Antedating of "Reliever" & Definition Correction

[Mullins, Bill AMRDEC]

From: "Fred Shapiro" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 9:25 PM

> [NOTE: The definition in OED, "A pitcher who relieves the opening
> pitcher," is incorrect, since the reliever frequently relieves another
> reliever.]
>
> Fred Shapiro

If a reliever is a member of the class all pitchers (which includes, also, "opening pitchers"), then the OED definition would be correct.