Hardly anyone watches baseball in the UK, yet the sport's language is everywhere. Adrian Chiles, a longtime fan, reflects on this paradox and his lonely pursuit of the game.
A Lonely Fandom
Chiles describes the isolation of following baseball in the UK. When his team, the Tampa Bay Rays, loses 6-1 to the Baltimore Orioles, there is no one to share his dismay. Even a thrilling 13-inning comeback feels hollow without a fellow fan to celebrate with. This began 15 years ago on a holiday to St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Rays play. Despite the ballpark being half-empty and the team unfashionable, he was hooked from the first game, inspired by coach Joe Maddon.
Travels and Tribulations
Chiles once dragged his daughter to Milwaukee for the Brewers' season opener in the snow. While he was engrossed, she was bored, and the sight of a vomiting child nearby ended the outing prematurely. He dreams of living in the US, where he could watch baseball endlessly at a dark-wood bar, sipping beer and discussing the game with fellow enthusiasts.
The Language of Baseball
Despite the sport's obscurity, British English is saturated with baseball terms. "Ballpark figure," "hit it out of the park," "play ball," "cover all bases," "touch base," "first base," "left-field," "curveball," "hardball," "three strikes," "step up to the plate," and "home run" are all common. In contrast, American football and basketball have contributed only "hail mary" and "slam dunk."
The Corporate Connection
Chiles suggests that baseball's dominance in early 20th-century corporate America led to its lingo infiltrating business English. Through management literature and US corporate cliches, these terms spread globally. Baseball's turn-based, procedural nature also mirrors how business operates—ordered, waiting for opportunities, progressing stage by stage.
A One-Way Street
Interestingly, American English has not adopted cricket terms, despite the UK's familiarity with baseball lingo. Chiles humorously imagines Americans struggling with "bowled me a googly" or "on a sticky wicket." He concludes by noting that, despite losing three games this week, the Rays remain the best team in the American League—just in case anyone asks.
