passed ball

[past bawl]

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitched ball that the catcher can reasonably be expected to catch but misses, allowing one or more base runners to advance one or more bases.

Word History and Origins

Origin of passed ball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Edison 9, Newport Harbor 8: The Chargers won it in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball.

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Santa Barbara won on a passed ball in the eighth.

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Matt Chapman walked on a full-count fastball that caromed off catcher Smith’s glove for a passed ball that allowed Wade to score for a 1-0 Giants lead.

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He advanced to second on a passed ball, hustled to third on J.P.

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Huntington Beach 1, Laguna Beach 0: Four pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout for the Oilers, who scored the game’s only run in the top of the seventh inning on a passed ball.

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