yellow hammer

plural yellow hammers

1. ball gamesA curve ball, especially a breaking curve that is particularly difficult to hit.

   Williams, getting steady doses of Koufax's "yellow hammer," struck out looking at a curve, Sandy's fifth K.

   2004, Michael Coffey, 27 Men Out: Baseball's Perfect Games, updated edition, page 106

   3 more examples

   Watching the ballgame today someone broke off a real good curve and I said, "That was a real yellow hammer."

   1970, Jim Bouton, Ball Four, page 341

   “Bastard curveball” is one of several names in baseball for a virtually unhittable curve that breaks so sharply it qualifies as yet another marvel of physics. Yakker. Bowel-locker. Yellow hammer. Take your pick.

   2006, John Schuerholz, Larry Guest, Built to Win: Inside Stories And Leadership Strategies from Baseball's Winningest GM

   "[…]I know my baseball, and this kid was a beast. His fastball was okay, a cutter in the low nineties, but it was his dirty deuce that was outright nasty.” DeBorn frowned. “Dirty deuce?” “You know—the dirty yellow hammer . . . the yakker. Public enemy number two. A breaking ball, Bert! This kid had a breaking ball that was like hitting a lead shot put[…]"

   2010, Steve Alten, Grim Reaper: End of Days, page 125