[Ads-l] Antedating of "Infield" (Baseball)

[Shapiro, Fred]

The OED's first use for "infield" meaning a portion of the baseball field is dated 1867.  Edward J. Nichols, An Historical Dictionary of Baseball Terminology, page 37, has the following two citaitons:

1858 Chadwick Scrapbook (clipping) [Henry Chadwick scrapbook at New York Public Library]
1864 Brookly Daily Eagle 22 Sept.

The OED's first use for "infield" meaning the four fielders positioned in that portion of the baseball field is dated 1897.  Nichols has the following two citations:

1883 Sporting Life 27 May 4
1892 New York Post 18 May

Fred Shapiro

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