the ball in the field of play. Also a pitching category. BB/K Walk-to-strikeout ratio Number of base on balls divided by number of strikeouts.

resulting in four runs scoring, and four RBI credited to the batter.

HBP Hit by pitch Times touched by a pitch and awarded first base as a result

The Real Long Ball The longest verifiable home run ever hit in the majors traveled about 575 feet off the bat of Babe Ruth, to straightaway center field at Tiger Stadium (then called Navin Field and prior to the double-deck). The ball landed nearly across the intersection of Trumbull and Cherry on on July 18, 1921.

HR Home runs Hits on which the batter successfully touched all four bases, without the contribution of a fielding error. IBB Intentional base on balls The number of times a player is awarded first base on balls (see BB above) deliberately thrown by the pitcher. Also known as IW (intentional walk).

Statistics

069

K Strike out (also abbreviated SO) Number of times that strike three is taken or swung at and missed, or bunted foul.

The Triple Crown

LOB Left on base Number of runners not out nor scored at the end of an inning.

attempt to throw out a runner (usually because the base would be insignificant), the runner is not awarded a steal.

BB + HBP) divided by at bats plus walks plus hit by pitch plus sacrifice flies (AB + BB + HBP + SF). On-base plus slugging On-base percentage plus slugging average.

PA Plate appearance The total umber of completed batting appearances.

SB% Stolen base percentage The percent of bases

OBP x Total Bases

SF Sacrifice fly Number of fly ball outs to the outfield

RC Runs created Statistic that attempts to measure how many runs a player has contributed to his team. This is a popular stat among sabremetrics fans.

Runs produced Statistic that attempts to measure how many runs a player has contributed.

RBI Run batted in Number of runners who scored due to a batters’ action, except when batter grounded into double play or reached on an error.

RISP

Runner In Scoring Position The batter’s batting average when at the plate with runners in scoring position.

070

The Triple Crown is awarded to a player if he finishes the season leading the league in batting average, RBI, and home runs. Pitchers can win the award if they lead in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Only 14 hitters have won the offensive Triple Crown, while 35 pitchers have claimed the pitching Triple Crown.

R Runs scored Number of times a player crosses home plate.

This statistic was originally created by Bill James to measure a player’s total offensive production. By combining the two statistical (OBP and TB which are listed on this page) results you can determine that desired production.

Statistics

CS Caught stealing Times tagged out while attempting to steal a base. DI Defensive Indifference If the catcher does not

OBP On base percentage Times reached base (H + OPS

BASERUNNING STATISTICS

R Runs scored The number of times reached home base legally and safely.

Stolen Property

stolen successfully. (SB) divided by (SBA).

allows another runner to advance on the basepaths.

SLG Slugging average Total bases divided by total number of at-bats. TA Total average Total bases, plus walks, plus hit by

pitch, plus steals, minus caught stealing divided by at bats, minus hits, plus caught stealing, plus grounded into double play.

TB Total bases One added for each single, two for

each double, three for each triple, and four for each home run hit.

TOB Times on base Times reaching base as a result of hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches.

XBH Extra base hits Doubles plus triples plus home runs added together.

BS Blown save Number of times entering the game in a save situation, and being charged the run (earned or not) which eliminates his team’s lead. CERA Component ERA An estimate of a pitcher’s ERA based upon the individual components of his statistical line (K, H, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, HBP). CG Complete game Number of games where player was the only pitcher for his team.

DICE Defense-Independent Component ERA An estimate of a pitcher’s ERA based upon the defenseindependent components of his statistical line (K, HR, BB, HBP). ER Earned run Number of runs that did not occur as a result of errors or passed balls.

which allow a runner already on base to score.

SH Sacrifice hit: Number of sacrifice bunts which

pitching action or other illegal action while in contact with the pitching rubber, thus allowing baserunners to advance one base.

There have been forty-nine instances of a player stealing second base, stealing third base, and then stealing home during the same inning by thirty-nine different ballplayers.

SB Stolen base Number of bases advanced other than on batted balls, walks, or hits by pitch.

PITCHING STATISTICS

BB Base on balls (also called a “walk”) Times pitching four balls, allowing the batter-runner to advance to first base.

The Starting Point

( ER X 9 ) / ( IP ) ERA is the most commonly cited and utilized statistic when measuring a pitcher’s success. A number of variations have been developed in sabermetrics, such as ERA+ and Adjusted ERA.

BB/9 Base on balls per 9 Base on balls times nine

ERA Earned run average Total number of earned

BF Total batters faced The opponent’s total number

ERA+ Adjusted ERA+ Earned run average adjusted for the ballpark and the league average.

BK Balk Number of times pitcher commits an illegal

FPOM First Pitch Outs Made The number of outs

divided by innings pitched.

of plate appearances.

runs (see “ER” above), multiplied by 9, divided by innings pitched.

Statistics

071

earned where the batter creates an out by flying or grounding out on the first pitch.

G Games The number of times a pitcher pitches and

appears in a game in a season.

