Can Of Corn – The Origins of a Baseball Saying
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Can of corn is a baseball saying that is used to describe an easy catch. The saying is thought to have originated in the early 1900s.
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The first recorded use of the phrase “can of corn”
The first recorded use of the phrase “can of corn” in baseball came during the 1890’s. It was used to describe a high fly ball that an outfielder could easily catch. The phrase appeared in print in 1895, in an article in The Washington Post:
“Last inning Doyle made a fine running catch of Kelly’s can of corn.”
The author was not identified, but the context makes it clear that the term was already in use among baseball fans and players.
How the phrase “can of corn” came to be associated with baseball
The phrase “can of corn” is heard often in baseball, but its origins are a bit of a mystery. There are several theories about how the phrase came to be associated with baseball, but the most likely explanation is that it was simply a catchy rhyme that fans started using to describe a routine catch.
One theory suggests that the phrase comes from the early days of baseball when outfielders had to use corn cobs to knock down fly balls. However, there is no evidence to support this theory and it seems unlikely thatcorn cobs would have been used for this purpose when gloves were readily available.
Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the fact that corn is often canned (or stored in a can), and so an easy catch might be likened to “catching a can of corn.” However, this theory also seems unlikely as there is no evidence that the phrase was used in this way before the mid-20th century.
The most likely explanation for the phrase “can of corn” is simply that it was a catchy rhyme that fans started using to describe a routine catch. Over time, the phrase became synonymous with baseball and is now heard often by fans and commentators alike.
The different theories on the origins of the phrase
The phrase “can of corn” is a baseball idiom used to describe an easy catch. There are a few different theories on the origins of this phrase, but the most popular one is that it comes from the days when outfielders would use a basket or sack to catch balls instead of gloves. These baskets were often made out of corn husks, and so an easy catch would be likened to catching a can of corn out of a grocery store shelf.
Another theory posits that the phrase comes from the early days of baseball when outfielders would use their cap to catch balls instead of gloves. These caps were often made out of wool, and so an easy catch would be likened to catching a can of corn out of a grocery store shelf.
Whatever its origins, the phrase “can of corn” is now firmly entrenched in baseball jargon, and its meaning is understood by most fans of the game.
The most likely explanation for the origins of the phrase
The most likely explanation for the origins of the phrase “can of corn” is that it is a metaphor for something that is easy to catch. The phrase is thought to have originated in the late 1800s or early 1900s, and it was first used in reference to baseball. The phrase was used to describe a ball that was hit high in the air and easily caught by an outfielder.
