Dictionary

yellow hammer en · NOUN

Etymology

The origin is uncertain.

Meanings

1. A curve ball, especially a breaking curve that is particularly difficult to hit.
   • Williams, getting steady doses of Koufax's "yellow hammer," struck out looking at a curve, Sandy's fifth K. 2004, Michael Coffey, 27 Men Out: Baseball's Perfect Games, updated edition, page 106
   • “Bastard curveball” is one of several names in baseball for a virtually unhittable curve that breaks so sharply it qualifies as yet another marvel of physics. Yakker. Bowel-locker. Yellow hammer. Take your pick. 2006, John Schuerholz, Larry Guest, Built to Win: Inside Stories And Leadership Strategies from Baseball's Winningest GM:
   • "[…]I know my baseball, and this kid was a beast. His fastball was okay, a cutter in the low nineties, but it was his dirty deuce that was outright nasty.” DeBorn frowned. “Dirty deuce?” “You know—the dirty yellow hammer . . . the yakker. Public enemy number two. A breaking ball, Bert! This kid had a breaking ball that was like hitting a lead shot put[…]" 2010, Steve Alten, Grim Reaper: End of Days, page 125:
   • Watching the ballgame today someone broke off a real good curve and I said, "That was a real yellow hammer." 1970, Jim Bouton, Ball Four, page 341:

Forms