Out of Left Field -- phrase origin - alt.fan.cecil-adams

Message from discussion Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

ZBicyclist

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More options May 16, 9:42 pm

Newsgroups: alt.fan.cecil-adams

From: "ZBicyclist" <ZBicycl...@excite.com>

Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 20:42:33 -0500

Local: Fri, May 16 2008 9:42 pm

Subject: Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

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Today's fun fact?

An unusual idea would be "something out of left field" in American
idiom. This is obviously a baseball-based expression, but why left
field? Why not use center field, which is usually farther out?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi080515west-side-c...
The Tribune claims that this phrase originated from a psychiatric
hospital located just beyond the left field wall of the West Side
Grounds -- the baseball stadium where the Cubs played through 1915,
when they moved to Weeghman Park, now Wrigley Field.

--
Mike Kruger
"You have to be careful if you are reckless." - Richard M. Daley

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