Terms and Expressions For 19th Century Base Ball

Terms and Language Associated with 1860 Base Ball• Ballist: a common term for a player. • Crank, Rooters, or Bugs: this is what spectators were called. The term “fan” was not used until 1889. • Hurler: the term for the pitcher. • Behind: the term for the catcher. • Striker: the term for the batter. • Mascot: the equivalent to the modern day “batboy”. • Captain: the team leader who was the more of a player manager. • Home Base: a one-foot diameter iron plate that serves as home plate. • The Garden: another name for the outfield. • Bull Pen: area where the cranks sat. • Foul Tick: the equivalent to a foul ball today. • Aces: runs • Dew drop: slow pitch • Muffin: a player of lesser talent • Stinger: a hard hit ball • Chafing: to complain about an umpires decision, this usually resulted in a fine. • Cloud Hunter: a fly ball. • Dead: the term for an out

Nicknames for Players of the TimeRoadblock, Iron Chest, Lucky, Lefty, Coot, Farm Boy, Cowpie, Anvil, The Preacher, Stonewall, Stone Hands, Death to Flying Things, Kid, Sailor, Doc, Cue Ball, Scooter

Expressions Used in the 19th century “Striker to the line” Batter Up“Foul ticks count for nothing” Foul balls are not strikes“Strike well, sir” or “Strike well, Mr. Foley” Encouragement to the batter“Well struck sir” or “Well struck, Mr. Foley.” Nice Hit“We need a well- placed daisy cutter Mr. Michaud” We need a ground ball “Leg it” Run in out “The batter is dead” The batter is out “Well fielded sir” or “Well fielded Mr. Sheehy” Nice play “Well hurled Mr. Sheehy” The pitcher threw a good pitch “That hurler is tossing nothing but Jimjams” The pitcher is wild “How many muffs will this team make” How many errors will the club make “Tally me one sir” A players says this to the score keeper to get a run tallied