Glossary of baseball

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

See Glossary of English-language idioms derived from baseball for common idioms that originated in baseball.

See baseball statistics for more formal definitions of some of the statistical concepts in this glossary.

General references

Paul Dickson, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Co, 2009. [ISBN 9780393066814]

Baseball concepts

Field	Backstop • Baseball diamond • Batter's box • Batter's eye • Bullpen • Dugout • Foul territory • Foul pole • Infield • On-deck circle • Outfield • Strike zone • Warning track

Equipment	Bat • Ball • Glove (defense) • Batting glove • Batting helmet • Cap • Doughnut • Stirrups • Uniform • Uniform number • Shin guard • Protective cup • Batting cage • Pitching machine

Game process	Innings • Extra innings • Out • Seventh-inning stretch • Batting order • Run • On-deck

Batting	At bat • Plate appearance • Hit and run • Sacrifice bunt • Sacrifice fly • Slap bunt • Baltimore chop • Bunt • Foul ball • Foul tip • Ground rule double • Hit • Infield hit • Hit by pitch • Strikeout • Single • Double • Triple • Home run • Inside-the-park home run • Checked swing • Walk-off home run • Lefty-righty switch • Double switch • Line drive • Batting count • Sweet spot • Pull hitter • Hitting for the cycle

Pitching	Balk • Beanball • Breaking ball • Brushback pitch • Changeup • Curveball • Fastball • Full count • Knuckleball • Passed ball • Pitch count • Pitchout • Shutout • Slider • Strikeout • Striking out the side • Wild pitch • Time of pitch • No-hitter • Perfect game

Baserunning	Balk • Bases loaded • Caught stealing • Left on base • Scoring position • Small ball • Squeeze play • Stolen base • Walk • Contact play

Fielding	Double play • Force play • Hidden ball trick • In-between hop • Triple play • Unassisted triple play • Pickoff • Wheel play • Catch • Fourth out • Rundown • Tag out • Tag up • Appeal play • Assist • Infield shift • Wall climb • Fielder's choice • Defensive indifference

Miscellaneous	In flight • Infield fly rule • Bench-clearing brawl • Pepper • Safe • Uncaught third strike • Interference • Golden sombrero • Ground rules • Instant replay • Baseball jargon • Slump • Bench jockey • Dead ball

Glossary of baseball

See also

General references