Spelling bee at the bases
By Mark Newman / MLB.com
The Scripps Howard Spelling Bee has been a part of Americana since the Yankees had Murderers Row, and we salute Colorado Springs seventh-grader Pratyush Buddiga for hitting the game-winner Thursday with "p-r-o-s-p-i-s-c-i-e-n-c-e". Definition: Foresight. Use in a sentence: Clint Hurdle showed prospiscience in starting Greg Norton Thursday, and Bobby Cox showed prospiscience in starting Chipper Jones.
With help from our trusty Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary and our friends at Google.com, Day @ The Bases takes a fond look at some of the winning words over those last 75 years. And, of course, where baseball fits in.
abrogate (1926). Definition: To abolish by authoritative action. Use in a sentence: Kerry Wood had not beaten Pittsburgh in seven starts, but he finally was able to abrogate that Pirates jinx, 9-8, thanks to Mark Bellhorn's first career grand slam.
 Mark Bellhorn / IF |
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luxuriance (1927). Definition: The quality or state of being luxuriant, or yielding abundantly. Use in a sentence: The Yankees have shown a luxuriance of home runs this season, but when they resume the rivalry with Boston today in the Bronx, they will face the same Derek Lowe who has not allowed a home run in his last 92 innings.
fracas (1930). Definition: A noisy quarrel. Use in a sentence: Day @ The Bases can pretty much guarantee a fracas whenever Red Sox fans show up tonight in the stands at Yankee Stadium.
knack (1932). Definition: A special ready capacity that is hard to teach. Use in a sentence: Junior Griffey is 2-for-17 since returning from the DL and hitless in his last 12 bats, but he has a knack for carrying teams and we have a feeling he'll hit stride whenever the rolling Reds need him most in June.
propitiatory (1933). Definition: Intended to propitiate, which is to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of. Use in a sentence: Jim Thome and Ellis Burks were propitiatory to their increasingly impatient fans, each hitting two home runs as Cleveland closed out its series in Detroit with an 11-7 victory.
 Luis Gonzalez / LF |
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semaphore (1946): Definition: An apparatus for visual signaling, as by the position of one or more movable arms. Use in a sentence: Luis Gonzalez got his semaphore from Arizona third-base coach Eddie Rodriguez to swing away, and proceeded to hit a pitch into McCovey's Cove for a
1-0 victory over the Giants to win the series.
dulcimer (1949). Definition: A stringed instrument of trapezoidal shape played with light hammers held in the hands. Use in a sentence: The Reds are going back to old Riverfront/Cinergy Field to start one last June, and we'll remember the organist there and be thankful that Sparky and the Big Red Machine had no stinkin' dulcimer.
haruspex (1950). Definition: A diviner in ancient Rome basing his predictions on inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals. Use in a sentence: Not even a haruspex would have predicted that Minnesota would be leading its division in June, but the Twins guaranteed themselves of that by beating Anaheim in 10 innings and extending their AL Central lead to 2 1/2 games over Chicago.
cacolet (1959). Definition: A mule-carried military litter for the sick or wounded. Use in a sentence: San Diego needed a cacolet in that military town for Phil Nevin, after it was learned that he broke his arm diving for that grounder Wednesday night and is expected to miss six weeks.
smaragdine (1961). Definition: Emerald-hued. Thank you for nine smaragdine fields and a beautiful day for the national pastime.
esquamulose (1962). Definition: Having no scales. Use in a sentence: Rick Helling was a pretty good pitcher when he was esquamulose, but now that he is squeezed between Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson as a Diamondback, the right-hander is learning to rely on location from the masters and threw eight shutout innings to beat the Giants.
shalloon (1971). Definition: A lightweight twilled fabric of wool or worsted used chiefly for the linings of coats and uniforms. Use in a sentence: We're not sure if they use any shalloon over at Mitchell & Ness, but take a look at our Father's Day gift selection if you want to buy the authentic "coats and uniforms" worn by Major Leaguers the past century.
elucubrate (1980). Definition: To compose by lamplight; to work out or express by studious effort. Use in a sentence: Greg Vaughn came into the game with the lowest average (.120) among Major League regulars, but it was his double in the bottom of the 13th inning that helped Tampa Bay elucubrate a 4-3 victory over Oakland inside Tropicana Field.
antipyretic (1991). Definition: An agent that reduces fever. Use in a sentence: Although he finished May without a victory, Tim Hudson allowed just one run in six innings during that start at Tampa Bay and it was an antipyretic for worried A's fans.
lyceum (1992). Definition: A hall for public lectures or discussions, named for the gymnasium where Aristotle taught. Use in a sentence: The Fan Forum at MLB.com is a veritable lyceum where you can post messages with other fans, chat with baseball personalities and be one of the fans whose articles are published each weekday in "Your Opinion".
antediluvian (1994). Definition: of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible; made, evolved, or developed a long time ago. Use in a sentence: David Wells is almost antediluvian by baseball standards, but we will see him try again today against Derek Lowe as the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry resumes in the Bronx.
 Jason Marquis / P |
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euonym (1997). Definition: A good or appropriate name. Use in a sentence: Jason Marquis' last name isn't just a euonym for the Braves marketing department; it's one that Atlanta fans are now looking forward to in the Probable Starters.
chiaroscurist (1998). Definition: An artist in chiaroscuro, which is pictorial representation in terms of light and shade without regard to color. Use in a sentence: Paul Konerko and Frank Thomas work in black and white, and these two fine chiaroscurists rank among the AL's top five RBI leaders entering Chicago's road opener today at Cleveland.
logorrhea (1999). Definition: Excessive and often incoherent talkativeness or wordiness. Use in a sentence: Day @ The Bases expects a great deal of logorrhea in the stands tonight at Yankee Stadium, and it surely will lead to a fracas.
demarche (2000). Definition: A course of action; a diplomatic representation of views to a public official. Use in a sentence: Everyone is still talking about the lack of demarche Lou Piniella showed John Schulock by covering home plate with dirt the other night, and Day @ The Bases still wonders why catcher Dan Wilson obliged Schulock by sweeping the plate.
succedaneum (2001). Definition: A substitute. Use in a sentence: A minor league coach once told Greg Norton to think less about his average and more about getting hits off the bench, and in a rare start Thursday the succedaneum remembered that advice by hitting a first-inning grand slam in Colorado's 4-2victory at San Diego.
CUSTOMIZED JERSEY OF THE DAYNo. 10, Atlanta. Is Chipper Jones tough, or what? Just two nights earlier, he couldn't even stand up. He hobbled home on crutches after fouling a ball of his right calf, leaving a nasty bruise that figured to keep him out of the lineup a few days. Instead, he made a surprise pinch-hitting appearance Wednesday, then proclaimed himself ready to start again. On Thursday, Jones had three hits in his quick return to the lineup, helping Atlanta to a 5-2 victory over Montreal that keeps the Braves on top in the NL East. "I'm not trying to set an example," Jones said after singling three times, the last hit driving in a run in the seventh. "I just hate sitting on the bench."
LAST LICKS"Of course, everybody would like to have a higher average, but I'm just trying to give the team a cushion or try to get them back in the game with one swing. And fortunately enough, a couple of times this year I've been able to do that. That's all I'm really trying to do, is to help." -- Greg Norton
Mark Newman is a contributor to MLB.com and he can be reached atMarknewman2002@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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