How to Use Baseball Slang

Children and adults started playing baseball over 100 years ago, and in that time the sport has collected a dictionary's worth of confusing slang terms and inside language that is difficult for the newcomer to master. Often, these are simply shorthand for terms or ideas you already know.

Instructions

1. Know that "chin music" has nothing to do with quarter notes and bandleaders. Some players and fans call a high pitch that zings in just under the batter's head chin music. Some believe this is because when a pitch comes that close at such high speeds it makes a sound.

2. Watch for a "goose egg" in a game that is very one-sided. The goose egg refers to a zero on the scoreboard, but is also the terminology referring to other aspects of the game, like hits or errors. It gets its name from a zero's resemblance to an egg.

3. Wait for the "Hot Stove League" in the winter months. This is the term given to the offseason when teams make trades or acquire new players and release old ones. It gets its name from the idea of people sitting around a hot stove in the cold months discussing baseball.

4. Understand that a "doubleheader" means you'll get more for your money. A doubleheader is when two teams play each other twice in one day. This is a popular way to make up for canceled games and to fit in more games into their schedule.

5. Watch for "Bush Leaguers" coming up through the ranks during the season. The bush league is slang for the system of minor league teams that act as a training ground for the major leagues. Most ballplayers get their starts on bush league teams.