Baltimore Chop

A Baltimore chop is a ground ball hit sharply downward into the hard dirt near home plate, causing it to bounce so high that the batter can reach first base before the fielder can make a play.

Origin of the Name

The term comes from the 1890s Baltimore Orioles, who:

• Allegedly hardened the ground in front of home plate
• Perfected the chopping swing
• Used it as an intentional offensive weapon
• Led by manager Ned Hanlon

Whether they actually hardened the ground is debated, but the technique became associated with Baltimore.

How It Happens

A Baltimore chop occurs when:

• Ball is hit sharply into the ground
• Ball bounces extremely high (10+ feet in the air)
• Fielders must wait for it to come down
• Batter runs hard and beats the throw

Intentional vs. Accidental

Originally, batters tried to hit Baltimore chops:

• Swing down at the ball
• Make contact at the top of the ball
• Drive it into the hard dirt

Today, most Baltimore chops are accidental results of poor contact.

Modern Use

The Baltimore chop is less common today because:

• Infields are better maintained
• Turf plays differently
• Batters focus on launch angle (up, not down)
• But it still happens, especially on artificial turf

In Broadcasting

When a high chopper results in an infield hit, announcers often call it a "Baltimore chop" or say the batter "Baltimore chopped" one.