Ballpark Estimate (Ball Park Estimate; Ball Park Figure)
A "ball park (ballpark) figure" -- also called a "ball park (ballpark) estimate" -- is a rough guess, usually at the cost of something. The dimensions of a ballpark are known.…
Ballpark Figure (Ball Park Figure; Ball Park Estimate)
A "ball park (ballpark) figure" -- also called a "ball park (ballpark) estimate" -- is a rough guess, usually at the cost of something. The dimensions of a ballpark are known.…
Baltimore chop (baseball term)
The "Baltimore chop" in baseball (popularized by the Baltimore Orioles team in the 1890s) is when a batter attempts to hit the top of the baseball to drive it hard into the ground, so…
Banana Ball (golf)
A "banana ball" in golf is a ball that is sliced into a curved path (like the shape of a banana). "Banana ball" has been cited in print since at least 1947. "Banana…
Bandbox (Bronx Bandbox=New Yankee Stadium)
The new Yankee Stadium (opened in 2009) quickly gained a reputation for being home-run-friendly. The Colorado Rockies' Coors Field has allowed the most home runs in a single season, and the…
Barclays Center Classic (Brooklyn Hoops)
The Barclays Center is a sports arena in Brooklyn. In November 2011, Barclays announced that it would open its arena on November 9, 2012 with the college basketball "Barclays Center…
Baseball cards (Queens)=Tickets (Brooklyn)
Baseball cards are popular all over the country. But why is (or was) the game called "tickets" in Brooklyn? The following citation is the only one I have on this. 8 July 1977, New York…
Baseball’s Cathedral (Yankee Stadium)
Yankee Stadium (both the one opened in 1923 and the one opened in 2009) has been called the "Cathedral of Baseball or "Baseball's Cathedral." "Yankee Stadium is the…
Baseball’s Home Office (Yankee Stadium)
Yankee Stadium (both the one opened in 1923 and the one opened in 2009) has called the "Home Office of Baseball" or "Baseball's Home Office." "John Smoltz said Yankee…
Basketball (Basket Ball)
The game of basketball (first spelled "basket ball") became popular in 1892. The first college basketball game was played at Cornell University in February 1892. Supposed basketball…
Basketball Mecca (Madison Square Garden nickname)
Madison Square Garden is often called the "mecca," a puzzling term to many today. However, the term "mecca" was first applied to the second Madison Square Garden (at Madison…
Basketball on Grass (football spread offense)
A pass-happy pro football team with a spread offense is sometimes called "basketball on grass." The term has been cited in print since at least 1950, when it was observed in the Boston…
Battle of New York (New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers)
National Hockey League games between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers have been called the "Battle of New York." The term "Battle of New York" has been especially…
Battle of the ‘Burbs (Long Island Nets vs. Westchester Knicks)
The "Battle of the 'Burbs" (New York City suburbs) is when basketball's Long Island Nets (the development league team of the Brooklyn Nets) play against the Westchester Knicks…
Battle of the Boroughs (between New York City sports teams)
There is a "Battle of the Boroughs" when one borough challenges another borough in a competition. "Battle of the Boroughs" usually refers to a competition with at least one of…
Battle of the Hudson River or Hudson River Rivalry (New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers)
A National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils (1982-) and the New York Rangers has been called the "Hudson River rivalry" or the "Battle of the Hudson River." A…
Battle of the Hudson River or Hudson River Rivalry (New Jersey Nets vs. New York Knicks)
A National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils (1982-) and the New York Rangers has been called the "Hudson River rivalry" or the "Battle of the Hudson River." A…
Batty Borough (Brooklyn, home of the baseball-batty Dodgers)
The New York City borough of Brooklyn had the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team (the team also went under other names) from 1884 until 1957, when the team was moved to Los Angeles. Brooklyn went…
Big A (Aqueduct Racetrack nickname)
Aqueduct racetrack is popularly known as "the Big A." Clark Whelton (a former writer for the Village Voice and member of the mayor's communications office) told me that he believed…
Big Apple (football play at Davidson College, 1937)
During the national "Big Apple" dance craze of 1937, a "Big Apple" football play was developed at Davidson College (Davidson, NC) under head football coach Gene McEver…