Glossary of baseball (F) facts for kids

Baseball is a super fun sport with lots of special words and phrases! This guide will help you understand some of the terms that start with the letter "F".

F

Fall Classic: The World Series

The Fall Classic is another name for the World Series. This is the biggest championship in Major League Baseball (MLB). In the World Series, the best team from the American League plays against the best team from the National League.

This exciting series usually happens in October. That's why "playing in October" is a big goal for any MLB team! Famous players like Reggie Jackson were known as "Mr. October" because they played so well in the World Series. Another player, Derek Jeter, was called "Mr. November" because he hit a game-winning walk-off home run in a World Series game that ended just after midnight on November 1st!

The World Series has only been played in the summer once, way back in 1918. It was played in early September because of World War I. The first time games went into November was in 2001. This happened because the season was delayed after the 9/11 attacks.

Fall Off the Table: A Tricky Pitch

When a pitch is said to "fall off the table", it means the ball starts out looking like it will be easy to hit. But then, it suddenly drops low or into the dirt right before it reaches the batter. This term is often used for pitches like change ups and split-fingered fastballs.

Fan: To Strike Out a Batter

To "fan" a batter means to strike them out. This usually happens when the batter swings and misses for the third strike.

Fan Interference: When a Fan Changes the Game

Fan interference happens when a fan or someone not part of the teams touches the ball or changes how a play is happening. If this happens, the ball becomes dead, and the umpire decides what would have happened without the fan's action. They will then award bases or outs as needed.

However, if a fan touches a ball that is already out of the playing field (like a pop fly into the stands), it's usually not fan interference. Even if a player might have caught it, it's not interference if the ball is already in the stands. A famous example is the Steve Bartman incident in 2003, where a fan tried to catch a foul ball. This was not called fan interference because the ball was in the stands.

Fancy Dan: A Showy Fielder

A "fancy Dan" is a player who makes plays with extra style or flair. They might do this to impress the fans. Sometimes, coaches tell them to just focus on making the play simply and effectively!

Farm Team: Developing Future Stars

A farm team is a team where young players get experience and training. These teams are part of a bigger "farm system" for a Major League Baseball team. The goal is for successful players to eventually move up and play in the big leagues.

Fastball: The Most Common Pitch

A fastball is a pitch thrown mainly for its high speed. It's the most common type of pitch in baseball. You might also hear it called "smoke," a "bullet," a "heater," or a "hummer."

Fastball Count: Expecting Speed

A "fastball count" is when the pitcher is expected to throw a fastball. This often happens when the count is 3-1, 3-2, or 2-1 (balls-strikes). Fastballs are usually easier for pitchers to throw accurately into the strike zone. Sometimes, a pitcher will surprise the batter by throwing a slower pitch instead.

Fastball Happy: Relying Too Much on Speed

When a pitcher is "fastball happy", it means they are throwing too many fastballs. This might happen if their other pitches aren't working well. Being fastball happy can cause problems because batters might start to guess that a fastball is coming, making it easier for them to hit.

Fat Pitch: An Easy Target

A "fat pitch" is a pitch that is thrown exactly where the hitter wants it. It might even look bigger than it is! Batters often hit these pitches a long way.

Feed: A Careful Throw

To "feed" the ball means to throw it carefully to another player so they can make an out. For example, a first baseman might "feed the ball" to the pitcher covering first base for a force out. Or an infielder might "feed the ball" to a player at second base to start a double play.

Fencebuster: A Powerful Hitter

A "fencebuster" is a slugger, a player who hits the ball very hard and often hits home runs.

Field: The Playing Area or Making a Play

• A field is the baseball field or diamond where baseball is played.
• It can also mean a specific ballpark or stadium, like Dodger Stadium.
• To "field the ball" means to catch or make a play on a ground ball or a fly ball.
• "To take the field" means the defensive players are going to their positions to start playing defense.

Fielder: A Defensive Player

A fielder is any player on the defensive team. This includes pitchers and position players (like infielders and outfielders).

Field Manager: The Team's Coach

The field manager is the head coach of a baseball team. They decide the team's strategy during the game, set the batting lineup, choose the starting pitcher, and make player changes. The manager works under the team's general manager (GM), who handles player contracts and trades.

