baseball terms
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South Siders
Acceptable on subsequent reference in copy to the Chicago White Sox. Avoid in headlines, as it weakens SEO.
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North Siders
Acceptable on subsequent reference in copy to the Chicago Cubs. Avoid in headlines, as it weakens SEO.
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qualifying offer
A one-year contract, at a set price, offered by an MLB team to a free agent who meets certain qualifications. If another team signs the player, the offering team receives draft-pick compensation. The abbreviation “QO” should not be used.
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MLB All-Star Home Run Derby
Should be written out fully on first reference in copy when referring to the event that takes place before the MLB All-Star Game every season. In headlines where the full name isn’t feasible, home run derby is acceptable. On subsequent reference in copy, simply derby also is acceptable. See: MLB All-Star Game
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MLB All-Star Game
On subsequent reference, All-Star Game is acceptable, as is Midsummer Classic, although the latter should not be overused. When used as an adjective, with some exceptions, do not capitalize nouns that the term defines: MLB All-Star break; MLB All-Star ballot; MLB All-Star selection Players named to the team are All-Stars. See: MLB All-Star Home Run
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National League pennant
Informal term for the championship of the National League in MLB. The “p” is never capitalized. In all headlines and on subsequent reference in copy, NL pennant is acceptable; simply pennant may be used on subsequent reference when it is clear which league is being referred to.
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American League pennant
Informal term for the championship of the American League in MLB. The “p” is never capitalized. In all headlines and on subsequent reference in copy, AL pennant is acceptable; simply pennant may be used on subsequent reference when it is clear which league is being referred to.
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injured list
The device by which injured MLB players can be removed from the active roster to be replaced by a healthy player, without removing the injured player from the 40-man roster. There are three categories of ILs: the seven-day (for paternity, bereavement, or concussion), the 10/15-day (for position players and pitchers, respectively) and the 60-day. All
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leadoff (n., adj.), lead off (v.)
One word when used as a noun or adjective: Johnny Damon is in center field and bats leadoff; Rickey Henderson hit 81 leadoff home runs in his career, an MLB record. Two words, not hyphenated, when used as a verb: Shohei Ohtani will lead off for the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth.