Glossary of baseball (G) facts for kids

A baseball game is full of special words and phrases! This guide will help you understand some of the cool terms used in baseball, especially those starting with the letter 'G'. Get ready to learn about players, plays, and equipment!

Gamer

A gamer is a player who always tries their hardest. They are willing to do whatever it takes for the team. Gamers often make the right play at the perfect time, especially in important games. This word can also describe great baseball equipment, like a super good glove.

Gap

The gap is the open space between the outfielders. When a batter hits the ball into this space, it's sometimes called a flapper or a gapper. It's a great place to hit the ball because it's hard for fielders to reach!

Gap Hitter

A gap hitter is a player who hits the ball with power into the gaps. They often hit many doubles, which means they reach second base.

Gas

When a pitcher throws a very fast fastball, it's called gas. It's like stepping on the gas pedal in a car to make it go fast!

Gascan

A gascan is a pitcher who gives up many runs quickly. It's like they are pouring gas on a fire, making the other team's score go up fast.

Gate Receipts

Gate receipts are all the money collected from ticket sales for a game or a series of games. It's simply called "the gate" sometimes. This money helps the team.

GEDP

GEDP is a short way to say "game ending double play". This happens when two players are out on the same play, and it ends the game.

General Manager

The general manager (GM) is in charge of running the business side of a baseball team. They handle things like choosing players, managing money, and making sure everything runs smoothly. The GM is different from the team's coach or owner.

Gem

A gem is a very well-pitched game by a pitcher. In a gem, the pitcher allows very few hits and maybe only one or two runs. The team almost always wins when a pitcher throws a gem.

Get a Good Piece of It

When a batter hits the ball right in the center with their bat, they are said to "get a good piece of it." This usually means they hit the ball very hard and well.

Get on One's Horse

When a fielder, usually an outfielder, runs extremely fast to catch a hard-hit ball, they "get on one's horse." They run as fast as a horse to try and make the play!

Get Good Wood

To "get good wood" on the ball means to hit it very hard. A batter who "gets good wood" hits the ball with a lot of power.

Get Off the Schneid

To "get off the schneid" means to end a bad streak. This could be a streak of not scoring, not getting hits, or not winning games. It means breaking out of a slump.

GIDP

GIDP is a baseball statistic abbreviation. It means a player "grounded into a double play". This happens when a batter hits a ground ball that leads to two outs.

Glove

A glove is a special padded leather glove that defensive players wear to help them catch and field the ball.

Types of Gloves

• A baseball glove or mitt is used for catching. Different positions need different glove shapes and sizes.
• A mitt is a special type of glove used only by the catcher and the first baseman. It's bigger and has no separate finger slots.
• Other fielders must use regular gloves with individual finger slots.
• Batters often wear batting gloves to get a better grip on the bat.
• Players who slide head-first often wear sliding gloves to protect their hands.

Glove Rules

It is against the rules to throw your glove to catch or stop a batted ball. If a player throws their glove and it touches the ball, the batter is usually given an automatic triple. This means all runners on base get to score freely. It's also against the rules to use your cap as a glove.

Having a Good Glove

A player who is very good at playing defense is said to have a good glove.

GM

GM is a short way to say general manager.

Go-Ahead Run

The go-ahead run is the run that puts a team in the lead. This happens when the score is tied or when a team was behind. For example, if the score is 4-4 and a runner scores, that runner is the go-ahead run.

Go Deep

• To "go deep" means to hit a home run.
• When a starting pitcher pitches for many innings, past the 6th inning, they are said to "go deep into the game." This means they are pitching very well and for a long time.

Go Down in Order

When a team's batters get no one on base in a half-inning, and only three batters come to the plate, they are said to "go down in order." This means the other team retired them quickly.

Go Quietly

When a team does not hit well in an inning, like going "1-2-3" (three batters, three outs), they are said to have "gone quietly." It means they didn't put up much of a fight offensively.

Go the Distance

See go the route.

Go the Route

A pitcher who throws a complete game "goes the route." This means they pitch the entire game without another pitcher taking over.

Go Yard

To "go yard" is another way to say a batter hit a home run. It means they hit the ball out of the ballpark or "ball yard."

Going Bridge

Going bridge is one more fun way to say a player hit a home run.

Gold Glove

The Gold Glove Award is given to the best defensive player at each position in Major League Baseball. It shows they are excellent at fielding.

Golden Sombrero

A player who strikes out four times in one game is said to have gotten a "golden sombrero." Three strikeouts is a "hat trick," and five is a "platinum sombrero."

Golfing

Golfing means swinging at a pitch that is very low, sometimes even in the dirt. It's like swinging a golf club. It can also describe hitting a low pitch well.

