Glossary of Baseball Terms
 

A

A

Assist, Attendance

AB

At-bat

Assist

A throw or deflection of the ball from one player to another that either results in a putout or would have resulted in a putout if an error had not occurred.

At-bat

An appearance by a player in the batter's box. Appearances where the batter walks, sacrifices, is hit by a pitch, or is interfered with by the catcher do not count as official at-bats.

Average

A statistic which describes some facet of a player's performance. Examples are batting average, slugging average, earned run average, and fielding average.

AVG

Average

B

B

Bunt

BA

Batting average

Balk

An illegal act by the pitcher with at least one runner on base. All runners are entitled to advance one base.

Base on Balls

An award of first base to a batter who has received four pitches outside the strike zone without swinging at them. All existing runners advance one base. Also called a "walk."

Batter-runner

A term identifying the offensive player between the completion of the player's turn at bat and the end of the play where the player became a runner.

Batting Average

The statistic obtained by dividing a player's number of hits by the player's number of official at-bats.

BB

Base on Balls

BF

Batters Faced

BK

Balk

BL

Bats Left

BP

Batting Practice

BS

Blown Save

Bunt

The act of tapping the ball gently into the infield with a loosely held bat.

C

C

Catcher

Catcher's Earned Run Average

A team's total earned run average with a particular catcher.

Caught Stealing

Tagged out while attempting to steal a base.

CERA

Catcher's Earned Run Average

CF

Center Field

CG

Complete Game

Complete Game

A statistic credited to a pitcher who pitches an entire game without relief.
A game that has not been postponed, called, or delayed in some other manner.

CS

Caught Stealing

D

 

D

Defense, Double

Designated Hitter

A hitter listed in the starting lineup who is assigned to hit for the starting pitcher and all relief pitchers in the game.

Disabled List

A list of players who have been temporarily removed from the active roster so that they may recover from injury or illness. Roster substitutions are allowed for players placed on the disabled list.

Double

A hit which allows the batter reaches second base safely.

Double Play

A play which results in two offensive players being put out, provided that no error is committed between putouts.

Doubleheader

Two games played on the same day by the same two teams.

DP

Double Play

DH

Designate Hitter, Doubleheader

DL

Disabled List

E

E

Error

Earned Run

A run that is charged to the pitcher and is scored without the aid of an error, passed ball, obstruction, or catcher's interference.

Earned Run Average

The average numbers of earned runs scored on a pitcher for a full nine-inning game.

ER

Earned Run

ERA

Earned Run Average

Error

A mistake made by the defensive team which aids the offensive team.

F

F

Fly, Flyout

FC

Fielder's Choice

Fielder's Choice

The act of defensive player who, after fielding a ground ball, attempts to put out a preceding player rather than the batter-runner. The term may also be applied when a player manages to steal a base because of the indifference of the defensive team.

Fielding Percentage

A statistic which represents a player's fielding ability.

Fly, Fly Ball

A ball that is hit into the air rather than on the ground.

Fly Out

An out which results from a fly ball being caught before it hits the ground.

FO

Foul Out, Force Out

Force Out

An out which resulted from the defensive player touching the base in a force play.

Force Play

A play in which a baserunner must try to advance to the next base because a batter becomes a runner.

Foul Out

An out caused by a fly ball being caught in foul territory.

Foul Territory

The territory outside the area enclosed by the lines running from home plate to the left-field and right-field foul poles.

FP

Fielding Percentage

G

G

Game

Game

A contest between two teams which usually consists of 8 1/2 or 9 innings.

Games Finished

The number of games finished by a relief pitcher.

Games Started

The number of games started by a particular pitcher.

GDP/GIDP

Ground into Double Play

GF

Games Finished

Grand Slam

A home run hit while base loaded.

GS

Games Started, Grand Slam

GWRBI

Game Winning Run Batted In

H

H

Hit, Hold

HB

Hit Batter

HBP

Hit by Pitch, Hit by Pitcher

Hit

A ball batted into fair territory which allows the batter to reach base safely without the aid of an error.

Hit Batter

A batter hit by a pitch.

Hit by Pitch/Pitcher

Struck by a pitched ball while within the batter's box.

Home Run

A base hit where the batter is able to touch all three bases and return to home before being put out.

HP

Hit by Pitch

HR

Home Run

I

I

Interference

IF

Infield, Infielder, Infield Fly

Infield

The area on the playing field contained within the four baselines.

Infield Fly

A fair fly ball, hit with less than two outs, which can be caught by an infielder without extraordinary effort, when first and second or first, second, and third bases are occupied. Line drives and attempted bunts do not count.

Infield Fly Rule

A rule which declares the batter out because, in the judgement of the umpire, a fair fly ball hit within the infield can be caught by an infielder facing the infield when at least first and second bases are occupied and there is less than two out. For this purpose, an outfielder that is stationed in or near the infield is also considered an infielder. The umpire signals that the rule is in effect by calling "infield fly" and raising a clenched fist overhead. The ball does not have to be caught. The batter is out but the ball is still live and all baserunners may try to advance at their own peril. The rule was instituted so that an infielder does not deliberately drop the ball so that a double-play can be set up.

Infielder

A fielder who occupies a position within the infield.

Inning

A segment of the game where each team has one turn at-bat and one turn in the field.

Innings Pitched

The number of innings within which a specific pitcher has pitched. Every out is considered a third of an inning.