GIDP Double Plays Induced Number of double play groundouts induced.

Four Finger Salute Barry Bonds holds most of the records for intentional walks, including four in a nine-inning game (2004), 120 in a season (2004), and 668 in his career (more than the next two players on the all-time list, Hank Aaron and Willie McCovey, combined).

G/F Ground ball fly ball ratio Ground balls allowed

IBB Intentional base on balls The number of times a pitcher deliberately walks a hitter.

divided by fly balls allowed.

Starts Number of games pitched where player was the first pitcher for his team.

H Hits allowed Total hits allowed. H/9 Hits per nine innings Hits allowed times nine

divided by innings pitched.

Plunking Bag

$%@#*!!! The all-time record for a player being hit by a pitch is held by Hughie Jennings, who was hit by 287 pitches between 1891 and 1903. The modern-day record is held by Craig Biggio of the Houston Astros, who had 285 when he retured in 2007.

Hit batsman Times hit a batter with pitch, allowing runner to advance to first base.

HLD (OR H) Hold Number of games entered in a save

situation, recorded at least one out, did not surrender the lead, and did not complete the game.

HRA Home runs allowed Total home runs allowed.

Innings pitched The number of outs recorded while pitching divided by three.

IP/GS Innings Pitches per Game Average number of innings pitched per game.

Inherited runners The number of runners on base when the pitcher enters the game.

IRA Inherited runs allowed The number of inherited runners a pitcher who enters the game allowed to score while he was on the mound.

Strikeout The number of batters who received strike three.

K/9 Strikeouts per nine innings Strikeouts times nine divided by innings pitched.

K/BB

Strikeout-to-walk ratio The number of strikeouts divided by number of base on balls to create a ratio.

Loss The number of games where pitcher was pitching while the opposing team took the lead, never lost the lead, and went on to win.

OBA Opponents batting average The number of hits allowed divided by at-bats faced.

PIT Pitches thrown The number of pitches thrown by a pitcher.

072

Statistics

K K

KKKK KKKKKKK

RA Run average Number of runs allowed times nine divided by innings pitched.

FIELDING STATISTICS

SHO

A Assists The number of outs recorded on a play where

Wash, Rinse, Repeat

CI Catcher’s Interference The times a catcher makes contact with bat.

Shutout Number of complete games pitched with no runs allowed.

a fielder touched the ball, except if such touching is the putout.

The record for the most strikouts in a game was set on September 12, 1962 by Tom Cheney, who as a Washington Senator fanned 21 Baltimore Orioles in 16 innings, throwing 228 pitches to reach the mark.

DP Double plays One for each double play during which the fielder recorded a putout or an assist.

SO Strikeout Also may be notated as “K”.

play he should have made with common effort, and the offense benefits as a result.

SV Save Number of games where the pitcher enters a game led by the pitcher’s team, finishes the game without surrendering the lead, is not the winning pitcher, and the lead was three runs or less when the pitcher entered the game.

E Errors Number of times a fielder fails to make a FP Fielding percentage Total plays (chances minus errors) divided by the number of total chances.

PB Passed ball Charged to the catcher when the ball is dropped and one or more runners advance.

W Win Number of games where pitcher was pitching while his team took the lead and went on to win (also related: winning percentage).

PO Putout Number of times the fielder tags, forces, or

WHIP

WP Wild pitches Charged when a pitch is too high,

TC Total chances Assists plus putouts plus errors.

Walks and hits per inning pitched The average number of walks and hits allowed by the pitcher per inning.

low, or wide of home plate for the catcher to field, thereby allowing one or more runners to advance.

appeals a runner and he is called out as a result.

Range factor 9*(putouts + assists)/innings played. Used to determine the amount of field that the player can cover.

TP Triple play One for each triple play during which the fielder recorded a putout or an assist.

Statistics

073

NATIONAL LEAGUE OVERVIEW

THE EEPHUS LEAGUE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK

074

Statistics

075

Sections

076

Statistics

East

Central

West

4 “It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.” – A. Bartlett Giamatti

he National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world’s oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, it is sometimes called the Senior Circuit. The two league champions of 1903 arranged to meet in the World Series and, after the 1904 champions failed to do likewise, the two leagues have arranged to meet in that annual culmination of the American baseball season, failing to do so only in the strike-shortened

078

National League Introduction

1994 season. National League teams have won 43 and lost 62 of the 105 World Series played between these two leagues from 1903 to 2009. The Philadelphia Phillies are the defending National League champions, winning the NL Pennant in 2008 and 2009. The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers lead the league with 21 National League Titles while the St. Louis Cardinals are the National League team with the most World Series wins, 10. This booklet contains an overview of the 16 teams that make up the current National League, as well as information on the history and capacities of the stadiums they play in.

