SABR Style Guide
Introduction: What This Is and What This Isn’t
By Cecilia Tan, Publications Director
The SABR Style Guide is a reference that exists to guide SABR writers and editors in creating consistent content. Consistency is essential not only to avoid ambiguity in published materials, but for the sake of professionalism and quality. SABR members pride themselves on getting all the numbers right; this document will hopefully see to it they get all the letters and punctuation right, as well.
- Related link: Click here for La Guía de Estilo de Escritura de SABR— a Spanish-language translation of the SABR Style Guide
Why does SABR need a specific Style Guide all our own? Here are the two main reasons:
1) SABR is on the cutting edge of baseball research. We may be using terms and acronyms — as well as coining new words and expressions — that will not yet have reached mainstream dictionaries, style guides, or usage guides. We may even be correcting incorrect usages which have crept into other reference books.
2) Setting one standard reference for SABR publications settles any argument on which is definitive. There are many style guides and glossaries to choose from out there, and most are silent when it comes to baseball-specific terms and usage.
The two style guides most people tend to be familiar with (if they are familiar with any at all) are the Chicago Manual of Style and the AP Stylebook. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The AP Stylebook specifies some sports terminology and usage, for use by newspaper beat writers and their editors. (For example, they choose RBIs for the the plural of RBI because they consider RBI to be a formal term, requiring an “s” to pluralize it. For SABR purposes we chose RBIs over RBI for the plural for the sake of clarity and readability.) However, since most of the usage in the AP Stylebook is aimed at newspaper writers and the needs of the daily newspaper, it is NOT all appropriate for SABR publications. AP abbreviates all months, for example, to take up as little space as possible in a printed newspaper column. They not only eschew the “serial” comma, they discourage listing more than two items in any sentence. That rule obviously would not serve academic writing or historical research terribly well.
Readability is very important to SABR publications. To ensure maximum ease of comprehension on the part of the readers of any SABR journal or publication, despite the often intellectually challenging content, we stick with the Chicago Manual of Style. Chicago’s choices usually reflect improved readability and comprehension. Chicago (and SABR) emphasizes the serial comma to prevent the ambiguity that could come from such a sentence as “In his speech, Commissioner Landis thanked his parents, Ty Cobb and Effa Manley.” Inserting the comma after “Ty Cobb” removes the need for the brain to double back and re-parse the sentence as a simple list of three equal items, instead of potentially tripping up and assuming the clause that follows the single comma is a subordinate clause to “parents.”
One final bit of introduction before the material begins. If you are writing a paper for publication in a SABR journal or book, there are additional instructions for you regarding style of endnotes and bibliography/references to be found in SABR’s manuscript submission guidelines. Please check with the Publications Director for those (PubDir@sabr.org should reach whoever holds the position now and in the future).
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This document is divided into two main parts. Part 1 is a quick reference guide divided by topic, on some specific issues relevant to baseball writing and editing, including the formatting of stats, dates, and capitalization rules. Part 2 is an alphabetical list of terms in their SABR style.
Generally speaking, we expect most users reaching this guide online will use the “search” or “find” function of their web browser to hit the word or usage they need. Trying to figure out if there is a comma after Ken Griffey’s name, before “Jr.” or “Sr.”? Do a search for any of the following and you’ll come to the relevant entry: junior, jr, senior, sr, or comma.
There is, of course, no single correct way to use a reference like this. If you’ve never considered before whether home run is one word or two (I assure you it is two), or whether a home-run derby should have a hyphen (in generic terms it should, in reference to the old television program or current MLB competition Home Run Derby, it should not), you might want to peruse all the terms here to see what usage might surprise you. (And any term not found here, the fallback reference is Dickson’s Baseball Dictionary, however note Dickson’s is descriptive/all-inclusive, and this guide is meant to be prescriptive.)
Spoken language is always morphing and changing. The language of baseball evolves from a spoken vernacular used by players, coaches, and broadcasters, but it is our job as editors to fix what orthodoxy we can into the written expression of those words and phrases. Once upon a time “base ball” was two words. These days it is one. Home run is two words, and I expect it to remain two words throughout my lifetime, if this guide is used as intended.
Suggestions for changes, additions, arguments in favor of or against usage, et cetera are welcomed via email at PubDir@sabr.org.
Note: This style guide evolved from many sources, drawing initially on an ongoing document created by John Thorn and Richard Puff, which was later updated by Jim Charlton with the help of John Payne, Mark Alvarez, Scott Flatow, Clay Dreslough, Len Levin, Skip McAfee, and Norman Macht. Bill Nowlin then incorporated some information from style sheets provided by the Boston Globe, The Sporting News, the University of Nebraska Press, and SABR’s BioProject style sheet, and considering comments from Mark Armour, Jim Charlton, Fred Ivor-Campbell, Len Levin, Norman Macht, Cecilia Tan, Rod Nelson, and Nick Frankovitch. Any style sheet should be considered a work in progress.
Part 1
Abbreviations for Sabermetrics
Possessives/Adjectives of team names
Spellings of words follow Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition. Style rules follow the Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition. Grammar rules follow Words into Type, 3rd edition.
Abbreviations for baseball terms do not require periods. These abbreviations also are acceptable within a sentence, on second or subsequent mention. Do not start a sentence with an abbreviation. Spell out terms if there is any possibility of confusion arising from the use of an abbreviation or if the use of too many abbreviations has turned your paragraph into alphabet soup.
1B, 2B, 3B Spell out single, double, triple. Do not use 1B, 2B, 3B in text. For positions, spell out first base/baseman, second, third. Abbreviations are acceptable in tables and charts.
AA is acceptable for nineteenth-century American Association.
AL (not A.L.), NL, FL for major leagues, but spell out on first mention.
AS should be spelled out for the All-Star Game.
BA, not B.A., for batting average. Should be spelled out in an article unless the term appears often. In that case BA can be used.
BBWAA is alternatively used for Baseball Writers Association of America.
CWS for College World Series.
DH should not be used as an abbreviation for doubleheader. It is acceptable as an abbreviation for designated hitter.
ERA, not E.R.A.
FL for Federal League is acceptable
Spell out left-hander, right-hander. Do not use LH or LHP, RH or RHP.
HR should be spelled out home run in text, except in certain situations where multiple abbreviations are called for. Plural is HRs. Homer is equally acceptable for home run.
HBP is acceptable for hit by a pitched ball. Plural is HBPs.
IP is acceptable but spelling out is preferred for innings pitched.
IPHR is acceptable for inside the park home runs if the term is repeated a number of times within an article.