Fielder's Choice: A Strategic Out

A fielder's choice (FC) happens when a fielder chooses to try and get a baserunner out instead of the batter who just hit the ball. Even though the batter reaches first base safely, they don't get a hit for it.

Fight Off a Pitch: Staying Alive at Bat

When a batter has two strikes and gets a pitch they can't hit well, they might "fight off the pitch" by fouling it off. This keeps the at-bat going, hoping to get a better pitch to hit.

Find His Bat: Ending a Slump

When a batter has been struggling to get hits (in a "slump") but then starts hitting well again, they are said to have "found their bat."

Find His Swing: Fixing Batting Problems

If a batter is in a slump, they might practice extra to "find their swing." This means they are trying to fix any problems with how they are hitting the ball.

Find the Seats: A Ball in the Stands

When a ball "finds the seats", it means it has been hit out of the playing field and into the stands. This can be a home run or a foul ball that no fielder could catch.

Fireballer: A Super Fast Pitcher

A fireballer is a pitcher who throws extremely fast fastballs, often over 95 miles per hour. They are also called a "flamethrower."

Fireman: The Relief Hero

A "fireman" is a team's best relief pitcher. They are often brought into the game when the other team is hitting well and scoring runs (a "rally"). Their job is to "put out the fire" and stop the other team from scoring more.

Fireplug: An Energetic Player

A "fireplug" is a player, often smaller in size, who is known for having lots of energy, being outgoing, and showing great team spirit. They might be known more for their energy than just their playing skills.

First-Ball Hitter: Hitting Early

A "first-ball hitter" is a batter who likes to hit the first pitch they see in an at-bat. They often get hits on the first pitch.

Five and Dive: A Short Outing for a Pitcher

"Five and dive" is a term used when a starting pitcher can't pitch more than five innings before getting tired or being taken out of the game. In modern baseball, pitchers often don't pitch a complete game to protect their arms.

Five O'Clock Hitter: Practice Star, Game Flop

A "five o'clock hitter" is a batter who hits really well during batting practice (which often happens around 5 PM), but doesn't hit as well during actual games.

Five-Tool Player: A Complete Player

A "five-tool player" is a position player who is excellent at all five basic baseball skills:

• Hitting for average (getting lots of hits)
• Hitting for power (hitting home runs)
• Base running and speed
• Throwing
• Fielding

FL or F.L.: The Federal League

FL or F.L. is a short way to say Federal League. This was a "major league" that existed only for two years, in 1914 and 1915.

Flag Down: Catching a Hard Hit Ball

To "flag down" a ball means to catch or stop a hard-hit line drive, almost like stopping a fast train.

Flamethrower: Another Word for Fireballer

A flamethrower is the same as a fireballer – a pitcher who throws extremely fast pitches.

Flare: A Short Fly Ball

A flare is a fly ball that is hit a short distance into the outfield. It often just barely gets over the heads of the infielders.

Flashing the Leather: Great Fielding

"Flashing the leather" means making an amazing or difficult defensive play. A player who does this often might be called a "leather flasher." "Leather" refers to their baseball glove.

Flip: A Soft Toss or Bullpen Game

• A flip is when a fielder softly tosses the ball to a teammate who is very close by. This is done to save time or avoid a bad throw.
• It can also be a game played by relief pitchers in the bullpen.

Floater: A Knuckleball

A floater is another name for a knuckleball. This pitch seems to float or bob up and down as it travels to the plate, making it hard to hit.

Fluke Hit: A Lucky Hit

A fluke hit is a base hit that happens because the ball was hit weakly or took a strange bounce. It's a bit of a lucky hit.

Flutterball: Another Knuckleball Name

A flutterball is another term for a knuckleball or a floater.

Fly Ball: A Ball Hit High

A fly ball is a ball that is hit high into the air.

Fly Ball Pitcher: Giving Up High Balls

A fly ball pitcher is a pitcher who tends to make batters hit more fly balls than ground balls. These pitchers can sometimes give up more home runs because fly balls can turn into home runs if hit far enough.

Fly Out: An Out from a Caught Fly Ball

• A fly out is an out that happens when an outfielder catches a fly ball.
• A batter whose fly ball is caught is said to "fly out."