National League Introduction

079

New York Mets

Atlanta Braves Established: 1871

Established: 1962

TEAM HISTORY

he New York Mets were an early National League expansion team in 1962. They have appeared in more World Series than any other expansion team and have won the Series twice. The Mets were a return to National League baseball for the city of New York.

he Braves franchise is one of the two original members of the National League that is still in existence today, originally known as the Boston Red Stockings. The “Braves” name was first used while the team was still in Boston in 1912. The franchise moved to Milwaukee from 1953 to 1965, before finally ending up in Atlanta in 1966. The Braves won the National League East division a record 14 consecutive years from 1991–2005, which is a Major League record.

CITI FIELD

TURNER FIELD Opened:

In 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants relocated from New York to California, leaving the largest city in the United States with no National League franchises. With the threat of a New York team in a third league, the National League expanded, adding the New York Mets. The new team took as its primary colors the blue of the Dodgers and the orange of the Giants.

April 4, 1997

Capacity:

Opened:

50,096

Turner Field was originally built to host the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and was converted into a baseball stadium the following year. The park features numerous state of the art audio visual technologies, including a massive video board in center field that is 78 feet wide and 71 feet tall.

Capacity:

41,800

Citi Field is the ballpark of the New York Mets, opening in 2009. The park is very spacious and is considered a pitcher’s park. There are many eateries and sources of entertainment within the ballpark. PNC Park in Pittsburgh is cited as the biggest influence on the feel of the ballpark. N

April 13, 2009

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

080

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

29,304

$17.05

2009

38,941

$36.99

2008

31,270

$17.05

2008*

49,968

$36.58

2007

33,891

$17.17

2007*

47,580

$28.26

National League East

081

Florida Marlins

Washington Nationals

Established: 1998

Established: 1969

TEAM HISTORY

he Florida Marlins are a National League expansion team founded in 1993. They won the World Series both times they made the playoffs, the only team to do so. They have never won the National League East Division, advancing in 1997 and 2003 as a Wild Card team. The Marlins name originates from the fish species, and from Miami’s former minor league team of the same name. The team is nicknamed “The Fish.”

he Washington Nationals were established in 1969 as the Montreal Expos, the first Major League team based in Canada. They were relocated to Washington D.C. in 2005 and took on the “Nationals” name that was used by previous D.C. located teams. The franchise is one of three teams (along with the Rangers and Seattle Mariners) never to have played in a World Series. As the Montreal Expos, the team won a division championship, and advanced to the National League Championship Series in their only playoff appearance during the strike-shortened 1981 season.

The Marlins are the first team in Major League Baseball to have a dance/ cheer team: “The Marlins Mermaids.” Debuting in 2003, the “Marlin Mermaids” quickly gained national exposure, and have influenced other MLB teams to develop their own cheer/dance squads.

SUN LIFE STADIUM Opened:

August 16, 1987

NATIONALS PARK Capacity:

Opened:

38,560

Sun Life Stadium is the home field of the Florida Marlins and opened in 1987. The stadium is multipurpose and also hosts football games, and is in fact catered towards football instead of baseball. The park has had no less than 7 name changes throughout its existence.

March 30, 2008

Capacity:

41,888

Nationals Park is the home of the Washington Nationals, and opened in 2008. The park was designed to allow visitors to see certain monuments in the D.C. area, such as the U.S. Capitol. The name of the park references an early 20th century baseball park in the same area. N

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

082

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

22,716

$30.63

2009

22,716

$30.63

2008

28,646

$28.73

2008

28,646

$28.73

2007

24,217

$26.66

2007

24,217

$26.66

National League East

083

Philadelphia Phillies Established: 1888

TEAM HISTORY

he Philadelphia Phillies were established in 1883, and are the oldest franchise to stay in the same city under the same name. Because of this long history, the Phillies have more losses than any other sports franchise. The Phillies have won two World Series championships (against Kansas City in 1980 and Tampa Bay in 2008) and seven National League pennants, the first of which came in 1915. The franchise has also experienced long periods of struggle.

CITIZENS BANK PARK Opened:

April 3, 2004

Capacity:

46,528

Citizens Bank Park is the home of the Philidelphia Phillies. The park opened in 2004 and has seen excellent attendance figures. Citizens Bank Park is considered on of the most hitter friendly parks in the league, despite several modifications made after the 2005 season. N

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

084

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

37,882

$20.98

2008

37,884

$19.88

2007

35,422

$18.14

National League East

085

Houston Astros

Cincinnatti Reds

Established: 1962

Established: 1882

TEAM HISTORY

he Cincinnati Reds were established in 1882 as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, a name that referenced the first professional baseball team. They took on the “Reds” name in 1890, thought they briefly changed it to the “Redlegs” through 1953-1958 to avoid association with the Communist party.

he Houston Astros were established in 1962 as the Colt .45s, before taking on the “Astros” moniker in 1965. The name of the team and their then state-of-the-art domed stadium, the Astrodome, were in reference to Houston’s involvement in the US’s space program. The Astros are the oldest team to remain in the same city throughout their existence to never win a World Series. Their only World Series appearance came in 2005.

Relative to other teams in the National League, the Reds have enjoyed success over their 120-plus years. They are tied with the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates for sixth-most World Series victories, with 5.

