Our collection of baseball terms
Select from the alphabet. If you don't find a term you need explained, or you know a good baseball phrase that you think should be here, please send us an email (mail icon bottom of page).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W X Y
| Phrase |
Definition |
| W |
(W) in pitcher and team records is for Wins |
| Walk-off |
As in walk-off homer or walk-off single. Official it's stated this way (rule 4.11c) "If the home team scores the winning run in its half of the ninth inning (or its half of an extra inning after a tie), the game ends immediately when the winning run is scored."
Rule 4.09a has already explained: "A run is not scored if the runner advances to home base during a play in which the third out is made (1) by the batter-runner before he touches first base; (2) by any runner being forced out; or (3) by a preceding runner who is declared out because he failed to touch one of the bases."
Added as an exception: "If the last batter in a game hits a home run out of the playing field, the batter-runner and all runners on base are permitted to score, in accordance with the base-running rules, and the game ends when the batter-runner touches
home plate." And if he can't get there (picture cheering or unhappy fans on the field), then only the one run required officially counts.
There are also other "ifs"... 4.09b... "When the winning run is (...) the result of a base on balls, hit batter or any other play with the bases full which forces the runner on third to advance, the umpire shall not declare the game ended until the runner forced to advance from third has touched home base and the batter-runner has touched first base."
|
| Wheelhouse |
A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate |
| Wheels |
A ballplayer's legs |
| Whiff |
Strikeout |
| WHIP |
One of those newer detailed record columns, (WHIP) is Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched |
| Wild pitch |
(WP) in scorekeeping. A pitch so far from the strike zone the catcher can't reach or block it, allowing any base runner(s) to advance |
| word |
definition |
| Worm burner |
A hard hit ground ball that doesn't bounce but stays low and rolls through the grass. (Supposedly burning any unsuspecting worms!)") |
| WPCT |
(WPCT) is Winning Percentage in the record books |