LCS is acceptable for League Championship Series. NLCS and ALCS are acceptable.
LOHR should be spelled out as leadoff home runs, unless it occurs often in the article.
LP do not use for “losing pitcher” except in tables/charts.
MGR should not be used for manager.
MLB for Major League Baseball is acceptable.
ML do not use for Major League Baseball or as a replacement for “major league” or “the major leagues.” Spell out.
MVP Award.
PCL for Pacific Coast League, but spell out all other minor leagues, except AA for American Association.
RBIs (note plural, for clarity’s sake), not R.B.I.’s and not RBI.
RH is acceptable in tables and lists for right-handed pitcher. LH is acceptable for left-handed pitcher in tables and lists. Otherwise, please spell out the words. RHP/LHP are not acceptable. Righty and lefty are okay, though a bit slangy.
SLG is preferable for slugging average.
Shutout is SHO, not SO, which can be confused with strikeout.
Strikeout. The preferred abbreviation is K, not SO.
SS, 2B, 3B, OF, RF, P, C for positions should be spelled out in text, abbreviated in tables, charts, or lists.
Co. is okay for Company
vs. is preferable to versus.
WS is acceptable for World Series. For the first time used in an article it should be spelled out as World Series.
WP is not acceptable for winning pitcher, and LP is not acceptable for losing pitcher, except in lists or tables.
Abbreviations for Sabermetrics
SABR acronyms for formulae:
If an acronym might be unfamiliar to the reader, spell it out on first mention, and abbreviate thereafter. New stats and analytical tools are being invented regularly, so if you do not see a term here, you may want to check other sources, such as the Fangraphs glossary and MLB’s glossary.
BABIP – batting average on balls in play
DER – defensive efficiency ratio
DRS – Defensive Runs Saved
FIP – fielding-independent pitching
OPS – on-base plus slugging
OPS+ – OPS-plus is a OPS normalized to a mean of 100. So an OPS+ above 100 is better than the average player, and an OPS+ of 110 is 10% better than the average.
RC – runs created
RCAA – runs created above average
UZR – ultimate zone rating
WAR – wins above replacement
wOBA – Weighted on-base average
wRC+ – weighted runs created plus. Runs created normalized to 100, so wRC+ of 120 is 20% better than the average, etc.
STATES—Spell out and set off with commas; (ex: the Hall of Fame is in Cooperstown, New York, near Utica.) EXCEPTION: in charts or lists, use the two-letter capitalized postal abbreviation: (Lynn, MA).
For addresses, the postal-code form for states may be used in text: Charlotte, NC. Generally, for readability, one may opt to spell out state names. “Mickey Mantle was raised in Commerce, Oklahoma.”
The two halves of California are capitalized: Southern California, Northern California. But when referring to states outside the context of an address, see the entry STATES in part 2.
Though always preferable to spell out country names in order to avoid confusion, one may use with discretion the two-letter abbreviations for countries set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Examples of these are:
Australia—AU
Colombia—CO
Nicaragua—NG
Japan—JP
The ISO’s complete list can be found online by clicking here.
An s should be added after the apostrophe in a proper name ending in the letter s when it would be sounded in speech.
Jones’s, but not Matthews’
Mays’s but not Mays’
An s should always be added after the apostrophe in a proper name ending in x or z:
Maddux’s
Cruz’s
[Exception: plural names ending in x, e.g. Red Sox’, not Red Sox’s, though Boston’s is a preferable construction.]
Years. These should be given full as in 1967, 1932. Do not shorten using an apostrophe. For centuries and decades, spell out centuries (eighteenth century, nineteenth century, twentieth century) and use numerals for decades (the 1960s, not the Sixties).
Do not use an apostrophe at the end of a team’s nickname when using the nickname to identify the team’s personnel, except when the word “the” precedes the team nickname.
Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., not Reds’ outfielder Ken Griffey Jr.
the Reds’ Ken Griffey Jr.
Also note that the plural form of a team name (Yankees, Cubs) does not need an apostrophe or a possessive form, nor a singular form, to be used as an adjective. ex: “a Yankees outfielder” not “a Yankee outfielder”, “the sorrow of Cubs fans” not “the sorrow of Cub fans.”
When giving a person’s birth and death dates, do so as follows:
Taffy Wright (1911–81)
Hank Aaron (1934—2021)
If a person is still alive, set as follows: Marty Pattin (b. 1943)
Following a colon, the first word is capitalized if it begins what by itself stands as a grammatically complete sentence. If the phrase following the colon is not a full sentence, the first word is never capitalized, unless it is a proper noun.
We couldn’t believe it: The catcher legged out an inside-the-park home run.
One question remains: Who ranks on the all-time consecutive-hits list?
The team was racked by injuries: pulled hamstrings, a broken finger, a UCL tear.
Titles are not capitalized unless they are used as part of the person’s name. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn is a formal title, but the commissioner Bowie Kuhn (lowercase). The only President capped all the time is the President of the United States, not those of a team or league.
Captain, manager, coach, and umpire are all lower case.
captain Derek Jeter
manager Tommy Lasorda
umpire Moriarty
Use capitalization for full terms.
American League, National League, American League East, Deadball Era, Negro League, Class A, Class B
For generic terms, use lowercase.
the league, the pennant in the West (note the exception: the Association for clarity)
Caps should be used for the World Series and the Series, but not world championship. Games in the World Series are uppercase: e.g., Game Three.
When naming awards, always capitalize the word Award.
Most Valuable Player Award (not Most Valuable Player award)
Cy Young Award
Rookie of the Year Award
Gold Glove, Gold Glove Award (both acceptable)
Silver Slugger, Silver Slugger Award (both acceptable)
AM and PM not A.M., P.M., not am, pm (for times of day). Use a space between the time and AM/PM. Typeset in small caps when possible.
Derivations of the South are capitalized: Southerner, Southern. The same is true of the North, East, and South. See also Midwest, Upstate New York, Northern California, Southern California, the East Coast, the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, New England.
Grapefruit League, Cactus Leagues – upper case after 1988 when MLB trademarked the names. Prior to that date, “grapefruit league” and “cactus league” were informal terms referring to the teams conducting spring training in Florida or Arizona.
Lowercase spring training.
Lowercase winter meetings.
the Big Red Machine. Not The Big Red Machine
Names of teams: Boston Red Sox. Use uppercase.
Organized Ball. Uppercase.
All-Star player, All-Star, All-Star Game are capitalized, especially when referring to MLB’s All-Star Game or All-Star selections. The word player is not capped. A generic all-star game or all-star selection is lowercase.