The original Houston team was named the Colt .45s after a “Name The Team” contest was held. The name “Colt .45s” won out, as the Colt .45 was well-known as “the gun that won the west.”[3] The colors selected were navy blue and orange.

MINUTE MAID PARK Opened:

April 7, 2000

GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK Capacity:

Opened:

40,950

Minute Maid Park opened in 2000 as the home of the Houston Astros. The stadium features a retractable roof to shield players and fans from the harsh weather in Houston, and the playing surface is grass. The park is known to be hitter friendly, with short wall distances along the foul lines.

March 31, 2003

Capacity:

42,271

The Great American Ballpark opened in 2003 and is the home of the Cincinnati Reds. The park is located next to the Ohio River. The park has a long list of features for visitors to enjoy and has state of the art audio and visual technology. N

086

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

ATTENDENCE FIGURES Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

31,124

$28.73

2009

21,579

$19.19

2008

34,314

$28.73

2008

25,415

$19.41

2007

37,289

$26.66

2007

25,415

$17.71

National League Central

087

St. Louis Cardinals

Chicago Cubs

Established: 1882

Established: 1870

TEAM HISTORY

he St. Louis Cardinals are a National League team that despite several name changes, has always remained in St. Louis. The Cardinals began in 1882 as a part of the American Association with the name of the St. Louis Brown Stockings. The Cardinals main rivalry is with the Chicago Cubs, a fellow member of the NL Central Division. They have won more World Series than any other NL team, and more than any Major League team outside of the New York Yankees.

he Chicago Cubs are one of two teams that were founded during the creation of the National League in 1870. The Cubs are the oldest active team still in their original city. They took on the “Cubs” name in 1902. The Cubs have not won a World Series in over 100 years, the longest drought in Major League baseball. Al Spalding, who also owned Spalding sporting goods, played for the team for two seasons under club founder William Hulbert. After Hulbert’s death Spalding owned the club for twenty one years, after which the Cubs were purchased by Albert Lasker and Charles Weeghman. That pair were followed by the Wrigley family, owners of Wrigley’s chewing gum.

The Cardinals finished their inaugural season in the new Busch Stadium by winning the 2006 World Series, becoming the first team since the 1923 New York Yankees to win the World Series in their first season in a new ballpark.

BUSCH STADIUM Opened:

April 10, 2006

WRIGLEY FIELD Capacity:

43,975

Opened:

Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals and opened in 2006. The park is a homage to early ballpark designs with an open view of the downtown area. The seats in the park are red to honor the main color of the home team. This ballpark is the third stadium in St. Louis to have the Busch name attached to it.

April 23, 1914

Capacity:

42,157

Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, is the second oldest ballpark in baseball. It opened in 1916. The park is known as “The Friendly Confines”. The surrounding area of town is known as “Wrigleyville”. Wrigley Field is one of the smaller ballparks in the Major Leagues with a capacity of 41,160. N

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

088

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

41,274

$29.43

2009

39,610

$47.75

2008

42,351

$29.32

2008

40,739

$42.49

2007

43,854

$28.43

2007

40,154

$34.30

National League Central

089

Milwaukee Brewers

Pittsburg Pirates

Established: 1969

Established: 1882

TEAM HISTORY

he Milwaukee Brewers originated in 1969 as the Seattle Pilots, before being relocated and renamed in 1970. The team was initially in the American League, but was moved into the National League in 1998. The teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only World Series appearance came in 1982.

he Pittsburgh Pirates were established as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in 1882. They joined the National League in 1887 and played in the first World Series. Despite a successful history with 5 World Series championships, the current team has suffered 17 consecutive losing seasons.

In 2008, the Brewers achieved their first postseason berth in the 26 years since their World Series appearance as the wildcard team in the National League. They were eliminated in the NLDS by the eventual World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies. They have had only 3 playoff berths in their 40 year history.

MILLER PARK Opened:

PNC PARK

April 6, 2001

Capacity:

41,900

Opened:

March 31, 2001

Capacity:

38,496

Miller Park is the home of the Milwaukee Brewers, and was opened in 2001 after 6 years of construction. The stadium features a retractable roof, so the stadium can be covered during bad weather. The playing surface is still grass, despite the roof, and grass growth is aided by numerous windows allowing in light. The park is praised for its excellent design and atmosphere.

PNC Park, which opened in spring 2001, is an intimate, classic-style ballpark that embraces the progressiveness of Pittsburgh while saluting the spirit of early ballpark originals. Its prime location along the shore of the Allegheny River takes advantage of scenic vistas of the downtown skyline and riverfront, creating an exciting and dramatic urban sports venue.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

090

The franchise joined the National League in its sixth season in 1887 and was competitive from its early years, winning three National League titles from 1901 to 1903, winning a World Series in 1909 behind Honus Wagner. The Pirates have had many ups and downs during their long history, most famously winning the 1960 World Series on a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski, the only time that Game 7 of the World Series has ever ended with a home run.

