The term 'southpaw' for a left-handed pitcher is used in NPB as commonly as in MLB, but why does 'south paw' mean left hand? The answer lies in a surprising fact about 19th-century American ballpark orientation.
The baseball infield is called a 'diamond,' yet the shape formed by the bases is a square. Why is a square called a diamond? The answer involves a simple but profound shift in perspective.
The baseball bench is called a 'dugout,' literally meaning 'dug out.' Why is baseball the only sport where the team bench sits below field level? The answer involves spectator sightlines, player safety, and 19th-century stadium design.
In English, 'strike' means 'to hit.' Yet in baseball, a pitch the batter doesn't swing at can also be called a strike. Why does a word meaning 'hit' describe a pitch that wasn't hit? The paradox traces to the umpire's evolving role in early baseball.
The relief pitcher's warm-up area is called a 'bullpen,' literally a 'bull's enclosure.' Why? Three competing theories involving tobacco ads, bullfighting, and prison cells offer possible answers.