Date: Tue, 23 Jan 1996 08:36:50 CDT

From: Randy Roberts robertsr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]EXT.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Left field/Right field



Anyone interested in the term "out in left field" or in baseball,

generally, should look at The Dickson Baseball Dictionary,

(Facts-on-File, 1989). Paul Dickson has a wonderful entry on the

etymology of out in left field (page 288). He notes two major

theories. 1. an insult attached to kids who were stupid enough to buy

left field seats in Yankee Stadium when Babe Ruth played in right

field. 2. a reference to the old West Side Park in Chicago which had

a mental hospital just behind the left field fence.



Randy Roberts

University of Missouri

robertsr[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ext.missouri.edu