Expert: Tom Schott - 1/10/2007

Question
Is there any reason for the term "dugout" other than the resemblence to one?  Why are they actually dug into the ground?

Our speculation has reduced to two guessplanations:
a) A covered bench would interfere with the ability of the defense to make plays on some foul balls, thus the move to dig out the area for the covered bench
or
b) the lowering of the covered bench a few steps into the ground allows for a better view of the game from the bleachers

Is there a clear answer to these questions?

Answer
Dave,

 The major league rules require that the dugout be roofed and closed at the back and either end. It gets its name because dugouts are traditionally dug into the ground, with the bench below the playing field. In fact, this is often not so because there are many above-ground covered dugouts, especially in amateur ball.

 This is information from Paul Dick Dickson's excellent =Baseball Dictionary=. There is no information there about any further reason a dugout is called a dugout.

 As for why they are actually dug into the ground, I can only speculate. My guess is it's connected with comfort. In the hot summers, a sunken dugout allows less sunlight into to the area than an above ground one would. I don't think it interferes with defense any less than one above ground. It affords a better view of the game certainly for seats behind the dugout, though that could easily be done with above-ground dugouts, too.

Cheers,
Tom