The term "southpaw" is deeply embedded in baseball lexicon, primarily referring to a left-handed player, especially a pitcher.
Clayton Kershaw, a prominent left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.
Definition and Usage
Here's a breakdown of the term's various applications:
- A player who throws or pitches with the left hand; especially, a left-handed pitcher.
- A left-handed hitter.
- The left hand of a left-handed pitcher.
- Left-handed; e.g., "southpaw slants" refers to the pitches of a left-handed pitcher.
- To throw with the left hand.
Originally, the term was used for any left-handed player. For example, in 1884, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch referred to "Oscar Walker, the big south paw center fielder." By 1889, it was specifically used for left-handed pitchers, as seen in The New York Times: "South Paw Morris was not as effective as he is usually."
Historical Usage
The term "southpaw" has been in use since the 19th century:
Read also: The Rise of Impact Wrestling
- 1858: "[First baseman] Hallock, a 'south paw,' let fly a good ball into the right field." (New York Atlas, Sept. 12; Tom Shieber)
- 1869: "When 'old south paw' [first baseman Joe Start] puts his hand on a ball, 'out' is pretty sure to be called." (National Chronicle, May 15; Peter Morris)
- 1885: "They had always been accustomed to having their opponents hug their bases pretty close, out of respect for Morris' quick throw over to first with that south-paw of his." (Sporting Life, Jan. 14; David Shulman)
Theories of Origin
The etymology of "southpaw" is a topic of much discussion. One popular, though debated, theory suggests that the term arose from the layout of old baseball fields.
Supposedly, late 19th-century ballparks were laid out so that the pitcher looked in a westerly direction when facing the batter. The throwing arm of a left-handed pitcher would then be to the south-hence the name southpaw.
Diagram of a baseball field, illustrating the orientation of the pitcher and batter.
However, not everyone agrees with the sun theory. David Shulman noted that the term existed before ball fields were constructed according to the direction of the sun, concluding: "The story that the pitcher's left arm was on the south side of the slab is fanciful."
Tim Murnane, in The Sporting News (Aug. 6, 1908), disavowed the ballpark direction theory. He mentioned that a St. Louis newspaper referred to him as a southpaw in 1876 because he batted left-handed, and he popularized the term for left-handed pitchers.
Read also: Delving into Cruiserweight Boxing
Another theory, attributed to Charley Dryden, involves a left-handed player from a fictional town named Southpaw, Illinois. However, no such town exists, making this explanation less credible.
It's worth noting that the term "southpaw" predates its baseball usage. As early as 1848, it described the left hand or a punch with the left hand.
The Oxford English Dictionary lists an 1848 citation (Democratic B-hoy) of the term meaning a boxer's "punch or blow with the left hand": "Curse the Old Hoss, what a south-paw he has given me!"
Appletons' Journal (Dec. 16, 1871; Benjamin Zimmer) asked: "Why is the right hand the handiest? Is it so from instinct or education? For, anti-dexters and 'south-paws,' or left-handed persons, are rare exceptions to the rule."
Extended Uses
Beyond baseball, "southpaw" has found use in other contexts:
Read also: Watch Canelo on DIRECTV
- Any left-handed person.
- A boxer who stands with his right foot and right hand extended, counterpunches, and guards with his left; also, the left hand itself.
- A member of the political left wing; a radical.
In boxing, a southpaw stance involves leading with the right hand and foot, which is typical for left-handed boxers. The corresponding stance for right-handed boxers is called "orthodox."
The New York Times (Nov. 16, 1884) noted the exploits of "the famous South Paws", a Brooklyn bowling team.
Paul Mallon's "News Behind the News" column in the Schenectady [N.Y.] Gazette (Feb. 10, 1938): "House southpaws are generally known in the House as the 'mavericks,' not only because Texas Congressman Maury Maverick is the leader but because Webster's New International Dictionary defines a maverick as 'a motherless calf'."
Damon Runyon, Walter Winchell, and other newspaper columnists were noted for calling Communists "southpaws."
Evolution of the Term
The evolution of the term "southpaw" reflects its journey from a general descriptor of left-handedness to a specialized term in baseball and beyond.
Here's a table summarizing the evolution of the term "southpaw":
| Year | Usage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1848 | Boxer's punch with the left hand | Democratic B-hoy |
| 1858 | Left-handed first baseman | New York Atlas |
| 1869 | Left-handed first baseman | National Chronicle |
| 1884 | Left-handed center fielder | St. Louis Post-Dispatch |
| 1889 | Left-handed pitcher | The New York Times |