Baseball terminology question

[BUWebguy]

When a batter is expecting a fastball down the middle, he is said to be sitting "dead red." Anyone know where that phrase came from? Brownie just used the phrase and my wife asked me why they call it that. I had no good answer.

[pravata]

When a batter is expecting a fastball down the middle, he is said to be sitting "dead red." Anyone know where that phrase came from? Brownie just used the phrase and my wife asked me why they call it that. I had no good answer.

I got nuttin so far, but look at

http://books.google.com/books?id=afQVWhAm1TEC&pg=PA151&lpg=PA151&dq=%22dead+red%22+fastball&source=bl&ots=kQYnEBzXqe&sig=ImpJxl2J-3InijVjs3kXORkbqHs&hl=en&ei=hLYUSpn4J4aQtAP8qMWwCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5

http://www.allwords.com/word-fastball+count.html

I'm thinking it has to do with the count.  In "olden times" when balls and strikes were displayed on the scoreboard, were the balls displayed in red and the strikes in green?  Three balls no strikes might have been three red lights across.

[Andyzipp]

According to the New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, dead red is another term for fast ball, so to sit dead read is to be waiting for the fastball.

Not sure how dead red refers to the fastball...still looking.

[Duman]

it just became a dirty word at my house:

[b=http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sit_dead-red]from wiktionary[/b]

English

[edit] Verb

(to) sit dead-red

   1. (baseball) When a batter is looking for a four-seam fastball. Popularized by broadcaster and former player Joe Morgan.

You think he put that up there himself?

[pravata]

Herman "Red" Howard from the Negro League, called his fastball "Dead Red"

http://books.google.com/books?id=gYeb3nzBLUYC&pg=RA2-PA396&lpg=RA2-PA396&dq=baseball+dictionary+%22dead+red%22&source=bl&ots=Jhx8riDfyx&sig=Z1YHq0BApuqZxeX_WAv_Azz3p5g&hl=en&ei=tLkUSu_XKoTEtAPi5qyZCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7

[Andyzipp]

Shoot the cripple means the same thing.  Why doesn't anyone use that any more?

[pravata]

Shoot the cripple means the same thing.  Why doesn't anyone use that any more?

You mean when Filo isn't around?

[homer]

You're thinking of LOE.

[pravata]

You're thinking of LOE.

as little as possible.

[MRaup]

You're thinking of LOE.

What part of FiLoE do you not get?

[Noe]

Back in the day, when baseball was played out in pastures, mostly behind a farm somewhere, folks from town would come out to see the local nine take on the neighboring town's nine.  Folks would all sit out on the fields as the baseball game would progress.  One day, while playing out behind Farmer Ned's place, the centerfield area was in direct sight of a large red barn.  Farmer Ned loved his large red barn, very proud of it actually.  So when other teams would come to play in the little town where Farmer Ned's place was located, it was said that they would sit "dead red" in terms of lining up their sights for a fastball.  It was a good way to keep players focused to take everything thrown by Jimmy Littlefield, the local nine hard thrower, right back up the middle.

Now, you tell me... does this sound like a true story?

[HudsonHawk]

Not sure of the "red" part, but the word "dead" was once common slang meaning "absolutely certain" or "without a doubt".  It's the origin of other phrases such as "dead center", "dead broke" or "dead to rights".  My guess is the term "dead red" didn't orginate specifically in reference to a fastball, but simply to the fact that the hitter was certain of whatever pitch was coming next.

[homer]

What part of FiLoE do you not get?

I guess none of it.

[Lurch]

Dont old rifle sights (those with a v near the hammer and a single post at the tip of the rifle that you line up) have red lines or dots that converge when you line up correctly?

[HudsonHawk]

Dont old rifle sights (those with a v near the hammer and a single post at the tip of the rifle that you line up) have red lines or dots that converge when you line up correctly?

Those are called "open sights", and yes, the front sight often has a colored mark on it to make it more visible.  Don't know what that has to do with baseball though.

[Limey]

According to the New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, dead red is another term for fast ball, so to sit dead read is to be waiting for the fastball.

Unless you're Ensberg, of course, in which case you are "dead meat".

[94CougarGrad]

"Dead Red" was invented by Pravda sports reporter Ivan Rottrikezov, who covered revolutionary baseball teams such as the Moscow Marauders, the Ukraine Urals, and the Leningrad oBlasts. A one-two-three or "caught looking" strikeout resulted in the batter being immediately deported to Siberia without food, winter clothing, shelter, or local politburo representative- hence, he became a "dead Red." Uncle Joe Stalin later expanded the deportation practice to hitting coaches and stadium vendors who purveyed sub-par vodka.

[astrojo]

"Dead Red" was invented by Pravda sports reporter Ivan Rottrikezov, who covered revolutionary baseball teams such as the Moscow Marauders, the Ukraine Urals, and the Leningrad oBlasts. A one-two-three or "caught looking" strikeout resulted in the batter being immediately deported to Siberia without food, winter clothing, shelter, or local politburo representative- hence, he became a "dead Red." Uncle Joe Stalin later expanded the deportation practice to hitting coaches and stadium vendors who purveyed sub-par vodka.

if we were playing balderdash - this is the one i would pick

[Texifornia]

"Dead Red" was invented by Pravda sports reporter Ivan Rottrikezov, who covered revolutionary baseball teams such as the Moscow Marauders, the Ukraine Urals, and the Leningrad oBlasts.

That's the Kaliningrad oBlasts...or is it O'Blasts?

Anyway, before the Russians took over they were called the Konigsburg Roaches and had this pitcher named Kafka. Wicked off speed stuff.

[94CougarGrad]

That's the Kaliningrad oBlasts...or is it O'Blasts?

Anyway, before the Russians took over they were called the Konigsburg Roaches and had this pitcher named Kafka. Wicked off speed stuff.

You're right. I had the oBlasts/O'Blasts confused with the Krasnoyarsk Koshki. The Leningrad team was, of course, name the "Coveted Apartments."

Worst thing about the old Russian league? The loooong road trips to Vladivostok to play the Sailors. Eastern Seaport Field was frequently frozen, and the nightlife- don't get me started.

[Stephen]

That's the Kaliningrad oBlasts...or is it O'Blasts?

Anyway, before the Russians took over they were called the Konigsburg Roaches and had this pitcher named Kafka. Wicked off speed stuff.

Yeah, I read about him.  He had such a great change up that even after the batter has seen it, he's still not sure whether it really was a change or if it was all just in his head.

[Texifornia]

Yeah, I read about him.  He had such a great change up that even after the batter has seen it, he's still not sure whether it really was a change or if it was all just in his head.

When Kafka had his best stuff batters would go directly from the on deck circle to the dugout certain they had struck out but somehow never remembering the at bat.