Opening Day (of season) is capitalized. The opening day of a series is not.
•Always use serial commas
•Do not use commas after introductory clauses of six words or less when the meaning is clear. Example: “On August 2 the Cubs split with the . . .” Use a comma in this circumstance only when the meaning would not be clear or the sentence would be awkward without one. Examples: “On Monday, Rick Monday….” and “In 1994, 850 home runs were hit….”
•Do use commas to set off numerical years. Example: “On August 1, 1942, the White Sox….” But: “In August 1942 the White Sox….”
•Do use commas to set off scores. Example: A four-run rally won the game for the Reds, 6-2….”
•Do use comma before the word “too” at the end of a sentence.
A 12-inning 7–6 loss
His 10th-inning two-run homer
A 7–5, 14-inning loss (use comma only when two numerals otherwise abut)
It is preferable to set off a score by a comma. The Tigers beat the A’s, 9–8. Defeated the Dodgers, 12–2, on May 17.
The serial comma is always used. This includes phrases in which three items are joined by “and” as well as “or,” ex: “An out could be made at first, second, or third base.” “Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, and Joe Tinker are an immortal double-play combination.”
See “Dates” for comma usage in dates.
One cent . . . nine cents
10 cents . . . 99 cents
One dollar . . . nine dollars
$10, $11, . . .
$1 million, $2 million
Months are spelled out. There is no comma between a month and the year, only between a day and year. Do not use ordinals on dates (May 2, March 31) except when discussing the Fourth of July.
September, not Sept.
September 1954
1980s, ’90s
May 2, 1970; May 2 (with no year); May 1970. “On May 2, 1970, it rained on the parade.” Commas surround the year. But when only the month and year are given, the commas are not used: “In May 1970 seven games were rained out.” Commas are not used when only a year is given in a prepositional phrase: “In 1927 no one knew how well the Yankees were going to do.”
In headings, capitalize the first word, the last word, and all other words except:
articles (a, an, and the)
prepositions (e.g., in, about) up to six letters
coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor)
Adjectives consisting of two separate words are connected by a hyphen
left-handed pitcher
ticket-office sales
first-base line
major-league pitching (but as “major league” is well understood as an adjectival phrase, no hyphen is acceptable). See section below on “major league(s)”
minor-league coaching staff (but as “major league” is well understood as an adjectival phrase, no hyphen is acceptable)
Adjectives and nouns consisting of two terms at least one of which is itself compound are connected by an en dash
major league–caliber
Los Angeles–San Diego game
first baseman–third baseman
A general rule for compounds is to connect with a hyphen or en dash if it’s not a noun:
the first-place Cubs (but “finished in first place”)
hit a career-high .320
Broken compounds:
full- or part-time outfielder
2-for-4
Avoid such awkward phrases as “NL-record-fewest”
Scores should be shown as 7–3 (en dash), not 7 to 3
He batted 1-for-4 (hyphens)
30-year-old (n. & adj.) (hyphens)
his 653-game playing streak
an 11-inning no-hitter
a five-run outburst
a third-place finish
the second-place Dodgers
an 11th-inning sacrifice fly
his 16th-inning RBI
player-manager, not player/manager
the whip pennant
inning-by-inning
week-to-week
game-by-game
month-by-month
play-by-play
two-for-three. 2-for-3 is acceptable. Be consistent within an article as to which style you use. Do not have some sentences read “one-for-four” (spelled out) and others “2-for-5” (numerical).
Mets-Giants game, not Mets/Giants game
“a NL hitter,” not “an NL hitter”
native Cuban, not Cuban native
Jr. and Sr. are not preceded by commas.
African American is not hyphenated, either as a noun or an adjective, like Italian American.
In much of the nineteenth century, the word League was routinely capitalized when it referred to the National League. It is acceptable for writers of nineteenth-century pieces to maintain this usage.
Individuals
A nickname should be set off in quotes if it is between the first and last name: Fred “Boot Nose” Hofmann. If the nickname is synonymous with the player, or well-known enough, no quotation marks are needed: Babe Ruth, Hoot Evers, Dummy Hoy, Bubbles Hargrave. A lesser-known nickname should be set off with quotes: Tony “Count” Mullane, Mark “Fido” Baldwin.
If the player has several nicknames, such as Buck and Bobo for Newsom, make sure that there is no confusion if both are used.
If the sobriquet is longer than one word, set it off with quotation marks: “Death to All Flying Things,” “Big Un,” The Apollo of the Box,” “Mandrake the Magician.”
Exception: Three Finger Brown.
If the nickname is a shortening of the last name, it is acceptable to use it without quotes. Make sure, however, that there is no confusion. In an article on Carl Yastrzemski, using Yaz without quotes is acceptable.
First names: First and last names can be used separately in an article, according to author’s preference: “Williams hit .406” is as acceptable as “Ted hit .406.” However, do not use “Connie” for Mr. Mack.
Teams
The name of a city (or state, in the case of Minnesota) may be used interchangeably with a team nickname, unless using the name of the city might be confusing as to which team is playing. “Cleveland beat Detroit, 7–3” is acceptable in a twentieth century article since any reader would know it is the Indians (now Guardians) and the Tigers. “Chicago beats New York, 7–3” is less clear and might be confusing.
Early nicknames of teams are acceptable, although often these are changed to the city rather than the nickname. Or referred to as the “Brooklyn Nationals” to show they were the NL entry from there. Any documented nickname used at the time by the press or fans is acceptable. Exception: the Washington Senators, who between 1905 and 1955 were re-named the Nationals (despite being in the American League). Strictly speaking, Senators should only be used for either the separate 1881-1891 team, the 1901-1904 team, or the separate franchise in Washington from 1961 through 1971, and Nationals used 1905-1955, unless it would create confusion. (Fortunately, the twenty-first century Washington Nationals are in the National League.)
For teams whose official names have changed, like the Senators/Nationals, and the Indians/Guardians, avoid anachronism.
The Indians traded away Rocky Colavito, but the popular player returned to Cleveland in 1965.
The Guardians didn’t let Jose Ramirez walk away.
Earlier nicknames of teams often used the manager’s name as the nickname—for example, the Hugmen, for Miller Huggins’ team, or the Robins for Wilbert Robinson’s team. Make sure there is no confusion.
If the nickname was one of several, then it may be used interchangeably if appropriate to the period, i.e. Robins and Dodgers for Brooklyn.
Exception: Pittsburg may be used for Pittsburgh, for the historical period before the city added the “h.”
The nickname of a team is referred to as who.
The Mariners, who have been in first place for two months, dropped to second today.
