Re: Out of Left Field -- phrase origin

Bob Ward <bobward@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>>> An unusual idea would be "something out of left field" in American 
>>> idiom.  This is obviously a baseball-based expression, but why left 
>>> field? Why not use center field, which is usually farther out?

>I think that center field would be more mainstream, or
>middle-of-the-road, while left field is much closer to foul ball
>territory.
>
>Don't right-handed batters have to swing early in order to pull the
>ball to left field?  This might mark such a person as having a
>hair-trigger, or being slightly unstable.

But the idea comes "out of left field", rather than "deep into left
field".  I agree with you that the center is mainstream.
-- 
Tomorrow is today already.
Greg Goss, 1989-01-27