Force Play: When a Runner Must Advance

A force play happens when a runner has to move to the next base because the batter has become a runner and must go to first base. In this situation, the runner is out if a fielder with the ball touches the base the runner is being forced to. This is called a "force out."

Forkball: A Dropping Pitch

A forkball is a type of split-finger fastball where the pitcher spreads their fingers wide apart. The ball drops very sharply, often out of the strike zone and into the dirt.

Foul Ball: Out of Play

A foul ball is a batted ball that goes out of the playing area.

Foul Lines: Boundaries of Fair Play

The foul lines are two straight lines on the ground that go from home plate to the outfield fence. They show the difference between fair territory (where the ball is in play) and foul territory (where the ball is out of play). The foul poles are vertical extensions of these lines.

Even though they are called "foul lines," both the lines and the poles are actually in fair territory. If a fly ball hits a foul line or a foul pole beyond first or third base, it's a fair ball and a home run!

Foul Off: Keeping the At-Bat Alive

To "foul off" a pitch means to purposely hit it foul when you have two strikes. This keeps your at-bat going, hoping to get a better pitch to hit and to make the pitcher throw more pitches.

Foul Pole: The Home Run Marker

A foul pole is a pole located on each foul line in the outfield. Umpires use them to decide if a batted ball is a home run or a foul ball. Like the foul lines, the foul pole is in fair territory, so if a fly ball hits it, it's a home run.

Foul Tip: A Direct Catch

A foul tip is a batted ball that goes sharply and directly from the bat to the catcher's glove and is caught. It counts as a strike, even if it's the third strike, and the ball stays in play. If the ball isn't caught, or if it bounces off something else first, it's just a foul ball, not a foul tip.

Four-Bagger: A Home Run

A "four-bagger" is another name for a home run. It means the batter touched all four bases.

Four-Fingered Salute: An Intentional Walk

A "four-fingered salute" is a slang term for an intentional base on balls. This is when the manager signals the pitcher to intentionally throw four balls to the batter, letting them go to first base without having to hit.

Four-Seam Fastball: A Straight Fastball

A four-seam fastball is a standard fastball. When thrown correctly, the batter sees all four seams of the ball spinning towards them. It's often called a "four-seamer."

Frame: Half an Inning or Catching a Pitch

• As a noun, a frame means half of an inning (either the top or the bottom half).
• As a verb, "framing" a pitch is when the catcher moves their glove or body in a way that makes a pitch look more like a strike to the umpire. Catchers try to do this to help their pitcher get more strike calls.

Free Baseball: Extra Innings

"Free baseball" is a fun way to say extra innings. Fans get to watch more baseball "for free" when the game is tied after nine innings.

Free Pass: A Walk to First Base

A "free pass" is a base on balls (a walk). It's called "free" because the batter doesn't have to hit the ball to get to first base.

Freeze the Hitter: A Surprise Strike

To "freeze the hitter" means to throw a strike that is so unexpected or perfectly placed that the batter doesn't even swing at it.

Friendly Confines: Wrigley Field's Nickname

The "friendly confines" is a famous nickname for Wrigley Field, which is the home stadium of the Chicago Cubs.

Frozen Rope: A Hard Hit or Throw

A "frozen rope" is a very hard-hit line drive. It can also mean a very strong throw from an outfielder.

Full Count: A Tense Moment

A full count is when the count is 3 balls and 2 strikes. This is a very tense moment! The next pitch will either be a strikeout (if it's a strike) or a walk (if it's a ball). The only way to keep the at-bat going is to hit a foul ball.

Full House: A Full Count or Full Stadium

• A "full house" can mean a full count (3 balls and 2 strikes), like the poker term.
• It can also mean that the stadium is completely full of fans.

Fungo: Practice Hitting

A fungo is a fly ball hit for fielders to practice catching. A coach or player tosses the ball up and hits it themselves, it's not part of a real game.

Fungo Bat: A Practice Bat

A fungo bat is a lightweight bat with a long, thin barrel. It's used to hit fungoes for practice. It's not safe or legal to use in a real game.

Images for kids

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  The right field foul line at Rogers Centre