The city as team is referred to as that or which.
The win catapulted them over Seattle, which had held first place for two months.
Colt .45s
Spell out numbers from one through nine except when starting a sentence. Use numerals for numbers 10 and over. Numbers below 10 remain as numbers in tables and also when part of a series with numbers of 10 or above. Scores are always listed as numbers, not written out. (ex: A 3-2 lead. They won, 4-2.)
Two for his last 17
Three hits in 11 at-bats
Top 10, but top five, top three
With baseball-specific terms, the following styles should be used:
Batting average is .312, not 0.312.
ERA is 2.14
5 1/2 games out, not 5.5
Some sample uses of numbers:
first inning, seventh-inning stretch, 10th inning; first base, second base, third base, first home run, 10th home run; first place, last place. The pitcher’s record is now 6-5. The final score was 1-0. The batter went 1-for-4.
Heights are given in numbers. 6-foot-2, 5’6”
Round off batting averages and earned-run averages unless it is critical to the discussion.
Fractions of innings. The preferred style for SABR is 1/3 and 2/3 rather than .1 or .2.
Example: 5 1/3 innings worked, not 5.1 innings worked.
Fractions of games out. The preferred style is 5 1/2 games out of first place, not 5.5 games out of first place. Note that a single half should be spelled out as follows: “They were a half-game ahead in the standings.” (Not a 1/2 game, not “half a game”)
Numbers are hyphenated when spelled out. Twenty-one, not twenty one.
Numbers one through nine are generally spelled out in text. “The Cubs went on a nine-game winning streak”. Not “9-game winning streak.”
Percent is typically spelled out, but the percent sign may be used in text where it aids readability.
Ex: Only 1 percent of all major leaguers join this lofty group.
Ex: While left-handedness in occurs in just 11.6% of the general population, 13.5% of baseball players throw left-handed and 30.3% bat from the left side.
Years (1914, for example) that start sentences need to be spelled out, though it looks awkward. But try to rewrite the sentence so the year does not begin it.
Ex: Nineteen-forty-one was Dom’s breakout season.
Better: Dom’s breakout season came in 1941.
Golden rule: try to use words where every kind of writing except sportswriting would use words, but use numbers when dealing with the unique statistical elements of baseball. Some specifications:
•Spell out players’ ages. Heights are a stat and may be represented numerically (6-foot-2, 5’6″)
•Spell out numbers in quoted speech.
•Spell out numbers beginning a sentence, or re-edit.
•Spell out innings up to the 10th.
•Spell out numerical expressions: “Two or three hundred years ago.”
•Use figures for dates, dimensions, tallies (such as votes for HoF).
•Use comma in four-figure or larger numbers.
•Avoid ordinals (8th, 15th) for dates, but usages such as “53rd double” or “714th home run” are permissible.
Money and dates should be in numerals. (Exception: Fourth of July)
DIMENSIONS—Use numerals for all specific weights, heights, lengths, distances, etc. Spell out when no specific figures is used. (ex: the height of the pitching mound was originally established at 15 inches with the plate 45 feet away. Since that time it has varied from that distance to more than sixty feet. He threw the ball more than seventy-five feet.) Heights are given in numbers, e.g., 6-foot-2 or 5’10”.
GAME NUMBERS
Game One (of World Series)
game one (of a regular season series)
Exception: Website headlines, infographics, and other uses of display type may use numerals (“Game 1”) in appropriate settings.
For the titles of newspapers, italicize both the city and the newspaper’s title, even if the city is not included in the newspaper masthead: Newark Star-Ledger, Brooklyn Eagle. It is acceptable for newspapers that have multiple editions to list either the specific edition (Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago Sunday Tribune) under either the specific edition title (if known) or the main title (Chicago Tribune).
No cap or ital should be used for “the” in either newspapers or magazines, with the exception of The Sporting News (because of its common usage). Also, if The Sporting News is mentioned often in an article it is acceptable to intersperse the abbreviation TSN after the first time it is spelled out. We do not ital “The” in the Wall Street Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, etc… Shortened versions of titles may be used after first mention in text.
Ex: While columnists at the Boston Globe were uncharitable to Little, it was the Globe’s policy not to interfere in team management.
Possessives/Adjectives of team names
As per Major League Baseball’s guidelines, the plural form should be used when a team nickname precedes a player’s position. ex: “The best Yankees outfielder in decades.” “Yankees fans were disappointed by the loss.” (Plural nouns can nearly always be used as adjectives, as in “teachers union.”) But note possessive use with apostrophe: “The Yankees’ best outfielder missed over 70 games.”
When team nickname precedes player’s name, use the singular form:
Yankee Red Rolfe; the Yankee Red Rolfe, (but Yankees pitcher David Cone)
Red Sox and White Sox are singular: “It came down to the last Red Sox on the bench: Doug Mientkiewicz.”
When two or more players:
Indians Bob Lemon, Warren Spahn, and Rocky Colavito combined . . .
No apostrophe for:
The Yankees lineup, front office, dugout, etc.
Note the following:
The Braves’ 14–7 victory, win, championship, win streak, attendance.
A Braves victory, win, championship, win streak, attendance record. (Here the team name functions as an adjective, and so does not require an apostrophe.)
The Red Sox’ winning season…
The possessive of A’s is also A’s.
The two teams’ expenses.
Bibliography listings and endnote citations have different formats. Bibliography, since it is listed alphabetical by author, requires last name to come first, while endnotes come in numbered order, so they are first-name first.
Please note that there is a difference between bibliographic references and endnote references. If using numbered notes within the text of an article, use the endnotes punctuation and style found in the Chicago Manual of Style and detailed in this style guide under Endnotes. If using a list of bibliographic references at the end, use the bibliography style found in Chicago as well.
It is not necessary or desired in SABR publications to duplicate bibliographic information in both Sources and Notes. If the Sources list merely duplicates information contained in the Notes, it should be deleted. In the case where a Sources list contains references that are not duplicated by specific citations in the Notes, then it should be kept as a tool for future researchers on the subject.
Bibliography
A quick guide:
Bibliographies should conform to the following style of punctuation:
Books: Author (last name, first name). Title. City: publisher, year.
Lowenfish, Lee. The Imperfect Diamond: A History of Baseball’s Labor Wars. New York: Da Capo Press, 1991, 34.
Chapters: Author (last name, first name). “Title of Article.” In Author of Book, Title of Book. City: publisher, year, pages.
James, Bill. “Musings of a Statistician.” In George Will, Baseball: The Game. New York: Doubleday, 2006, 42-54.
