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Our collection of baseball terms

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Phrase

Definition

Yakker

A sharp-breaking curveball. Contributer Joe hernandez explains in detail: Used interchangeably or synonymous with "yellow hammer". In fact, when combined the term used has been a "Yallerhammer". Many believe that its origin is derived from "yawker", a name for the yellow-shafted woodpecker known as the "flicker" because the bird travels in an undulating manner that resembles a curveball. Sources of reference are "Fungoes, Floaters and Fork Balls" by Patrick Ercolano (1987), and "How to Talk Baseball" by Mike Whiteford (1983). There are a few sources that claim that Satchel Paige used the term to describe an overhand curve. Reportedly Jim Bouton used the term in "Ball Four" (1970). To all the above, we might suggest that a yakker gets a batter talking to himself, yakking, if you will.