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

37,882

$20.98

2009

19,479

$15.39

2008

37,884

$19.88

2008

19,865

$17.07

2007

35,422

$18.14

2007

21,594

$17.07

National League Central

091

San Fransisco Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks

Established: 1886

Established: 1998

TEAM HISTORY

he San Fransisco Giants were established as the New York Gothams in 1883, were renamed the Giants, and then moved to their current city in 1958. The Giants played in New York City through the 1957 season, after which they moved west to California to become the San Francisco Giants. As the New York Giants, they won 17 pennants and 5 World Championships. The Giants have not won a World Championship since 1954, and have never done so in San Francisco, for the third-longest championship drought among MLB teams behind those of the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians (who were defeated by the Giants in the 1954 Series). The Giants have won three pennants in San Francisco.

092

Between 1940 and 1990, Phoenix jumped from the 99th largest city in the nation to the 9th largest; currently 5th largest today. As such, it was frequently mentioned as a possible location for either a new or relocated MLB franchise. Baseball had a rich tradition in Arizona long before talk of bringing a big-league team even started. The state has been a frequent spring training site since 1946.

CHASE FIELD

AT&T PARK Opened:

he Arizona Diamondbacks are a National League expansion team, founded in 1998. They became the quickest team to win their first World Series in 2001, just four seasons into their existence.

March 31, 2000

Capacity:

Opened:

41,915

March 31, 1998

Capacity:

49,033

AT&T Park is the home of the San Fransisco Giants. The ballpark has several unique design characteristics; the right field wall is 24 feet tall in reference to famous Giant, Mille Mays, and the mass of water beyond the wall is known as McCovey Cove, after former first baseman Willie McCovey. Home runs that land in the cover are known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Splash Hitsâ&#x20AC;?, and there have been over 70 such home runs since the park opened.

Chase Field opened in 1998, coinciding with the establishment of the Diamondbacks. The park was the first in the United States to have a retractable roof, which has been exceptionally useful in the extreme arizona heat.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

35,322

$23.28

2009

26,286

$14.31

2008

35,356

$22.06

2008

30,987

$15.96

2007

41,551

$25.11

2007

28,599

$13.79

National League West

093

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies Established: 1993

Established: 1969

TEAM HISTORY

he Colorado Rockies are a National League expansion team, established in 1993, playing in the Western Division. They are based out of Denver, Colorado, and the high altitude has made their current ballpark, Coors Field, notoriously hitter friendly.

he San Diego Padres were founded in 1969. The team was named after an early 20th century Pacific Coast League team, and the name “Padres” references the spanish friars who founded San Diego in the 18th century. The Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times. The Padres adopted their name from the Pacific Coast League team which arrived in San Diego in 1936. That minor league franchise won the PCL title in 1937, led by then-18-year-old San Diegan Ted Williams. The team’s name, Spanish for “fathers”, refers to the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded San Diego in 1769.

The team went to its first World Series in 2007 after winning 21 of 22 games at the end of the season. There were multiple previous failed attempts to bring the Major League Baseball to Colorado (most notably the Pittsburgh Pirates nearly relocating to Denver following the Pittsburgh drug trials in 1985).

COORS FIELD Opened:

PETCO FIELD

April 26, 1995

Capacity:

50,445

Opened:

Coors Field opened in 1995 and serves as the home ballpark for the Colorado Rockies. The park is one of only two that features an underground heating system. The seats in the upper deck of the stadium are over 1 mile above sea level. Because of lower air density, the park has very large outfield dimensions, which has led to it becoming a hitter friendly park.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

094

April 8, 2004

Capacity:

42,445

PETCO Park is the ballpark of the San Diego Padres, opening in 2004. The stadium has been incorporated into the downtown area, and the Western Metal Supply Co. building rests against the left side of the park. There is also a “Park at the Park” beyond the outfield, a grassy and inexpensive area for fans to watch the game.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

32,902

$19.50

2009

23,735

$20.01

2008

32,718

$19.50

2008

29,970

$27.43

2007

28,739

$16.50

2007

34,445

$22.13

National League West

095

Los Angeles Dodgers Established: 1883

TEAM HISTORY

he Los Angeles Dodgers were established in 1883 as the Brooklyn Dodgers, and moved to Los Angeles in 1958. The Dodgers have won more National League pennants than any other team and have also appeared in more World Series than any National League team, winning 6 times. The Dodgers were originally founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Atlantics, taking the name of a defunct team that had played in Brooklyn prior to them. The team joined the American Association in 1884 and won the AA championship in 1889 before joining the National League in 1890. The team was known alternatively as the Bridegrooms, Grooms, Superbas, Robins, and Trolley Dodgers before officially becoming the Dodgers in the 1930s.