Stengel, Casey. “Musings of a Manager.” In In the Dugout: An Anthology of Ballplayers’ Writings, ed. Douglass Wallop. Boston: Beacon Press, 1950.
For periodicals: Author (last name, first name). “Title of article.” Periodical Title volume, number [if available] (date), pages.
Chamberlain, Ryan. “Boxing and Baseball in the Nineteenth Century.” National Pastime 1, no. 1 (1982): 28–37.
For multiple authors: first author (last name, first name). Subsequent authors (first name last name). Separate all elements by commas.
Gammons, Peter, and Terry Pluto.
Do not number the bibliography citations. They should be in alphabetical order by author. If there is no clear author, as in many large encyclopedias, list by title. Anonymous works may be listed under “Anonymous.”
Endnotes
Use endnotes, not footnotes, because all notes should be listed at the end of the article (not on each individual page of a document). All notes should be represented by superscript numbers in the text, and notes should all be listed at the end of the article. Numbers must be used consecutively and each number can be used only once.
Inclusive page numbers should be connected by an en dash, not a hyphen.
All titles should be in set in title case, not sentence case. Endnote citations should conform to the following style of punctuation:
-Be sure to italicize book titles, major newspapers, and journals/magazines.
-Do not use the abbreviations “pp.” “pg.” p.” et cetera for page numbers. Page numbers when given should be preceded by a comma and be indicated merely by the number.
-Use American style dates month, day, year. (i.e. April 17, 1967). Note no “th” or other ordinal on the number of the day. This is true in text writing as well, i.e. you would write “Opening Day was on April 4 at the big ballpark.” not “April 4th” No “nd” or “rd” either. No ordinals on dates.
-End each note with a period.
For books: Author (first name, last name), Title (city of publication: publisher, year), page numbers.
Lee Lowenfish, The Imperfect Diamond: A History of Baseball’s Labor Wars (New York: Da Capo Press, 1991), 14–19.
For periodicals or journals: Author (first name, last name) “Title of Article,” Periodical volume, number [if available] (date), page numbers.
Ryan Chamberlain, “Boxing and Baseball in the Nineteenth Century,” The National Pastime 1, no. 1 (1982), 28–37.
Trent McCotter, “Hitting Streaks Don’t Obey Your Rules,” The Baseball Research Journal 37 (2008), 62-70.
Newspaper articles:
if bylined:
Mark Feinsand, “A-Rod to Skip HR Derby,” New York Daily News, June 30, 2008.
if not bylined:
“Selig Announces Format Change,” Washington Post, May 30, 1996.
If including URL, use the actual working URL, include access date and follow with a period:
“Selig Announces Format Change,” Washington Post, May 30, 1996. Accessed April 2, 2022, https://washingtonpost.com/1996-30-5/selig-announces-format-change.
Personal interviews:
Joe Torre, telephone interview, May 8, 2007.
Websites: When possible cite as if from a newspaper or magazine, but include the full URL to the article. “Date accessed” may also be added.
Punctuation which ends a sentence (period, question mark, exclamation mark) typically goes inside the quotation mark. A colon or semicolon, typically outside the quotation mark, and exclamation points and question marks may need to be placed outside of the quotation mark if not part of the quoted material.
The umpire asked, “Is there a doctor in the park?”
Did that man say, “I’m a doctor”?
Yes, he said, “I’m a doctor”!
Wally Schang’s manager said, “We wuz robbed!”
“There’s no joy in Mudville”; “Say it ain’t so, Joe”: Such phrases have become cliches from overuse.
Books, magazines, and publications are italicized. (In titles of publications, initial articles are kept in roman and lowercase, with the exception of The Sporting News.) Names of plays and musicals are in quotation marks. Song titles are in quotation marks; albums should be italicized. Dissertations, articles, and chapters in books are in quotation marks. All are set in title case.
The manager refused a phone call from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Gary Cooper portrayed Lou Gehrig in the 1942 film The Pride of the Yankees.
Moneyball by Michael Lewis introduced some readers to sabermetrics.
Jazz Chisolm won’t be taking a role in “Hamilton” on Broadway, but New York baseball fans would enjoy seeing his footwork on the basepaths.
Part 2
A
A.M.—set in small caps with periods.
adviser—never advisor
age—always expressed in numerals
5-year-old daughter, not five-year-old daughter, 52-year-old stadium
The 19-year-old became the youngest player to hit a homer in the World Series.
AL (not A.L.)
ALCS—abbr. for American League Championship Series (can use LCS or LDS on second reference)
all-star (adj.)
All-Star (noun) Always capitalize All-Star, even to write: Glavine was an All-Star—unless you are using all-star as synonymous with great player
All-Star Game. Refers only to MLB’s annual game. Generic all-star games are not capitalized.
all-time (adj.) e.g. his all-time high
all time (noun phrase) e.g. he was the greatest hitter of all time
American Association
American League
appeal play
archrival
around the horn
ARTICLES, ESSAYS, SONGS, POEMS (except of epic length)—in quotation marks
A’s—abbr. for Oakland Athletics (use for possessive too)
AstroTurf. AstroTurf is the correct form for this trademarked product; do not use it to refer to other brands of artificial turf. Note internal capital T. Artificial turf is the generic term. Note: in 2023, the only MLB stadium using AstroTurf is Toronto’s Rogers Centre, which uses AstroTurf’s “RootZone Diamond Series” product line, which may still be referred to as “AstroTurf.” Other brands of artificial turf include FieldTurf and Shaw Sports Turf.
at-bat (n.)
at-bat (adj.)
attendance—follow rules for expressing numbers and numerals in millions
B
backhand
backstop
back up (v.)
backup (n.) (adj.)
bad-ball hitter (n.)
bad hop
ball boy / ball girl
ballclub
ball field
ball three
ballgame
ballpark
ballplayer
ball team
bang-bang play
barehanded (v.) (adj.)
baseball (base ball as two words may be used in nineteenth century articles for effect, particularly in article or book titles)
baseballists
baseball field
baseball park
base coach
base hit
baselines
baseman
base on balls
basepath(s)
baserunner
baserunning (n.) base-running (adj.)
bases-empty home run
bases-loaded home run
bases on balls (pl.)
basestealer, basestealing (n.) base-stealing (adj.)
Baseball Writers’ Association of America BBWAA is acceptable
Basic Agreement
basket catch
batboy / batgirl
bat day
batsman
batter’s box
batter’s eye
batterymate
BATTING— Represent with numerals adjectivally. ex: He had a 2-for-5 day. (Or: “In the game he went 2-for-5” or “…two for five.”)
