"can of corn"

[Laurence Horn]

On Aug 21, 2014, at 11:22 PM, ADSGarson O'Toole wrote:

> Jonathan Lighter  wrote:
>> See HDAS I, p. 358.
>> 
>> I have heard it only in reference to baseball.
>> 
>> Used by whom in 1896?
> 
> HDAS has a 1937 citation. "The Dickson Baseball Dictionary (Third
> Edition)" lists a 1930 first use citation for "can of corn" in the Los
> Angeles Times. Here is the metadata and an extended excerpt from
> ProQuest. This instance does not really correspond to an easily caught
> high fly ball:
> 
> Newspaper: Los Angeles Times
> Newspaper location: Los Angeles, California
> Date: 1930 June 19
> Title: Hill Shines as Hollywood Wins, 6 to 4: RUMLER'S POKE SETTLES CLASH
> Continuation title: Sheiks Thump Mission Reds
> Author: Bob Ray
> Start Page 11
> Quote Page 13, Column 4 (continuation page number listed in article)
> Database ProQuest
> 
> [Begin except]
> Ike Boone, the league's leading hitter, again went hitless, which
> makes it a big seven for, oh,

> as far as the present series is
> concerned.


wonder when "go 7 for 0" (in the game, or series) changed to "go 0 for 7"

> […]

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