Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 16:21:52 -0500

From: Jerry Miller millerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]FRANKLINCOLL.EDU

Subject: why no right field?



Anyone know the background of the expression "out of left field" or "from

left field," which would seem to have a baseball-related origin, but why

LEFT field, rather than, say, right field? Given the current political

connotations of left and right, it implies something unsavory (or weird)

about those on the political left, absent any "out of right field"

expression to label people like Rush Limbaugh, John Birch, et al (or at

least gives Rush and his crowd a loaded weapon the folks on the other side

don't have).

Just curious,



Jerry Miller

(out in center field at) Franklin College (Ind.)