Baseball Shorts: Drinker

In today’s episode of “Baseball Shorts” we talk about the expression “Drinker.” Unlike what you may think, it has nothing to do with alcohol.

The term “Drinker comes from the Negro Leagues. It is an expression for a fielder that was so good that he seemed to drink in every ball that was hit to him.

A great example of a Negro League player that was a “drinker” is John Henry “Pop” Lloyd, a slick fielding shortstop from the early 1900s. Lloyd’s early years came before the Negro Leagues became organized in 1920 with the creation of the Negro National League. He remained one of the league’s biggest stars into his 40s. He earned the nickname Pop later in his career, when he became a father figure and mentor to the younger players.

According to Babe Ruth, Lloyd was the greatest ball player of all time.

Sources:
ESPN (Ten Greatest Negro Leaguers)
Dickson Baseball Dictionary.