BATTING AVERAGE—always use numerals
batting glove
batting helmet
batting order
batting practice
batting-practice pitch
batting streak
beanball
bench-clearing (adj.)
bench warmer
big league (n.) big-league (adj.)
big-leaguer (n.)
blooped
bloop single
boo, booed, booing – never booh
BOOK AND FILM TITLES—italicize
box score
box seat
brain trust
breaking ball
break up—e.g., break up a double play
brush back (v.)
brushback pitch
Buffalo Soldier
bullpen
bullpen-by-committee (n. & adj.)
bull’s-eye but the bull’s eyes
C
called strike
call-up—e.g. he was a September call-up call up (v.)
can’t-miss (adj.)
career high (n.) but career-high (adj.)
caught stealing, a (n.)
cellphone
center field (n.)
center-field (adj.)
center fielder
chalk lines
change of pace
changeup (n.) (adj.)
change up (v.)
charley horse
checked swing (n.) checked-swing (adj.)
choke up on the bat
Class A
Class AA
Class AAA
cleanup (n. & adj.)
cleanup hitter
cliffhanger
closed stance
Club—capitalized only when part of the full title: “the Texas Rangers Baseball Club,” but “the Texas club.”
clubhouse
club owners
clutch hitter
coaches’ boxes, coach’s box—Note distinction: third-base coach’s box, the first-base and third-base coaches’ boxes.
coaching box
co-captain
comeback (n.)
comebacker
COMMA USAGE – See Part 1
Commissioner—Always capped when attached as a title to the name of a specific commissioner (ex.—Last night, Commissioner Fay Vincent announced . . .; Fay Vincent, the commissioner of major league baseball, last night announced . . .’ Commissioner Fay Vincent last night held a news conference. The commissioner announced that . . .)
complete game
complete-game victory
contact hitter
control pitcher
corked bat
COUNT—always use numerals separated by an en-dash (ex: he hit a 3-2 pitch for a homer)
Cracker Jack Old Timers Classic
crackerjack (adj.) as a synonym for top-notch
crew chief
curveball
curveballer
cut fastball
cut off (v.)
cutoff man (n.)
cutoff play
cutter (for cut fastball)
Cy Young Award
D
D-Backs (acceptable on second use for Diamondbacks)
dark horse (n. & adj.)
data set
DATES—See “Dates”
day game
Deadball Era
DECADES – Use numerals. Full decade (1880s, 1970s) preferable to contraction (avoid ‘70s, ‘80s). Apostrophe not to be used for pluralization. 1970s, not 1970’s.
Stolen base numbers declined throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
The uniforms were typical of an 1880’s style.
deep right-center
delayed steal
Depression
designated hitter (DH acceptable.)
designated-hitter rule
DH rule
DH’d, DH-ing (acceptable for “served as the designated hitter”)
diehard
DIMENSIONS—See “Dimensions” in Part 1
disabled list
DL (for “disabled list,” in usage through 2018. In 2019 MLB switched to “IL” for “injured list.”)
Division Series
Dominican winter league, but Arizona Fall League
Double A
double clutch
double figures (n.) double-figure (adj.)
doubleheader
double play
double-play (adj.)
double steal
drop-off
E
earned-run average ERA acceptable on first use. No periods between letters.
Eastern Division
eephus
ellipses—No space between periods in ellipses. Use three dots to indicate missing text, four dots if the missing text includes the end of the sentence.
EM DASHES—no space before or after
EN DASHES—used in won-lost records (5–1); scores; use as a replacement of the word “to” (for example: He played 1959–65.)
ensure
ERA (no periods)
extra-base hit
extra bases
extra-inning game
F
face-down (adj.)
fadeaway
fair ball
fall classic
fan base
farmhand
fastball
Federal League
fielder’s choice
fireballer, fireballing
first-ball hitter
first base
first-base coach
first baseman
first class (n.)
first-class (adj.)
firsthand
first ups
flamethrower, flamethrowing
flied out (not flew out)
Florida Instructional League
fly ball (n.)
fly-ball (adj.)
fly chaser
fly out (n.) fly out (v.)
follow-through (n.)
force out (n.)
force out (v.)
force play (n.)
forkball
FORMAL TITLES—Always capitalize the title (ex: Last night, President Larry Lucchino attended…; Larry Lucchino, president of the Red Sox . . .)
40–40 Club—numerals separated by en-dash
foul ball
foul line
foul out
foul pole
foul territory
foul tip (n.) foul-tip (v.)
four-bagger
FRACTIONS 5 1/2 games out, not 5.5, also 2 1/3, not 2.1 innings pitched. – See “Numbers” in Part 1
free agent (n.) (adj.)
free-fall
free-swinger
front-runner
full count (n.) full-count (adj.)
full-time (adj.) “He is a full-time player.” (adj.),
full time (adv.) “He worked full time at the mill.” (adv.)
fungo
fungoes
G
game day
GAMES BEHIND – See “Numbers” in Part 1
game-ending RBI
game plan
game time
game-tying
game-winner
game-winning RBI (also GWRBI, a stat which had short-lived popularity before being deemed largely meaningless)
Gas House Gang
general manager—do not capitalize when used as title: “…Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey.” It is acceptable to use GM (no periods) on second reference.
glove man
glove work
Gold Glove, Gold Glove Award (both acceptable)
go-ahead run
grand slam (n. & adj., but never use the words home run with grand slam)
grandstand
greaseball
groundball (n.)
ground-ball (adj.)
grounds crew
groundout (n.)
ground out (v.) as a verb, past tense, grounded out (not ground out)
ground-rule double
groundskeeper
guess hitter
H
half inning (n.)
half swing
Hall of Fame the formal title is the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but Hall of Fame is acceptable on subsequent mention
Hall of Famer (not Hall-of-Famer)
hanging curve
hard-hit (adj.) ex: a hard-hit ball
hard-hitting (adj.) ex: a hard-hitting batter
hard-nosed
head-first slide
HEIGHTS – See “Numbers” in Part 1
hidden ball trick
high 90s (n.) high-90s (adj.)
hit-and-run (n. & adj.) hit and run (v.)
hit batsman
hit-by-pitch
hit-by-pitches (pl.)
hit-to-walk ratio
hitless
HIT STREAKS – always use numerals: DiMaggio’s 56-game streak
hitters park
holdout (n.)
hold out (v.)
home field
home-field advantage
home plate (n.) home-plate (adj.)
homer
home run (HR is acceptable in tables or where it improves readability; HRs plural)
home run hitter home-run swing (adj.) home-run trot (adj.)
home run hitting (n.) (Ex: He excelled at home run hitting.)
home-run-hitting (adj.) (Ex: The home-run-hitting outfielder was overjoyed.)
