warning track

noun

Baseball.

1. 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, especially as they back up to catch a fly ball.

Word History and Origins

Origin of warning track¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

The Dodgers got their first run in the third, when Andy Pages led off with a double into the left-field corner, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Mookie Betts fly ball just short of the warning track in center.

From Los Angeles Times

He appears to flip head over heals multiple times before landing on the warning track.

From Los Angeles Times

Rookie right-hander Edgardo Henriquez flirted with disaster after that, giving up another RBI double to Jackson and a loud fly ball to Dylan Carlson that died at the warning track.

From Los Angeles Times

In the second, Cortes won his rematch with Freeman; throwing a down-and-in fastball all so similar to the one that landed in the right-field pavilion of Dodger Stadium last year — only to turn and watch another deep drive die at the warning track, this time to straightaway center field at Petco Park.

From Los Angeles Times

And while he came up to lead off the ninth, he watched a towering fly ball die at the warning track.

From Los Angeles Times