Why Is a Left-Handed Pitcher Called a Southpaw?

Left-handed pitchers are often referred to as southpaws.

The term southpaw is often used when describing a left-handed pitcher in American baseball. However, there is some confusion surrounding the origin of the expression. The term appears in other sports such as boxing and tennis, and although there is no definitive answer as to where the expression comes from, there are a couple of explanations. These range from the layout of the American ballparks to simpler explanations.

Ballparks

One widely accepted explanation is that ballparks across America are traditionally designed so that home plate is in the western part of the park to keep the sun from shining in a batter's eyes. As a result, if a pitcher is in the stretch, then this could place left-handed pitchers in a position that would have their left arm facing south, leading to the expression southpaw. However, there is some disagreement as to whether this is the origin of the term.

American Slang

The dictionary definition of southpaw is a slang term referring to a left-handed person, especially a baseball pitcher. According to the author of "The Baseball Dictionary," Paul Dickinson, the slang term was invented by either Finley Peter Dunne of the Chicago News or Charles Seymour of the Chicago Herald, referring to the traditional layout of the baseball parks. However, the term was in use before Dunne's birth in 1867. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary lists the term as being in use from as early as 1848, used to describe a heavy blow with the left hand.

Southpaw In Boxing

Although the term southpaw was used to describe a heavy blow with the left hand, it was not applied to the sport of boxing until the 20th century. In boxing, somebody punching predominantly left-handed is commonly referred to as a southpaw. However, in boxing, it also refers to a stance in which the boxer stands with his right foot in front of his left. This means that a right-handed boxer can also be referred to as a southpaw.

Southpaw In Tennis

In tennis, players who hold the racket in their left hand are sometimes called southpaws. Famous southpaws in tennis include Martina Navratilova and Rafael Nadal.

No Simple Conclusion

The way that the phrase is used in other sports suggests that a left-handed baseball pitcher is called a southpaw simply because he is left-handed. Although there is no clear origin of the term, the earliest example of it being used was found in a Philadelphia comic newspaper, The Tickler, in 1813--but with no connection to baseball.

References

• World Wide Worlds: Southpaw
• The Free Dictionary: Definition of Southpaw