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.
El área de calentamiento del pitcher relevista se llama 'bullpen', literalmente un 'corral de toros'. ¿Por qué? Tres teorías que involucran anuncios de tabaco, corridas de toros y celdas de prisión ofrecen posibles respuestas.