| Sign Up | Google+

Tony Gwynn Interview Part 5: Being a "Punch and Judy" hitter

Stay connected for news and updates

Tony Gwynn has always referred to himself as a "Punch and Judy" hitter or a "Judy".  It's a title he's proud of.  I know it's baseball slang for a singles hitter, but I wanted to know more.

A hitter with very little power. Akin to banjo hitter. The first use of the term is attributed to former L.A. Dodgers manager Walter Alston who, when asked about a home run by Giants' slugger Willie McCovey, said: "When he belts a home run, he does it with such authority it seems like an act of God. You can't cry about it. He's not a Punch and Judy belter."

I've always wondered how a 16th Century Puppet show relates to baseball.  Did the puppets hit each other really softly?  I asked Gwynn if he knew the origins of the slang term.  You can listen to the audio of his answer below:


                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Recent Posts

The Next Read

There are 0 Comments. Add Yours. Loading

Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.

C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read

R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next

Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read

Comment Settings

Live comment alert: Hide it!

Comments for this post are closed.

tracking_pixel_5351_tracker