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

Message from discussion Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

Blinky the Shark

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More options May 17, 5:37 pm

Newsgroups: alt.fan.cecil-adams

From: Blinky the Shark <no.s...@box.invalid>

Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 14:37:22 -0700

Local: Sat, May 17 2008 5:37 pm

Subject: Re: Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

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D.F. Manno wrote:
> In article <v7ns24de5benrtvj4148vvggbs2thqh...@4ax.com>,
> M C Hamster <davol...@speakeasy.nospam.net> wrote:

>> Blinky the Shark <no.s...@box.invalid> wrote:

>> >Another theory here in the blogosphere:

>> >http://www.bobcongdon.net/blog/2004/06/out-in-left-field.html

>> >"...in older ball parks, left field was deeper than right field; that the
>> >left fielder must play farther back when the batter is right-handed."

>> >And I *think* right-handed batters were more prevalent back then...which
>> >is probably why they'd make left field deeper than right.

>> >But I dunno.

>> I would have guessed that it was simply related to the connotation of
>> left-handedness as being unusual, and even sinister.

> Well, in Baker Bowl, where the Phillies played from 1887-1938, it was
> 341 feet to left but only 280 feet to right.

> The same is true of Ebbets Field (originally was 419 feet to left and
> 301 to right) and others.

Here's a big differential. Robison Field (St.Louis Cardinals, 1890-1923)
at one time had a 470-foot left field and a 290-foot right.

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Blinky
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