Expert: Tom Schott - 6/19/2004

Question
can of corn-where did this saying come from and what does a easy fly ball and a can of corn have in common

Answer
Brian:

  Here's what Paul Dickson's Baseball Dictionary says:

"The phrase has long been assumed to have come from the old time groucery store where  the grocer used a pole or a mechanical grabber to tip an item, such as a can of corn, off a high shelf and let it tumble into his hands or his apron, which was held out in front like a fire net.

An alternate theory is suggested in Mike Whiteford's =How to Talk Baseball=, in which he quotes Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Prince who said, "It's as easy as taking corn out of a can." Still another, suggeste by Burt Dunne in hte =Folger's Dictionary of Baseball=, is that the "can of corn" ball is hit with a "keplunk" sound--presumably that of a can being hit with a stick.

Peter Tamony developed a separate theory, which was published in the form of a letter appearing in Bucky Walter's "Mail Bag" of August 24, 1977, in the =San Francisco Examiner=. "Can of corn" no doubt developed out of the complex usage surrounding 'cornball,' a confection made out of pop corn and molasses, munched by the young for over a century. Popped corn flies wildly, of course, making word association with a a light popup to the outfield.

Tamoy incidentally, determined that the term was in the early to mid-1920s, based on a series of interviws in 1953 with semi-professional players."

In short, Brian, you have your pick of theories.

Tom