DODGER STADIUM Opened:

April 10, 1962

Capacity:

56,000

Dodger Stadium is the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and opened in 1962, making it the 3rd oldest ballpark in use. Dodger Stadium has the highest seating capacity of any Major League park. The park was one of the last stadiums built specifically for baseball use before the rash of multipurpose stadiums in the 60â&#x20AC;˛s and 70â&#x20AC;˛s.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

096

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

46,440

$29.66

2008

46,056

$29.66

2007

47,614

$26.28

National League West

097

AMERICAN LEAGUE OVERVIEW

THE EEPHUS LEAGUE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK

098

National League West

099

Sections

100

National League West

East

Central

West

5 “The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain’s free throws. “ – Rick Wise, 1974

he American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league status. The league is often called the Junior Circuit because it was elevated to Major League status in 1901, 25 years after the formation of the National League (the “Senior Circuit”). The American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion after the end of every season. Through the

102

American League Introdution

2009 season, American League teams have won 62 of the 105 World Series played since 1903, with 27 of those coming from the New York Yankees alone. The New York Yankees are currently the defending American League and World Series champions. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the league’s history, followed by the Oakland Athletics (15) and the Boston Red Sox (12). The American League is also notable for the fact that instead of allowing the pitcher to hit, there is a designated hitter who bats in place of the pitcher in the lineup, essentially making it a 10 man starting lineup instead of 9.

American League Introdution

103

New York Yankees

Boston Red Sox

Established: 1901

TEAM HISTORY

he New York Yankees are the most successful baseball franchise. They have more championships than any other franchise in North American professional sports history, passing the 24 Stanley Cup championships by the Montreal Canadiens in 1999. The team began in 1901 as the Baltimore Orioles, then moved to New York in 1903 as the Highlanders, until taking the “Yankees” name ten years later.

he Boston Red Sox are one of the most recognized teams in Major League Baseball. The franchise has remained in Boston from its inception. The Red Sox won the very first World Series in 1903 and saw great success until the 1918-2004 championship drought that is commonly attributed to the “Curse of the Bambino”. The Red Sox and the New York Yankees have a decades old rivalry that is one of the most storied in sports.

The Yankees have achieved notoriety through their continued success and their extremely high payrolls. The Yankees have a fierce rivalry with the Red Sox, beginning with the sale of Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919.

The Red Sox are consistently one of the top MLB teams in average road attendance, while the small capacity of Fenway Park prevents them from leading in overall attendance. Every home game since May 15, 2003 has been sold out—a span of over seven years and an MLB record.

NEW YANKEE STADIUM Opened:

April 16, 2009

FENWAY PARK

Capacity:

50,086

Opened:

Yankee Stadium is the new home of the New York Yankees which opened in 2009. The stadium continues several elements from the original Yankee stadium, such as the outer facade and the frieze above the upper deck seats. The stadium is state of the art from a technology standpoint, with internet access and hi definition video boards.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

104

April 20, 1912

Capacity:

37,402

Fenway Park is one of the most iconic venues in baseball. The park opened in 1912, making it the oldest baseball park still in use. The park has notoriously unconventional dimensions in the outfield, with a multitude of wall heights and odd angles. The most famous landmark in the stadium is the left field wall, known as the “Green Monster”.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

45,918

$50.28

2009

37,811

$50.24

2008*

53,069

$34.05

2008

37,633

$48.80

2007*

52,739

$29.01

2007

36,676

$47.71

American League East

105

Baltimore Orioles

Toronto Blue Jays

Established: 1894

Established: 1977

TEAM HISTORY

he Baltimore Orioles were established in 1894 as the Milwaukee Brewers, and moved to St. Louis in 1902 as the Browns before ending up in Baltimore in 1954 as the Orioles. The franchise was one of the 8 original members of the American League.

he Toronto Blue Jays are an expansion team created in 1977. They have always resided in Toronto, and are currently the only Major League team based out of Canada. They are the only team outside the United States to win a World Series, the first team to win a World Series in Canada, the first team from Canada to appear in the World Series, and the fastest American League expansion franchise to win a World Series (winning in their 16th year, beating the Kansas City Royalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; record by one year). With the fellow Canadian franchise Montreal Expos relocating to Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season, and becoming the Washington Nationals, the Blue Jays are currently the only MLB team outside the United States.

The Orioles experienced their greatest success from 1964-1983, winning 7 Divisional Championships (1969-1971, 1973-1974, 1979 and 1983), 6 pennants (1966, 1969-1971, 1979 and 1983), 3 World Championships (1966, 1970 and 1983), and 4 Most Valuable Player awards.

ORIOLE PARK Opened:

ROGERS CENTRE

April 6, 1992

Capacity:

48,876

Opened:

Oriole Park at Camden Yards is the home of the Baltimore Orioles. The park opened in 1992 was intended to be a homage to earlier park designs, as opposed to the multipurpose stadiums that had become common in the years before. The park incorporates the architecture of the B&O warehouse and other landmarks in the downtown area.

