# why "southpaw"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 11, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493 "2002-06-11T18:19:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kevals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@kevals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevals)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493/1 "2002-06-11T18:19:38Z")

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Why are left handers usually referred to as southpaws, I’ve actually only heard it refere’d to baseball pitchers and boxers, but it seems to generally mean a left-handed person.  
Why, how did this term come about?? I’m sure someone out there must know?

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**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493/2 "2002-06-11T18:29:59Z")

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[Cecil speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_379.html):

> [@](#):
>
> It’s also the reason left-handed pitchers are called “southpaws.” Because a lefty has to pitch in a generally westerly direction, his throwing arm is toward the south.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493/3 "2002-06-11T20:13:40Z")

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The Word Dective also speaks:  
[http://www.word-detective.com/093098.html#southpaw](http://www.word-detective.com/093098.html#southpaw)

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-southpaw/113493/4 "2002-06-11T20:15:06Z")

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aka The Word “Detective”:o