wild pitch

American  

[wahyld pich] / ˈwaɪld ˈpɪtʃ /

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitched ball that the catcher misses and could not be expected to catch, allowing one or more base runners to advance one or more bases.

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wild pitch Idioms  

1. A careless statement or action, as in Calling comic books great literature—that's a wild pitch. This term comes from baseball, where it signifies a pitched ball so far off target that the catcher misses it, enabling a base runner to advance. [Mid-1900s]

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Etymology

Origin of wild pitch

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

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Compare meaning

How does wild-pitch compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• passed ball vs. wild pitch

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wild pitch

Given a three-run lead in the first inning, brought to the Dodgers by a wild pitch and Kyle Tucker’s two-run, line-drive single to left field, Sasaki seemed set up for success.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

But the key play was in the fifth inning in what appeared to be a wild pitch with the bases loaded for Westlake.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler went after López following a high-and-tight wild pitch in the fifth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026

A wild pitch from McLean left Venezuela with runners on second and third base and on the next pitch Kansas City Royals slugger Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly allowed Perez to score.

From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026

It seemed to rouse him from his dreamy state, and awakened him to a wild pitch of excitement.

From Nic Revel A White Slave's Adventures in Alligator Land by William H. C. Groome

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