Capacity:

49,539

Rogers Centre is the home ballpark of the Toronto Blue Jays. It is a multipurpose stadium, also hosting football games. It was the first stadium with a motorized fully retractable roof. Another unique feature is the hotel attached to the back of the stadium.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

106

June 3, 1989

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

23,545

$23.42

2009

23,162

$19.10

2008

24,075

$23.85

2008

29,627

$28.37

2007

26,726

$22.56

2007

29,144

$14.19

American League East

107

Tampa Bay Rays Established: 1998

TEAM HISTORY

he Tampa Bay Rays are an expansion team created in 1998, and were originally named the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The city went through a long waiting process before they got their team, but the Rays made the wait worthwhile in 2008 when they advanced to the World Series. The Rays have a well documented rivalry with the Boston Red Sox involving several team brawls on the field. In November 2007, majority owner Stuart Sternberg made significant changes to his franchise’s image, changing the club’s name from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to the “Tampa Bay Rays”.

TROPICANA FIELD Opened:

March 3, 1990

Capacity:

36,973

Tropicana Field is the home ballpark of the Tampa Bays Rays. The park opened in 1990, and the Rays adopted it when they were created in 1998. The stadium has a covered roof, so it uses FieldTurf, an artificial surface. There are catwalks above the playing field which have interfered with gameplay on a few occasions, and the stadium has no protected bullpens for relievers to warm up in.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

108

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

23,147

$18.35

2008

22,370

$17.23

2007

17,149

$17.23

American League East

109

Kansas City Royals

Cleveland Indians

Established: 1969

Established: 1894

TEAM HISTORY

he Kansas City Royal were established in 1969 as an American League expansion team. The team was created to fill the void left when the Kansas City Athletics left the town. The “Royals” name was selected in reference to the annual American Royal livestock show. They won their first and only World Series in 1985.

he Cleveland Indians were established in 1894 as the Grand Rapids Rustlers, and moved to Cleveland as the Lake Shores in 1900. After several name changes, the team settled on the “Indians” name in 1915. The “Indians” name originates from a request by the club owner to decide on a new name, following the 1914 season. In reference to the Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves), the media chose “the Indians”. They are nicknamed “the Tribe” and “the Wahoos”. The franchise was one of the 8 original teams in the American League.

The franchise was established following the actions of Stuart Symington, then-United States Senator from Missouri, who demanded a new franchise for the city after the Athletics—Kansas City’s previous major league team from 1955 to 1967—moved to Oakland, California.

KAUFFMAN STADIUM Opened:

April 10, 1973

PROGRESSIVE FIELD Capacity:

38,177

Opened:

Kauffman Stadium opened in 1973 and is the home of the Kansas City Royals. Multi-purpose stadiums were popular at the time of its construction, but Kauffman Stadium is a baseball specific facility. It is the 6th oldest park in baseball and recently underwent renovations such as more seating, hi-resolution video boards and more food and entertainment options for their fans.

45,199

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

22,473

$19.38

2008

19,493

$17.54

2007

19,959

$14.48

American League Central

Capacity:

Progressive Field is the home ballpark of the Cleveland Indians. The park opened in 1994 and hosted the All Star game in 1997. Between 1995 and 2001, 455 consecutive games at the park were sold out, which is a Major League record.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

110

April 4, 1994

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

22,357

$22.12

2008

26,775

$25.72

2007

28,098

$21.32

American League Central

111

Minnesota Twins

Detroit T igers

Established: 1894

TEAM HISTORY

he Minnesota Twins were established in 1894 as the Kansas City Blues. The team moved to Washington D.C. in 1901 to become the Senators, which was one of the 8 original members of the American League. The team finally landed in Minnesota in 1961. The “Twins” name is a reference to the Twin Cities area of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

he Detroit Tigers were established in 1894 and became one of the original members of the American League. They have kept the same name and are one of only four franchises who have remained in the same town throughout their existence. Detroit’s first major league entry was the Detroit Wolverines, a member of the National League from 1881 through 1888. The nickname, now associated with the University of Michigan, came from Michigan’s nickname, “The Wolverine State”.

The team was founded in Kansas City in 1894 as a Western League team and would move to Washington, D.C. in 1901 as one of the eight original teams of the American League, named the Washington Senators or Washington Nationals.

TARGET FIELD Opened:

COMERICA PARK

April 12, 2010

Capacity:

39,504

Opened:

Capacity:

41,782

Comerica Park is the home of the Detriot Tigers, which opened in 2000. Comerica Park is very pitcher friendly, as opposed to the stadium it replaced, Tiger Stadium. In 2003 the left field wall was brought in over 20 feet to make the park more hitter friendly.

Target Field is the new home of the Minnesota Twins. The park opened in 2010 to great acclaim. The park was designed to favor neither pitching or offense. The entry gates are numbered after the retired numbers of Twins greats. The park has a small footprint and seats fewer people than many newer venues, giving the stadium an intimate environment.

