h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

O say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
No Winnie the Pooh, and no footballers’ wives…

This quiz is for Americans and pseudo-Americans only. If you asked me these questions I wouldn’t score a single point.

These are 15 words in the OED which originated as baseball terms. Numbers indicate the length of the word and the date it was first used. To help you, the answers are in alphabetical order. Can you name all 15?

***

1. A pitcher with a very fast delivery [10] (1928)

2. A training exercise in which a batter tosses a ball into the air and hits it as it descends [5] (1867)

3. A play wherein a base runner starts with the pitcher's throw as the batter attempts a hit, a sacrifice hit [9, three words] (1899)

4. The bending of a ball inwards (i.e. across the front of the batter); the course of such a ball [7] (1886)

5. A strategy in which a team methodically focuses on teamwork and tactical play, in contrast to seeking striking plays or relying on star players [14, two words] (1897)

6. A pitch that relies on movement rather than speed, such as a breaking ball or knuckleball [8] (1944)

7. A type of hit characterized by its great height; esp. one which sends the ball over the left-field fence, scoring a home run [8, two words] (1961)

8. Used allusively to designate the world of baseball, usually with reference to (the fans of) a particular team and the disappointment or happiness felt after an (unexpected) loss or victory [8] (1888)

9. To strike (a ball) weakly; to hit (the ball) awkwardly with the end of the bat [3] (1948)

10. To release (a player, esp. in a major league team) unconditionally from his or her contract [8] (1966)

11. The act of putting out a runner who is off base by means of the pitcher or catcher suddenly throwing the ball to that base [7] (1911)

12. A hit made by a substitute batter [8] (1905)

13. A pitch thrown intentionally beyond the reach of the batter to allow the catcher a clear throw at an advancing base runner [8] (1903)

14. A ticket given to a spectator at an outdoor event (originally a baseball game) interrupted by or postponed because of the weather, enabling the holder to attend a future event without further charge [9, two words] (1884)

15. The application of statistical analysis to baseball records, esp. in order to evaluate and compare the performance of individual players [12] (1982)

***

Oo, an Icy quiz that I actually can respond to!

7. Fly ball

14. Rain check

I'm amazed you're still subscribed, Amy! Welcome!

I'll score it later - you may find that the alphabetical order rule means you need to find alternatives for some, accurate though they may be.

#15 was mentioned in the film "Moneyball." Am I allowed to look up the film so as to get an answer. if not, I think the word "Quantitative may be involved.

I know the concepts for a great many of the questions, but specific answers are slow in coming to me this morning....

9 ought to be a bunt, but form its late placement I don't think that answer would work alphabetically.

4 might be a curve ball

7 might be a popup, and the midrange placement might make itn alphabetically appropriate, and yet I'm sure there's an even better term for it

I do love to read about baseball as long as he focus is on people. The technical terms are a little harder for me to embrace.

I never unsubscribe. I may never *say* anything, and there are some threads I'm subscribed to that I've not touched in years, but I don't unsubscribe.

Even if the alphabetical rule makes me lose points, I was just happy that there was a quiz that 1) I actually had a clue for (seriously, the Golden Rule one? No idea whatsoever--not just "don't know any answers" but "What the actual is going on here?") and 2) the answer(s) I can provide haven't already been given.

Well, it's good to see you here. (Don't worry about the golden rule one - that's for the masochists. The whole point is to work out what's going on. Once you spot it, you'll wonder why you didn't see it before).

I'm beginning to realise this baseball quiz is a lot harder than I thought it might be, but then we haven't had Dmitri turn up yet.

I'm afraid it IS harder than you thought. Right now, I'm not sure whether it's because I'm particularly dense, or because those terms have changed a lot over time. Most of us know what a pop fly is, or a sacrifice bunt, but they may have been called something different...

I actually took a course in baseball broadcasting, believe it or not. Which was when I found out I couldn't do radio commentary because I couldn't follow the ball visually...I'd lose track of it in mid-flight...and I still remember us sitting in the bleachers at the Triple-A game, marking scoresheets, with my radio manager/instructor intoning, 'No, Dmitri, that's NOT an error...'

It is possible to recreate an entire baseball game from one of those scoresheets. In fact, people have been known to do it, with sound effects, leading to listeners claiming to have heard historic games from the 1890s *on the radio*...

But I'll try to plug away at this, time permitting...

3 could be base stealer, but that's only two words, an three are called for

As I think about 7, I wonder if it might be grand slam

What happens in 11 could be tagging. Or forcing someone out.

In 12, the substitute batter is known as a designated hitter. I know that's probably not the answer....

14 would be a rain check, but someone has already guessed that.

15 might be sabermetric

1 might be ace, as it is in tennis and some other games

I played baseball and the only one I recognized was rain check.

The only way I got sabermetric for 15 was by looking up a book review for "Moneyball."

It might still be the wrong answer.....

I'm sorry this is as tough as that: not being a baseball fan, I really can't tell how obscure the words are (but I've certainly heard a few in passing). All the words originated as baseball terms, if that helps, so you wouldn't see 'bat' or 'base', for example.

I'll post clues after Dmitri's come back, but at the moment you have these ones correct:

14. RAIN CHECK
15. SABERMETRICS

I'm afraid I have to give up. Other than the ones already mentioned, I can't think of any expressions to meet the criteria of definition + letter limit.

ok,

These are the initial letters. I'll call it a day on Monday.

1. F?????????
2. F????
3. H?? ??? ???
4. I??????
5. I????? ????????
6. J???????
7. M??? ????
8. M???????
9. N??
10. O???????
11. P??????
12. P????-???
13. P???????
14. RAIN CHECK
15. SABERMETRIC

1 could be fastballer

8 could be Mudville. I've suspected as much for a while, but it seemed too simple and obvious. These quizzes are never obvious.

Now you're telling me it's too simple

1. FASTBALLER
8. MUDVILLE

are correct

Ah, correction! 1. FASTBALLER isn't correct. I had a brain fade. (but it's close)

Icy, the easy and obvious answer is not what I expected from this quiz.

1. Fireballer?

Ok... I'll make a few guesses.

1. DONE
2. F???? (If the exercise is for fielders to catch these, this is called "shagging FLIES", stop sniggering)
3. HIT AND RUN
4. INSIDER
5. I????? ????????
6. J???????
7. MILE HIGH
8. MUDVILLE
9. NUT
10. O???????
11. P?????? (I should know this one)
12. PINCH HIT
13. P???????
14. DONE
15. DONE


(Keep in mind, I was twelve when I played baseball.)