# Is there a baseball or basketball term equivalent to football's "Hail Mary"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 15, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109 "2010-01-15T19:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/1 "2010-01-15T19:22:03Z")
As I understand it, a Hail Mary is a play in football when a team in danger of losing in the final seconds of a game makes a desperate, do-or-die attempt to score. Is there an equivalent term in baseball or basketball? Yes, I AM that big a nerd. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/2 "2010-01-15T19:24:31Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > As I understand it, a Hail Mary is a play in football when a team in danger of losing in the final seconds of a game makes a desperate, do-or-die attempt to score. Is there an equivalent term in baseball or basketball? > > Yes, I AM that big a nerd. In basketball, it’s called the…hail mary. There’s no specific desperate play in baseball, but a successful come from behind win via homerun is called a walk-off homerun. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/3 "2010-01-15T19:30:53Z")
In baseball, a suicide squeeze may be the closest to a “do or die” play. Runner on third charges for home as the pitcher delivers the ball, hoping the batter can lay down a bunt so the runner can score. Or, if it’s a tie game and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on second, any base hit that clears the infield should score the winning run. The names of Francisco Corbrero (sp?) and Sid Bream will live forever in Braves (and Pirates) history… **BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!** ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/4 "2010-01-15T19:31:55Z")
I think the best baseball analogy would be, “A bloop and a blast.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/5 "2010-01-15T19:34:39Z")
Not exactly what you’re looking for, but, in baseball, if a guy gets a hit which causes the winning run to cross the plate, thus ending the game on that play, it’s informally called a “walkoff” hit. So, if the Brewers are down 3-2, with a man on, in the bottom of the ninth, and Ryan Braun hits a home run, the game would end at that moment, and his hit would be referred to as a “walkoff homer.” ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/6 "2010-01-15T19:38:28Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > In baseball, a suicide squeeze may be the closest to a “do or die” play. Runner on third charges for home as the pitcher delivers the ball, hoping the batter can lay down a bunt so the runner can score. > > Or, if it’s a tie game and 2 out in the bottom of the ninth, with a runner on second, any base hit that clears the infield should score the winning run. The names of Francisco Corbrero (sp?) and Sid Bream will live forever in Braves (and Pirates) history.. **BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN! BRAVES WIN!** Oak, _suicide squeeze_ works well for my purpose. I pulled up the Wikipedia article and am reading about it. Thanks to everybody who contributed. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/7 "2010-01-15T19:44:02Z")
I was going to say the suicide squeeze as well, but I’m wondering if for the total-desperation factor that a straight steal of home in the 9th with 2 outs wouldn’t be a better comparison. It’s probably\* a lower-percentage play, but the circumstances that would entail it (a batter who couldn’t bunt to save his life, I guess) are more uncommon. * * * - I realize as a self-respecting baseball fan, I’m supposed to be able to spout statistics at will…apologies ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/8 "2010-01-15T19:44:20Z")
In baseball, a similar desperate play is when they bring the outfield in to prevent a runner from scoring from third. They only do this in a situation where a sacrifice fly would win the game for the other team. This is just called “bringing the outfield in” as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/9 "2010-01-15T19:45:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Oak, _suicide squeeze_ works well for my purpose. I pulled up the Wikipedia article and am reading about it. > > Thanks to everybody who contributed. In basketball, you’ll throw up the buzzer beater as time expires. There will be some absolutely absurd clips on YouTube of people bombing it full court (of course every example of failure won’t make it on). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/10 "2010-01-15T19:47:43Z")
In a critical situation a baseball team might employ a no doubles defense to keep the other team from getting a big hit to the outfield. Once in a rare while you’ll see a team bring in an extra infielder, leaving only two men in the outfield. If the home team is trailing, the bottom of the ninth inning (or any extra inning) is called “last licks.” ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/11 "2010-01-15T19:51:54Z")
“Swinging for the fences” might be a comparable baseball term. Not exactly the same thing, but it does imply a somewhat desperate, last-ditch effort. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/12 "2010-01-15T19:53:55Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > “Swinging for the fences” might be a comparable baseball term. > Not exactly the same thing, but it does imply a somewhat desperate, last-ditch effort. When teams are desperate for runs, they try to “manufacture” them by playing small ball (singles, stealing, aggressive base-running), not swinging for the fences. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/13 "2010-01-15T20:01:41Z")
If it’s bottom of the ninth, down by one, two out, nobody on, that is a situation where you might swing for the fences. I don’t think a suicide squeeze counts, BTW, because you don’t typically see it in desperate, last-ditch, hail mary type situations. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/14 "2010-01-15T20:04:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > In a critical situation a baseball team might employ a no doubles defense to keep the other team from getting a big hit to the outfield. Once in a rare while you’ll see a team bring in an extra infielder, leaving only two men in the outfield. You can’t seriously think I know what any of that means. Don’t make me start talking about phonology in revenge. 😃 ETA: I’m taking your jackboots again. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/15 "2010-01-15T20:08:50Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You can’t seriously think I know what any of that means. I thought it was all self-explanatory. A no-doubles defense is supposed to keep the batter from hitting a double, that’s pretty much all there is to it. (This is done by having the outfielders stand further away from the batter.) Same thing with the extra infielder: usually a team has four infielders and three outfielders, but if they’re desperate, they might bring an outfielder up closer, and have five infielders and two outfielders. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/16 "2010-01-15T20:13:54Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > When teams are desperate for runs, they try to “manufacture” them by playing small ball (singles, stealing, aggressive base-running), not swinging for the fences. Depends on the team and on the batter, really. Sammy Sosa used to try to hit 5-run homers all the time. Still, I’m not sure if there’s really a good example of a direct translation for “Hail Mary” in baseball. They’re very different sports. Just ask George Carlin. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/17 "2010-01-15T20:26:25Z")
Note that a Hail Mary isn’t just a desperate last-second play in general, but specifically one involving a very long pass (the name comes from the notion that it’s in the air long enough to say a complete “Hail Mary” prayer). Depending on your players, you might also try a long run in a desperate situation. And you might also attempt a Hail Mary early in a game in a low-pressure situation, to try to put some points on the board quickly and turn it into a high-pressure situation for the other team (though this is probably less common than the desperate ones). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/18 "2010-01-15T20:27:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Depends on the team and on the batter, really. Sammy Sosa used to try to hit 5-run homers all the time. How does one hit a five-run homer? A grand slam is only 4. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/19 "2010-01-15T20:32:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Note that a Hail Mary isn’t just a desperate last-second play in general, but specifically one involving a very long pass (the name comes from the notion that it’s in the air long enough to say a complete “Hail Mary” prayer). Depending on your players, you might also try a long run in a desperate situation. And you might also attempt a Hail Mary early in a game in a low-pressure situation, to try to put some points on the board quickly and turn it into a high-pressure situation for the other team (though this is probably less common than the desperate ones). And there are variants, such as the Dirty Birds’ dastardly “Big Ben Left” where they stack all the receivers on that side, let the QB heave it as far as he can, all receivers fight for the ball, and inevitably one of them will catch it in the endzone to beat the Saints. Happened twice in one season, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109/20 "2010-01-15T20:33:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > How does one hit a five-run homer? A grand slam is only 4. It’s a bit of hyperbole, implying Sosa was swinging as hard as he possibly could, and probably going to strike out, missing the pitch by a mile. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-baseball-or-basketball-term-equivalent-to-footballs-hail-mary/525109.md?page=2)