April 11, 2000

112

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

ATTENDENCE FIGURES Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

29,466

$21.70

2009

31,693

$27.38

2008

28,427

$20.68

2008

39,539

$25.28

2007

28,350

$19.27

2007

37,619

$19.45

American League Central

113

Chicago White Sox Established: 1894

TEAM HISTORY

he Chicago White Sox are one of two Major League teams in the city of Chicago. The team originated as the Sioux City Cornhuskers in 1894, then moved to St. Paul until 1900 when the team landed in Chicago. The White Sox were one of the 8 initial members of the American League. The White Sox and the Chicago Cubs share an inter-league rivalry. The White Sox were a strong team during their first two decades, winning the 1906 World Series with a defense-oriented team dubbed “the Hitless Wonders”, and the 1917 World Series led by Eddie Cicotte, Eddie Collins, and Shoeless Joe Jackson.

U.S. CELLULAR FIELD Opened:

April 18, 1991

Capacity:

40,615

U.S. Cellular Field has been the home park of the Chicago Whitesox since 1991. It was the first sporting arena built in Chicago since 1929, and replaced Comiskey Park, which was at the time the oldest ballpark in use. U.S. Cullular Field was one of the last stadiums built before the rash of “old baseball” stadiums were constructed in the 90’s and 2000’s.

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

114

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

28,199

$32.28

2008

30,380

$30.28

2007

33,141

$28.78

American League Central

115

Texas Rangers

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Established: 1961

TEAM HISTORY

he Texas Rangers are the current incarnation of the 1961 Washington Senators, based out of Washington D.C. The team moved to Arlington, Texas in 1972 and adopted the “Rangers” name. The franchise is the oldest to have never played in a World Series, and is the only Major League team to have never won a playoff series.

he Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were established in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels. The team was known as the California Angels from 1965 to 1996, when they relocated to Anaheim. The team had yet another name change in 2005 when they were named the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in an effort to take advantage of the large LA market.

The franchise originated in 1961 as the Washington Senators, an expansion team awarded to Washington, D.C. after the that city’s first American League team, the original Washington Senators, relocated to Minnesota and became the Twins. After the 1971 season, the Senators were moved to Arlington, Texas and became the Rangers the following year.

An expansion franchise, the club was founded in Los Angeles in 1961 as the Los Angeles Angels, and played their home games at Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field (not to be confused with Chicago’s stadium of the same name).

RANGERS BALLPARK Opened:

April 1, 1994

ANGEL STADIUM Capacity:

49,170

Opened: Opened:

50,096 45,050

Capacity: Capacity:

Angel Stadium is the home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The park was built in 1966 and is the 4th oldest active Major League park. For a time, the stadium was used to host football games as well as baseball events.

Rangers Ballpark is the home for the Texas Rangers. The park opened in 1994 as a replacement to Arlington Stadium. The park was designed as a “retro” stadium and references several older ballparks. Rangers Ballpark is known as being hitter firendly, with short walls and swirling winds.

April19, 4, 1966 1997 April

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

116

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

27,641

$19.41

2009

40,004

$20.05

2008

24,020

$18.01

2008*

41,194

$20.78

2007

29,060

$14.19

2007*

41,551

$19.49

American League West

117

Seattle Mariners

Oakland Athletics

Established: 1977

Established: 1901

TEAM HISTORY

he Seattle Mariners are an expansion team in the American League, established in 1977. The Mariners did not have a winning season until 1991, and have never advanced to the World Series. The Mariners hold the Major League Record for wins in a season, with 116 in 2001.

he Oakland Athletics were established in 1901 as the Philadelphia Athletics, and after moving to Kansas City in 1955, finally settled in Oakland in 1970. They are one of the 8 original franchises in the American League. The “Athletics” name originates from the late 19th century “athletic clubs”, specifically the Athletic (Baseball Club) of Philadelphia. They are most prominently nicknamed “the A’s”, in reference to the Gothic script “A”, a trademark of the team and the old Athletics of Philadelphia. They are also known as “the White Elephants” or simply “the Elephants”, in reference to then New York Giants’ manager John McGraw’s calling the team a “white elephant”.

The “Mariners” name originates from the prominence of marine culture in the city of Seattle. They are nicknamed “the M’s”, a title featured in their primary logo from 1987 to 1992. The current team colors are navy blue, Northwest Green (as known as dark cyan), and metallic silver, after having been royal blue and gold from 1977 to 1992.

SAFECO FIELD Opened:

OAKLAND COLISEUM

July 15, 1999

Capacity:

47,116

Opened:

Safeco Field opened in 1999 and is the home of the Seattle Mariners. It is a “retro-baseball” park, with features that hearken back to the early 20th century, with asymmetrical field dimension and a brick facade. The park is known for its wide variety of food options, including sushi and barbecue.

September 18, 1966

Capacity:

35,067

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is the home of the Oakland Athletics. The facility was built in 1966 and the Athletics started using it in 1968. The stadium is built to host a variety of sporting events, including football and soccer. N

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

118

ATTENDENCE FIGURES

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

Year

Average Attendence

MLB Rank

Average Ticket Price

MLB Rank

2009

27,102

$25.53

2009

17,402

$24.31

2008

28,762

$25.29

2008

20,534

$29.20

2007

32,993

$24.01

2007

23,727

$23.88

American League West

119

120

American League West

121