HOME RUNS—use numerals when using stats
homestand
homestretch (.n)
home team—two words, either as noun or adjective
hometown (adj.) home town (n.)
hook slide
horsehide
hot corner
hotfoots
Hot Stove League (slang for winter offseason discussions of MLB)
I
IL may stand for “injured list” or for “International League,” dependent on context
infield
infield fly
infield hit
infield out
infielder
innings pitched
in play
inside corner
inside hitter
inside-the-park home run
instructional league (unless part of proper name, e.g. Florida Instructional League)
interleague
intraleague
introductory clause—generally, do not follow it with a comma unless the clause is more than six words in length, but for exceptions see the entry COMMA.
it’s—use for “it is” but not for “it has.”
J
journeyman
junkballer
junior — Abbreviated Jr. Do not precede by a comma (Ken Griffey Jr.) unless the individual in question prefers it.
junior circuit, senior circuit
junk pitcher
K
K’s (plural)
keystone combination
knockdown pitch
knuckleball
knuckleballer
knuckler
L
L’s (plural, short for losses)
LA – no periods in city abbreviations, but try not to abbreviate city names in narrative text.
ladies night
laidback (adj. preceding the noun: “a laidback pitcher”) (following the noun: “the whole team was laid back”)
late-inning (adj.)
late-season
leadoff (n. & adj.) lead off (v.)
lead runner
League Division Series, or League Championship Series ALDS, ALCS, etc. or, in context, LDS, LCS acceptable on second reference.
left-center (n.) left-center field (n.) left-center-field (adj.)
left field (n.) left-field (adj.)
left fielder
left-handed (adj. & adv.) left-handed-hitting (adj.)
left-hander
lefty
lid-lifter (first game of a doubleheader or series)
line (v.)
line drive (n.) line-drive (adj.)
line score(s)
line out (v.)
lineout (n.)
lineup (n. & adj.) line up (v.)
Little League—always capped when referring to the Little League organization; do not use as a generic term for youth baseball.
Little League home run (for when fielders making two or more errors allowed the batter to score)
Little Leaguer
LLHR Little League home run
lob (n. & v.)
LOB—left on base
locker room
long ball (n.)
long-ball hitter
long relief
longtime (adj.)
loop (adj. & v.)
low-ball hitter
low-key
M
Mackmen
MAGAZINES/JOURNALS/BOOKS/FILMS/PLAYS—italicized – See “Newspapers and Periodicals” in Part 1
magic number
major league (n.)
major-league (adj.) If this term is used as part of a triple-word modifier, insert an en dash after the word league. E.g., “Ortiz is a major league–caliber hitter.”
Major League Baseball (as a business entity) MLB OK on second use
Major League Baseball Players Association (no apostrophe) – can refer to as the MLBA or the players association (lower case) on second reference
major leaguer
makeup (n. & adj.) make up (v.)
manager—do not capitalize when used as a title: “Giants manager John McGraw.”
matchup (n. & adj.) match up (v.)
Mendoza line
Mexican winter ball or Mexican winter league
mid-1950s
mid-90s (referring to pitch speed) but: low 90s or high 90s middle 90s is OK. If used as adjective, then low-90s fastball is correct.
midseason
midsummer
miles per hour—mph is acceptable; always use numerals (ex: he threw a 98-mph fastball)
mind-set
minor-league (adj.)
minor leaguer
minor leagues
mop up (v.)
mop-up man (adj.)
Most Valuable Player
moundsman
mph (lower case, for miles per hour)
MVP—no periods
million—4 million, 4.3 million, $4 million
N
nailbiter
National League or NL (not N.L.)
National League Championship Series (NLCS acceptable after first use)
national pastime
Negro Leagues
Negro Leaguer
NEWSPAPERS: Italicize the name, and the city (Chicago Tribune), but not the word “The” except in the case of The Sporting News. – See “Newspapers and Periodicals” in Part 1
NICKNAMES: Quote nicknames when used with full names: Oscar “Happy” Felsch. But thereafter and when NOT using full name, simply say Happy Felsch, Rube Marquard, Babe Herman, Kiki Cuyler.
night game
nightcap
nineteenth century (n.)
nineteenth-century (adj.)
NL
NLCS—abbr. for National League Championship Series
no-decision
no-hit (adj.)
no-hitter also one-hitter, etc.
no-hitters
non—words beginning with the prefix are typically closed up, as in nonroster.
NUMBERS – See “Numbers” Part 1
O
O prefix on stats for pitches outside the strike zone (O-Swing%, O-Contact%)
off base
offday
offseason (n. and adj.)
off-speed pitch
oh-fer
okay
old-timer (n.)
old-timer’s
Old-Timers Day
on-base average or on-base percentage
on deck
on-deck circle
one-handed catch
one-hopper
one-run game
one-sided
one-two-three (adv.)
ongoing
opening day—lower case as generic, upper case to refer to a specific season’s Opening Day.
opposite field (n.) opposite-field (adj.)
Organized Baseball—archaic term, no longer recommended because of ambiguous meaning (as well as racist usage). For leagues associated with Major League Baseball, use the term “affiliated ball.” For major and minor leagues not associated with MLB, use designations such as professional, independent, semipro, etc.
outfield
outfielder
outhit (v.)
outpitch, outpitched (v.)
out pitch (n.)
outplayed
overcoaching
overrun (v.)
over-the-shoulder catch
overthrow (n. & v.)
P
PM—set in small caps when possible, no periods
palmball
part-time (adj.) “He was a part-time salesman.”
part time (n. or adv.) “He worked part time as a salesman.”
passed ball
passed balls
pastime
payback pitch
payoff pitch
pennant race
pennant winner
pennant-winning (adj.)
