rundown (baseball)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

* run down, v. = 'tag out a runner caught between two bases' (Dickson
1905, not in OED)

1877 _St. Louis Globe-Democrat_ 14 July 5/3 Leonard got in a splendid
hit to right short, on which Wright attempted to reach third, but by
Blong's beautiful throw he was caught between bases and run down by
McGeary, Force and Battin.
[19th C US Newspapers]

1881 _St. Louis Globe-Democrat_ 15 Dec. 6/1 Kelly hit to Reccius, and
the latter allowed him to gain his base in order to run Gore down.
Gore was not easily caught, however, and Browning finally muffling the
ball while it was rapidly passed among the players engaged in the
chase.
[19th C US Newspapers]

* rundown, n. = 'act of tagging out a runner caught between two bases'
(OED/Dickson 1908)

1888 _Daily Inter Ocean_ (Chicago, Ill.) 5 July 2/1 Pettit's run down
was caused by Anson's bad judgement in being too far off second.
Pettit, seeing this, started to run in from third to save Anson, and
was himself run down.
[19th C US Newspapers]

1889 _Daily Inter Ocean_ (Chicago, Ill.) 14 June 6/1 Farrell hit the
ball to Staley and ran like a deer. Anson started for home plate and
in the rundown of Anson Farrell reached third.
[19th C US Newspapers]


--Ben Zimmer

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