Can of corn

can of corn

What is the definition of can of corn in baseball?

1. Can of corn is a term used to describe a fly ball that is hit into the outfield and is easily catchable for an out.

What is a can of corn in baseball?

In a baseball game, referring to a fly ball as a can of corn means that it is traveling in a path that should be an easy catch for an outfield player.

Can a can of corn be hit into the infield?

Usually, can of corn refers to a ball that is hit into the outfield rather than the infield. A key aspect of a can of corn is that it is easy to catch, so the ball must fall in close range of one of the defense’s outfielders.

Are all outfield fly balls cans of corn?

Only fly balls which are very easy to catch are labeled with the term “can of corn.” If a hitter sends a ball into the outfield and a player has to sprint or dive to catch it, that would not be a can of corn. Similarly, if an outfielder has to jump up at the back fence of the outfield to snatch a ball so that it doesn’t go into the stands for a home run, it is not a can of corn.

What is the result of a can of corn?

When a can of corn is hit, the nearest outfielder will usually call to their teammates that they are in position to catch the ball. This eliminates the chance of any other players running over and potentially colliding with the outfielder in an attempt to make the catch.

Most commonly, a baseball player will easily catch a can of corn in their mitt. This results in an immediate out for the batting team. If it is the third out during that half of the inning, the teams will switch places, and the defenders will have a chance at bat.

If the outfielder misses a can of corn, it is marked as an error. It’s very important for teams to capitalize whenever a can of corn occurs while they are on defense. This gives the team an opportunity to get an easy out.

What is another term for can of corn?

A pop fly is similar to a can of corn in baseball lingo. Both terms refer to a ball that is hit up into the air and should be easy for a member of the defense to catch. However, a can of corn generally refers to a ball hit into the outfield, while a pop fly refers to a ball hit into the infield. A pop fly, which is also sometimes referred to as a pop-up, is often caught by a shortstop or baseman.

Who coined the baseball phrase can of corn?

Although not confirmed, one theory for the origin of the term “can of corn” is that it started in the early 19th century and was first used in grocery stores. During that time period, grocers would use a stick with a hook on the end in order to pull down cans of corn which were stocked on high shelves. The grocer would use the hook to pull at the cans, which would then fall easily into their outstretched apron below.

Another theory for the origin of can of corn in baseball focuses on a nickname for the outfield. This area of the baseball field is sometimes called the “corn field” due to the fact that amateur baseball games in the early days of the sport were occasionally held on or adjacent to farm fields.

Why do baseball announcers say can of corn?

Baseball broadcasters and baseball fans eventually adopted the term “can of corn.” Similar to the way that the cans fell into the aprons of the grocers, an easy fly ball would land in a baseball player’s mitt. The comparison centers on the fact that the item in question follows a predictable path on its way down, making it easy to catch.

“Can of corn” was one of the catchphrases closely associated with Red Barber, a famous announcer for the Brooklyn Dodgers whose radio microphone from the 1930s is part of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The use of this term was part of the folksy charm which made Barber so popular with listeners. Some of the other unique catchphrases Barber would use during his broadcasts include “rhubarb” referring to on-field disputes, “slicker than boiled okra” describing a ball that a fielder let slip from his hands or glove, and “tearing up the pea patch” in reference to a team’s winning streak.

Other Major League Baseball (MLB) announcers known for popularizing the term “can of corn” include Chicago White Sox announcer Ken “The Hawk” Harrelson and New York Yankees announcer Phil Rizzuto. Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Prince famously used the term to describe a play in which Willie Smith hit an easy fly ball to Matty Alou, saying that Alou “dropped the can of corn” when he failed to make what would have been a game-winning catch.

Other uses for “can of corn”

The term “can of corn” has inspired usage outside of baseball leagues. The meaning is similar when used colloquially, with “can of corn” referring to something that’s easy to accomplish. For example, someone might say that a chore or a test turned out to be a can of corn because it was a very simple task to complete.

What is Can of Corn beer?

Can of Corn is a limited-release beer brewed by the Broken Bat Brewing Company, a baseball-themed brewery located in Milwaukee. The beer’s name is a play on the term can of corn in baseball as well as an homage to the famous baseball movie, Field of Dreams. To make the beer, the company actually sourced corn from the site where Field of Dreams was filmed in Dyersville, Iowa.

Other food terms in baseball

Can of corn is one of many food-related terms used in baseball lingo. Some other examples include:

• Tater: The term “tater” is used to refer to a home run. The origins aren’t clear, but it may be related to another slang term in which a baseball is referred to as a potato.
• Cup of coffee: A cup of coffee is another way to describe a brief stint in the MLB before being sent back down to the minors. It’s a cheeky way of saying a player’s major league career only lasted as long as a cup of coffee.
• Ribeye: A run batted in, abbreviated as RBI, is sometimes called a ribeye or a ribbie.
• Cheese: Cheese or cheddar is how some players, fans and broadcasters refer to a fastball, especially if it’s well-executed.
• Pickle: Also known as a rundown or a hotbox, a pickle occurs when a player is between two bases and trying to avoid a potential out. Two fielders throw the ball back and forth to try to tag the runner before they can get on base.
• Meat: The larger end of a bat is called the meat, and a rookie who is perceived to have more physical talent than intelligence may be referred to as meat by their veteran teammates.
• Meatball: Batters who receive a pitch right down the middle of the plate that is particularly easy to hit are said to be served a meatball.
• Pea: A ball that is thrown or hit at a high velocity is called a pea.
• Rhubarb: Arguments or fights that occur during a baseball game are called rhubarbs. Like can of corn, this term was popularized by Red Barber.
• Pepper: Pepper is a warm-up drill that teams often use to get ready before a game. One player hits ground balls to a group of fielders, and the closest player will try to scoop up the ball and throw it back as quickly as possible.

Example of how can of corn is used in commentary

1. Reynolds glides into left center field for the easy can of corn, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates their third out of the inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

2. Immediately following two strikes called by the umpire, Schwarber hits a can of corn off a fastball, resulting in an easy out for the Red Sox.

Sports the term is used

1. Baseball
2. Softball