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# The A to Baseball of Business Jargon
- URL: https://toodlepip.co.uk/blog-2008-08-baseball-business-jargon/
- Published: 2008-08-18T02:12:06.000Z
- Updated: 2019-01-22T15:45:17.000Z
- Author: Sam Michel
- Tags: Half-baked, Miscellany, baseball, bbc, radio4, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-23 15:06

![15239014_a76211d798_m.jpg](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/15239014_a76211d798_m.jpg "15239014_a76211d798_m.jpg")

After a hefty amount of procrastination this Sunday, who knew washing up could be such an engaging pastime, I got down to some heavy-duty email inbox clearance. To while away the hours and stem the rising panic of hundreds of unanswered emails, I delved into the calming, erudite and other- worldliness that is BBC Radio 4’s, [From Our Own Correspondent](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from%5Four%5Fown%5Fcorrespondent/default.stm?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) podcast.

Alongside the whimsical insights into the lives of others around the world, was a piece by [Kevin Connolly](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from%5Four%5Fown%5Fcorrespondent/7342495.stm?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) about baseball. Now, I’m a cricket fan with a proud record of attending all the [Twenty20 Cup](http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) Finals. OK, maybe a fair-weather fan, so shoot me, it helps me relax, as does the day-long refreshment that such events require. And I like baseball, too, despite only having managed one match so far.

![192330769_1cd335df5f_m.jpg](https://toodlepip.co.uk/content/images/legacy/192330769_1cd335df5f_m.jpg "192330769_1cd335df5f_m.jpg")

However, the prospect of a rather special second match looms. After the excitement of the [Digital Mission to NYC](http://digital-mission.org/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) that [Chinwag](http://www.chinwag.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) is running in mid-September, a trip is lined up to take in the penultimate [Yankee](http://yankees.mlb.com/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) game at [Yankee stadium](http://flickr.com/search/?q=yankee+stadium&ref=toodlepip.co.uk). Looking forward to it? You betcha.

So, baseball. A bit like rounders? A gauche version of cricket?

Well, yes, perhaps, but did you realise how much baseball has affected the day-to-day business jargon? As Kevin points out in the podcast, check out how the workplace lexicon owes more than a passing debt to the diamond:

- Taking a “baseline position”
- Prudent folks are “Covering all the bases”
- Getting to “second or even third base” (ok, less business, probably)
- Surprising ideas come from “left field”
- Wacky suggestions are “off the wall”
- Ideas are “pitched”
- If there’s a delay, why not take a “rain check”

Who knew? And there’s probably more besides. Consider the comparison with cricket. There’s certainly been times when a “sticky wicket” has made life difficult, and I often claim to be “stumped” and sadly, being “bowled over” is an all-too-rare event, unless I’m really getting carried away.

The big daddy boss of the workplace phrase, often motivational, never intentional, is Gus Hedges from [Drop the Dead Donkey](http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A637887?ref=toodlepip.co.uk). Sadly, Mr Google wasn’t much help in finding a comprehensive list of his (well, the writer’s) mastery. If I get a chance I’ll try and compile a list, those that remember the show will know what I mean.

**Update**: I got slightly obsessed and dug up as many posts as I could. For your delectation, I present the [corporate stylings of Gus Hedges](https://toodlepip.co.uk/blog-2008-08-corporate-gobbledygook/). Let [me know](mailto:help@toodlepip.co.uk) if you spot any more or leave a comment below.

\[Pics: courtesy of [wallyg](http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/192330769/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk) and [jeffreyputnam](http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyputman/15239014/?ref=toodlepip.co.uk)\]