Intentional Walk

A base on balls because the pitcher deliberately threw the fourth ball outside the strike zone.

Interference

An act by a fielder which hinders a players attempt to hit a pitch or an act by a member of the team at bat that impedes a fielder attempting to make a play.

IP

Innings Pitched

IW

Intentional Walk

J

(empty)

K

K

Strikeout

 

Strikeout, called

KC

Strikeout, called

KS

Strikeout, swinging

L

L

Line Drive, Loss, Losing Pitcher

Left on Base

The number of runners on base at the time a third out in a half-inning is made.

LHB

Left-handed Batter

LHP

Left-handed Pitcher

Line Drive

A batted ball that has a trajectory that closely parallels and then moves toward the ground.

LO

Left On

LOB

Left on Base

Losing Pitcher

The pitcher who is responsible for giving up the run that allows the opposing team to win the game.

Loss

A defeat. The statistic credited to a losing pitcher.

LP

Losing Pitcher

M

(empty)

N

NP

Number of Pitches

O

O

Ovation

OBA

On-Base Average

OBP

On-Base Percentage

obs

Obstruction

Obstruction

The act of impeding a runner by a fielder that is not in possession of the ball.

OF

Outfield, Outfielder

Official Scorer

The person who is responsible for observing and recording the events in a game according to the official rules.

On-Base Average

The percentage of batters that reach base against a specific. Sometimes used to refer to "on-base percentage."

On-Base Percentage

A statistic that represents a batter's ability to get on base.

OS

Official Scorer

P

PA

Plate Appearance

Passed Ball

A pitched ball that gets by the catcher and allows one or more runners to advance. If it occurs on a third strike, the batter may attempt to get to first base. The catcher is not charged with an error. If there are no runners on base, the catcher cannot be charged with it.

PB

Passed Ball

PH

Pinch Hitter

Pitch

The throw to the batter.

Plate Appearance

A player's appearance in the batter's box. It includes all appearances in the batter's box, not just those which result in an official at-bats.

PO

Putout

Putout

The retirement of a batter or runner by a member of the defense.

Q

QS

Quality Start

Quality Start

The act of a pitcher throwing at least six innings and giving up three or fewer earned runs.

R

R

Run(s)

RBI

Run(s) Batted In

RHB

Right-Handed Batter

RHP

Right-Handed Pitcher

Run

A score made by a runner.

Run Batted In

A run that is caused by a batter's action at the plate, unless the batter hits into a double-play.

S

S

Sacrifice, Successful Steal of a Base, Save

SA

Slugging Average

sac

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

A sacrifice hit.

Sacrifice Bunt

A hit in which a bunted ball results in one or more runners advancing and the batter being put out at first base.

Sacrifice Fly

A fly ball which is caught to retire the batter-runner but allows another player to score.

Sacrifice Hit

A hit which results in one or more runners advancing and the batter being put out at first base

Save

The credit given to a relief pitcher who maintains the lead in a game and allows the pitcher's team to win.

SB

Stolen Base

SF

Sacrifice Fly

SH

Sacrifice Hit, Sacrifice Bunt

ShO

Shutout

Shutout

A game in which the losing team does not score a single run.

Slugging Average

The statistic which illustrates a batter's ability to make extra-base hits.

SO

Strikeout, Shutout

SP

Starting Pitcher

SS

Split Squad, Shortstop

Starting Pitcher

The first pitcher for each team in a game.

Stolen Base

A base that is gained by a runner while a pitcher is in motion and without aid from any action by the batter or any fielders.

Strikeout

An out made by a batter who has been charged with three strikes.

Strikeout, Called

A strikeout which occurs when a batter makes no attempt on the third strike.

Strikeout, Swinging

A strikeout which occurs when a batter makes an attempt on the third strike and misses.

SV

Save

T

T

Triple, Amount of time to play game

TA

Total Average

TB

Total Bases

TC

Total Chances

TL

Throws Left

Total Average

The ratio of a player's number of bases to number of outs.

Total Bases

A batter's total number of bases created by base hits.

Total Chances

Total number of play opportunities for a fielder. Calculated by adding putouts, assists, and errors.

TP

Triple Play

TR

Throws Right

Triple

A base hit in which the batter reaches third base safely.

Triple Play

A play where three players are retired as a result of continuous action, provided that no errors occur between putouts.

U

U

Unassisted Putout

Unassisted Putout

A putout made by a fielder without an assist.

V

(empty)

W

W

Walk, Win, Winning Pitcher

Walk

An award of first base to a batter who has received four pitches outside the strike zone without swinging at them. All existing runners advance one base. The same as a "base on balls."

Win

A victory. A statistic credited to the winning pitcher.

Wild Card

A team that has been given a play-off spot because it has the best record among the teams that have not won a division.

Wild Pitch

A pitch that is delivered in such a manner that the catcher cannot catch it with ordinary effort.

Winning Pitcher

The player on the winning team who was the pitcher when the winning run is scored.

WP

Wild Pitch, Winning Pitcher

X

x

Symbol used in the standings to indicate a team that has clinched the division title. Also used by a scorer to indicate something extraordinary.

Y

y

Symbol used in the standings to indicate a team that has earned a playoff spot. After all division titles are determined, it indicates the wild card team.

Z

z

Symbol used in the standings to indicate a team that is mathematically eliminated.