Baseball Lexicon: Can of Corn

I haven't done a baseball term or phrase in a long time, so I feel I should do one.  Recently, I have been hearing baseball announcers use "can of corn" several times.  It is a old term and I don't really know how many baseball fans actually know what it means.

Can of corn means an easy fly ball out to an outfielder.  It was first used by longtime Brooklyn Dodger radio announcer Red Barber.  How did this grocery item become a part of the baseball lexicon?  In grocery stores of many years ago, cans of corn were placed at or near the top shelf .  In order to get a can, a grocery clerk had to use a stick or pole and knock it off gently.  It would then softly fall into the hands of the clerk.

Baseball Lexicon: Wally Pipped

One of my favorite terms in the game is used when a player has been described as or is about to be Wally Pipped. It's origin is also a nice little piece of history also.

1992 Conlon

Wally Pipp was a 1st basemen who played from 1913-28, primarily for the New York Yankees. He was a known as a solid player with decent power.  Pipp managed to lead the American League in home runs twice, which he became the first Yankee player to do so.
On June 2, 1925 he went to his manager, Miller Huggins, complaining about a terrible headache.  Huggins told him not to worry, take the day off and be back in the lineup the next day.  Pipp's replacement on that day? None other than Lou Gehrig.  Gehrig went on to play the next 2,130 consecutive games for New York, which was at the time, a MLB record.  Pipp was sold to Cincinnati Reds before the 1926 season and later described the situation as "I took the two most expensive aspirin in history."

So you all better be careful when taking a day off from work.  Your replacement maybe so good that you will get Wally Pipped. 

Baseball Lexicon: Mendoza Line

Over the history of the game, there has been terms or phrases that has been said and later became a part of baseball's regular lexicon. Some of which have been picked up in normal society such as "from left field" meaning a thought or viewpoint away from the norm or "throw a curveball"  meaning to surprise or deceit.
From time to time, I may use a term that is not commonly known. So, I will take time to define them and give you some background on the origin of.

1981 Topps

Today's phrase is Mendoza Line. It means to have a batting average of .200 and was named after Mario Mendoza.  Mendoza was a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners during the late 1970s and early 80s. He, not unlike many other shortstops of the day, was more known for their defense rather then their offense. The belief at the time was a hitting shortstop was not a high priority as long he was of gold glove caliber. This all changed with the play of Orioles' Cal Ripken Jr., Tigers' Alan Trammell and Brewers' Robin Yount.
Year in and year out, Mendoza finished the season in and around a .200 batting avg. and was ribbed by Seattle's teammates Tom Paciorek and Bruce Bochte because of it.  During one particular season while Kansas City's George Brett was struggling, he was told by Paciorek and Bochte that if he wasn't careful that he would finish below the Mendoza Line.  Later that season in an interview with ESPN's Chris Berman, Brett mentioned the Mendoza Line and the phrase took off from there.
So in the future when you hear someone mention the Mendoza Line, you now know what it means.  If there is a word or phrase you don't know, feel free to ask me. I will answer for you.