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

Message from discussion Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

D.F. Manno

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More options May 17, 5:01 pm

Newsgroups: alt.fan.cecil-adams

From: "D.F. Manno" <dfma...@mail.com>

Date: Sat, 17 May 2008 17:01:57 -0400

Local: Sat, May 17 2008 5:01 pm

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

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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.

--
D.F. Manno | dfma...@mail.com
"As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words
are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action: you liberate a city by
destroying it. Words are to confuse, so that at election time people
will solemnly vote against their own interests." (Gore Vidal)

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