Warning track

Warning track

. The change of terrain from grass to dirt serves as a "warning" for fielders trying to make a deep catch that they are running out of room, since it is often difficult for the fielder to keep his eye on a fly ball while keeping track of his position relative to the wall.

The term "warning track", in common use, typically refers only to the outfield portion of the track, since infielders seldom encounter it, and even more rarely approach it at the high speeds of an outfielder trying to get under a deep fly ball. A batter who swings with all his might but has the ball caught at the warning track – only feet from scoring a home run — is said to have "warning track power."

Despite the warning track's presence, it is common to see outfielders crash into the wall to make a catch, due either to a desire to field the play regardless of the outcome or because they fail to register the warning.

The term "warning track" comes from Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track was built for the use of track and field events. This also helped outfielders know when they were approaching the wall, and soon every ballpark was using one.


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • warning track — n. Baseball a rubberized, dirt, or gravel strip of ground, just inside the walls of the field, that helps a fielder locate the wall while looking up at a fly ball …   English World dictionary

  • Warning Track — Baseballfeld mit umlaufenden Warning Track Der Warning Track (dt: Warnstreifen) ist der umlaufende Randstreifen eines Baseballfeldes zwischen dem Rasenfeld und der Wand bzw. dem Zaun der Spielfeldbegrenzung. Er dient dazu, dass ein Outfielder,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • warning track — noun The dirt or other material on the edge of a baseball or softball field that warns a player that he or she is approaching the fence, especially the portion in the outfield. Fly ball to deep center. Shelby goes back and makes the catch on the… …   Wiktionary

  • warning track — noun Date: 1966 a usually dirt or cinder strip around the outside edge of a baseball outfield to warn a fielder when running to make a catch that the fence is near called also warning path …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • warning track — noun or warning path : a usually dirt or cinder strip around the edge of a grass baseball outfield to warn a fielder running to make a catch that he is nearing a wall or fence …   Useful english dictionary

  • warning track — Baseball. a strip, often consisting of a cinder or dirt track, bordering the outer edge of the outfield between the outfield turf and the stadium wall that alerts outfielders that the wall is near, esp. as they back up to catch a fly ball. [1965… …   Universalium

  • warning track — warn′ing track n. spog an outfield perimeter strip, between the turf and the fence, in a baseball stadium • Etymology: 1965–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • warning path — noun see warning track …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • warning path — noun see warning track …   Useful english dictionary

  • Warning sign — redirects here. For other uses, see Warning Sign (disambiguation). For a sign on a vehicle or building relating to it or its contents, see placard. A traffic warning sign is a type of traffic sign that indicates a hazard ahead on the road that… …   Wikipedia

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