Gone

• When a ball is hit for a home run, an announcer might say, "That ball is gone."
• If a batter strikes out, especially against a powerful pitcher, someone might say, "He' gone!"
• Announcers also say "one gone" or "two gone" to tell you how many outs there are in an inning.

Good Eye

A hitter with a good eye is excellent at knowing which pitches are strikes and which are balls. They can avoid swinging at pitches that are just outside the strike zone.

Good Hit, No Field

This phrase describes a player who is a great hitter but not a good fielder. Players like Dick Stuart and Dave Kingman were known for being "good hit, no field."

Good Take

A "good take" is when a batter does not swing at a pitch that is very close to the strike zone but is actually a ball. This is especially impressive when the batter has two strikes.

Goodbye Mr. Spalding!

This is an exclamation a broadcaster might use when a batter hits a home run. Spalding is a famous company that makes baseballs.

Goose Egg

A goose egg means a zero on the scoreboard. If a team has a goose egg in an inning, they didn't score any runs.

Gopher Ball

A gopher ball is a pitch that a batter hits for a home run. It's called a gopher ball because the batter will "go for" it and hit it out of the park.

Got a Piece of It

When a batter hits a foul ball, especially with two strikes, they "got a piece of it." This means they barely hit the ball, but it was enough to stay alive and keep batting.

Got Him

"Got him" is a short way to say "got him out." This is often said when a fielder makes a play to get a runner out.

Got to Him Early

When a team's batters get many hits and runs off the opposing starting pitcher in the first few innings, they are said to "get to him early." This means they made the pitcher struggle right away.

Got Under the Ball

When a hitter swings slightly below the center of the pitched ball, they "got under the ball." This often makes the ball go high in the air for a fly ball out instead of a home run.

Grab Some Pine

"Grab some pine" is a taunt used after a strikeout. It means "go sit on the bench" because you're out.

Grand Slam

A grand slam is a home run hit when the bases are loaded. This means there are runners on first, second, and third base. A grand slam scores four runs, which is the most possible on one hit! It's also called a "grand salami."

Granny

A granny is a short and fun nickname for a grand slam.

Grapefruit League

The Grapefruit League is the group of Major League teams that have their Spring Training in Florida. Florida is known for its grapefruit trees.

Great Seats

"Great seats" is a sarcastic term for seats that are very high up in the bleachers, far away from the field. It's a joke because they are not actually great seats.

Green Light

A green light is permission from the manager for a player to be aggressive. For example, a batter might get the green light to swing on a 3-0 count, or a runner might get the green light to steal a base.

Green Monster

The Green Monster is a famous, very tall wall in left field at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. It's 37.2 feet (11.3 meters) high! Right-handed hitters often try to hit the ball off or over it. There are even seats on top of the Monster. The Red Sox mascot, Wally, is also called the Green Monster.

Groove a Pitch

When a pitcher throws a pitch right down the middle of the plate, they "groove a pitch." This is often a mistake, as batters can hit these pitches very hard.

Ground Ball

A ground ball (or grounder) is a hit that bounces along the ground in the infield. A bunt is not considered a ground ball.

Ground Ball with Eyes

A ground ball with eyes is a ground ball that barely gets past two infielders for a base hit. It seems like the ball "sees" the open spot where no one can field it. It's also called a seeing-eye single.

Ground Ball Pitcher

A ground ball pitcher is a pitcher who makes batters hit more ground balls than fly balls. Managers often use these pitchers when they need a double play.

Ground-Rule Double

A ground-rule double happens when a batter hits a ball into fair territory that bounces over a wall or fence without being touched by a fielder. The batter is automatically awarded second base. If a fan touches a ball in fair territory, the batter also gets an extra base.

Ground Rules

Ground rules are special rules for a specific ballpark. These rules are needed because of unique features of that park that the regular baseball rules don't cover.

Guess Hitter

A guess hitter is a batter who tries to guess what type of pitch is coming and where it will be thrown. Instead of reacting to the pitch, they try to predict it.

Gun

• A gun (or cannon) is a very strong arm, usually belonging to a fielder who can throw the ball very hard and accurately.
• To "gun" means to throw the ball very hard. For example, "The fielder guns the ball to first base and gets him out."

Gun Down

To "gun down" a runner means to throw them out. For example, a catcher might "gun down" a runner trying to steal second base.

Gyroball

A gyroball is a type of curveball that has a very sharp break. Some pitchers, like Daisuke Matsuzaka, are said to throw a gyroball. It was designed to reduce arm tiredness for pitchers and make the ball move in an extreme way.