Playing Hardball: The Dynamics of Baseball Folk Speech

The discipline of folklore is the basis for this study of the verbal expressions that are used by baseball players during games. The analysis of the personal interaction that occurs within the structure of the game provides a deeper understanding of the ethos of our national game and of American culture itself. This study is aimed at both the professional folklorist, in its broad scope of analysis and interpretation, and the baseball fan who realizes that there is much more to the game than just runs, hits, and errors.