How and why did the term "southpaw" when referring to a baseball pitcher come about ?
2007-07-08 15:43:55 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.(denoting the left hand or a punch with the left hand)
The usage in baseball is perhaps from the orientation of early baseball fields to the same points of the compass, such that the pitcher’s left arm was on the "south” side of his body.
2007-07-08 15:48:08 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas et Aequitas () 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a baseball term. It seems that on many (most) baseball diamonds the left hand side of the pitchers mound would face south. At one time, most ball-parks were constructed so that the setting sun was behind the batter so as not to be in his eyes. The LH pitcher's throwing arm would then be toward the South as he faced the plate.
With larger grandstands in modern stadia (not to mention indoor baseball) this is less of a concern than it once was.
Question/Answer 45.
2007-07-08 22:49:26 · answer #2 · answered by Orionsend 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ballparks are often designed so that the batter is facing east, in order that the afternoon or evening sun does not shine in his eyes. This means that left-handed pitchers are throwing from the south side, hence the name southpaw
2007-07-08 22:47:26 · answer #3 · answered by Chuck B 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
when people would build the baseball fields they understood that they didn't want the batters looking into the setting sun so they made it so that the batters looked to the east from the plate...this meant that if you threw left-handed...you stood on the mound facing the south...righties, on the other hand faced the north...
2007-07-09 03:00:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
most ballparks are built so that the batter faces east (to avoid setting sun) so lefty pitchers are pitching from the south side
2007-07-08 22:50:05 · answer #5 · answered by bcb534 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
thye face south on the mound.
2007-07-08 22:51:13 · answer #6 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