PERCENTAGES – See “Numbers” Part 1
perfect game
PhD (no periods in most abbreviations)
phenom
pickoff
pickoff play
pick off (v.)
pinch hit (n.)
pinch-hit (adj. and v.)
pinch-hitter
pinch homer (n.)
pinch run (n.)
pinch-run (adj. and v.)
pinch-runner
pinch single
pine tar
pinstripes
pitch clock
pitch timer
pitchers duel (no apostrophe necessary)
pitcher’s mound
pitcher’s park
pitchout (n. & adj.)
pitch out (v.)
place hitter
plate appearance
platoon player
play-by-play (n. & adj.)
player-manager
player to be named later (even though this is redundant)
Players’ League
playoff (n. & adj.)
play off (v.)
playoffs
pop double
pop fly
pop out (v.)
popout (n.)
popup (n.)
pop up (v.)
port side
portsider
POSSESSIVES – see “Possessives/Adjectives of team names” in Part 1
POSITIONS – Spell out in text (pitcher, catcher, right fielder, first baseman, etc) Where abbreviation is warranted, use upper case P, C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF, CF, DH.
postgame
postseason (n. and adj.)
postwar
power hitter
powerhouse
PREFIXES—Most prefixed words (anti, inter, mis, multi, non, pre, re, semi, sub, super, un) are not hyphenated. Words that begin with well- are hyphenated when they are adjectives preceding a noun. When they follow the noun, they are open. E.g., “It was a well-pitched game” but “The game was well pitched.” Also hyphenate when following word begins with capital (“pre-Landis era”), or when prefix is doubled (“sub-subparagraph”).
pregame
preseason
press box (n.) press-box (adj.)
prewar
production—lower case
pull hitter
Punch-and-Judy
punchout
putout (n. & adj.)
put out (v.)
Q
quick pitch (n.)
quick-pitch (v.)
R
RBIs—plural
rain check
rain delay
rainout
record-holder
red-haired
regular season (n.) but regular-season (adj.)
relief pitcher
reliever
renegotiate
resign (as in to resign a job)
re-sign (as in to re-sign a contract)
ribbies
right-center, right-center field
right field (n.)
right-field (adj.)
right fielder
right-handed (adj.)
right-hander
righty, righties
road trip
rollercoaster
rookie
rookie league
Rookie of the Year
rosin bag – never resin
rotator cuff (n.)
rotator-cuff (adj.)
Rotisserie league
round-tripper
rubber game
Rule 5 draft
run and hit
run batted in (s.) runs batted in (p.) Abbreviate as RBI for singular, RBIs for plural.
rundown (n.)
run-down (adj.)
run down (v.)
run-in (adj.)
runner-up, runners-up
run-and-hit
rundown play
S
sacrifice bunt
sacrifice fly
sacrifice hit
sandlot (n., adj.)
sandwich pick—OK as shorthand for compensation pick in the draft
scoreboard
scorecard
scorekeeper
scores—use numerals; separate by en dash
screwball
screwballer
scuffball
season high (n.) but season-high (adj.)
season opener (n.) but season-opening (adj.)
second base, but second-base umpire
second baseman
second place (n.)
second-place (adj.)
seeing-eye single
sellout (n. & adj.) sell out (v.)
semifinals
semipro
senior—do not precede by a comma (ex: John Smith Sr.) unless the individual in question prefers it
senior circuit
the Series – OK on second reference, if referring to the World Series
series opener
setup (n.) set up (v.) set-up (adj.)
seventh-inning stretch
shoestring catch
shorthanded
short hop (n.) short-hop (v.)
short man
shortstop
shoulder pad
shovel throw
“The Show” capitalize the T and S and always place in quotes
shutout (n. & adj.)
shut out (v.)
side-armer (n.) side-armed or side-arming (adj.)
sign stealing (n.)
sign-stealing (adj.)
Silver Slugger, Silver Slugger Award (both acceptable)
Single A (n.)
single-A (adj.) (see Triple A, triple-A)
single-season (adj.)
sinkerball
situps
SkyDome (now the Rogers Centre)
slap hitter
SLG—slugging average
slider
slow breaking pitch
slugfest
slugging average
slurve
smoky – never smokey
southpaw
speedballer
spitball spitter is OK, too
spitballer
spitter (for spitball)
split-finger (in all uses, split-fingered acceptable)
splitter
sportscaster
sportswriter
spot reliever
spray hitter
spring training—lowercase
spring-training (adj.)
squeeze bunt/play
standout
stand-up double
STATES – See Addresses in Part 1
story line (two words)
starting pitcher
starting lineup
STATISTICS – See “Numbers” Part 1
stolen base (n.) stolen-base percentage (adj.)
straightaway
strikeout (n.) (adj.)
strike out (v.)
strike three
strike zone
submariner
sudden-death (adj.)
suicide squeeze
switch-hitter switch-hitting (adj.)
switch-hit
T
30–30 Club—separate by en dashes
3–6–3 double play—separate by en dashes
T-ball
T-shirt
tag up (v.)
tail-ender (a team dropping in the standings at the end of a season)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
team high (n.) team-high (adj.)
teammate
team member
teamwork
Texas Leaguer (for a bloop hit)
“The Show” capitalize the T and S and always place in quotes
thousands—include comma, e.g. he amassed 2,576 hits
three-base hit
time out
third base
third-base coach
third baseman
three-bagger
ticket-holder, season ticket-holder
ticket-seller
tiebreaker
till – never ‘til or ‘till, but one may prefer to use the word until.
timeout (n.)—but take time out
topflight
totaling
town ball
Triple A (n.)
triple-A (adj.) (see Single A, single-A)
Triple Crown for the award, but lowercase and hyphenate adjective: Thus began the final week of Cabrera’s triple-crown campaign.
triple play
’tweener
twentieth century (n.)
twentieth-century (ad.)
twin bill
twin killing
twi-night
two-bagger
two-base hit
two and a half innings
two-seam fastball
U
underway
up-to-date
US (for United States) no periods (consistent with state abbreviations, NL, AL, etc.)
utilityman
V
Venezuelan winter league
vs. is acceptable for versus (except in legal terms where v. is used)
videotape
W
w prefix on weighted stats (wOBA, etc)
W’s (wins)
wake-up call
walk
walk-off (adj.) walk off (v.)
warm-up (n. & adj.)
warm up (v.)
website
weightlifting
Western Division
Western League
Wiffle Ball (brand name)
wild card (n.) but wild-card (adj.)
National League/American League Wild Card Game (do not abbreviate as “WCG”)
wild pitch
windup (n.) wind up (v.)
winning streak
wins – follow rules regarding NUMBERS. In statistically-oriented texts, it is acceptable to use numerals in all instances.
Winter Meetings—capitalize
won-lost record, the win number always precedes the loss number (ex: 20–11, 20–111)
world champion
world championship
World Series, the Series after first use
WWI and WWII are preferred over WW1 and WW2. Spelling out is preferred, e.g., World War II.
X
x prefix on expected stats (xERA, xOBA)
Y
yannigan (n.)
Z
Z prefix on stats for pitches in the strike zone (Z-Swing%, Z-Contact%)
zone (acceptable for strike zone after first use)
Last revised: December 2023
La Guía de Estilo de Escritura de SABR — Spanish-language SABR Style Guide — click here.
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