More "jazz" from Oakland (1914-15)

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

Original message from Benjamin Zimmer (Sept. 9, 2005):

<snip>
The cite from 7/29/1915 would seem to support George Thompson's idea that "jazz" referred to "the energetic chatter that some baseball players spout during games." Note the similarity to "pep", as in "pep talk".

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1915 is late for the study of baseball "jazz." The early history of the term is connected with the spring of 1913 (esp. March 6, 1913ff., S.F. Bulletin), and there's no evidence that the initiator of baseball "jazz" (pep, vim, vigor, fighting spirit), viz. 'Scoop' Gleeson, was in any way influenced by French "jaser" (chatter). Nor are there any 1913 quotes referring, for example, to a player's "incessant jazz" (chatter). "Jazz" in the 1913 quotes almost always refers to "pep/vim/etc."  In two exceptions, "jazz" has a pejorative meaning (e.g., "hot air, baloney), but with no reference to chattering.

Gerald Cohen
P.S. I'm still very grateful to Ben Zimmer for his postings and will include his "jazz" citations in the article I'm preparing on the term; due credit will of course be given.