Even for seasoned baseball fans, the World Series can sound like it’s being called in another language. This year’s Dodgers-Blue Jays showdown was a masterclass not just in drama, but in terminology.
If you ever found yourself wondering: “What just happened?” during one of these moments, here’s your plain-English guide to some of the most memorable technical quirks that shaped the 2025 Fall Classic, ending with a win in the 11th inning (2 more than the usual 9) by the LA Dodgers.
1. Dead Ball
A dead ball means the play is over - immediately. No one can advance, no runs can score and everything resets once the umpire declares “play” again.
Example from 2025:
In Game 6, a Blue Jays line drive (a shot that travels close to the ground) hit the base of the outfield wall and wedged into the padding. The Dodgers fielder signaled “dead ball” and the umpires ruled a ground-rule double - a fairly hit ball which left the field in unusual circumstances that did not merit a home run.
Fun Fact: Dead ball calls often follow unusual events - like balls stuck in walls, interference or fan intrusions. Think of it as baseball hitting “pause.” This is the first time that a stuck-in-the-wall ball has been recorded in a World Series.
2. Complete Game
When a pitcher throws every inning for his team without a reliever, that’s a “complete game”.
Example from 2025:
Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto went the distance in Game 2, logging a full nine-inning complete game and 107 pitches - a rare feat in the modern era.
Fun Fact: In baseball, complete games are so rare that each one becomes a highlight reel staple. The last time a pitcher threw a complete game was Johnny Cueto of the Kansas City Royals in Game 2 of the 2015 World Series.
3. Longest Game (Almost)
Game 3 went 18 innings over 6 hours 39 minutes, tying the all-time record for World Series innings (18); however, in 2018 the 18 inning Red Sox vs. Dodgers World Series game was played in 7 hours 20 minutes.
Game 3 ended at 2:50 AM ET.
Fun Fact: That’s like playing two full games back-to-back.
4. Pinch Hit Grand Slam
A pinch hitter is a substitute batter.
The term “pinch hitter” comes from baseball’s early slang and reflects the idea of “coming in at a crucial moment to make a difference”.
Example from 2025:
Blue Jays rookie Addison Barger delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in Game 1 - the first in World Series history. A grand slam is a home run hit when the bases are full - meaning there are runners on first, second and third base. It scores four runs at once: the three runners plus the batter. Not a bad feat for a player who only made his MLB debut in 2024! Interestingly, he bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
Fun Fact: One player at-bat can change the game - pinch hitters are sometimes the ultimate “instant heroes.”
5. Double Play
Imagine two runners are trying to reach safety at the bases. The defending team catches the ball and stops both runners before they get to a base. That’s a double play - two runners stopped in one move.
Examples from 2025:
🔹 Game 6 Double Play
- Blue Jays had runners trying to score
- Dodgers’ fielder caught the ball in the air
- He then threw it to a teammate, who touched the base before the runner got there
- That stopped two runners at once and ended the game
🔹 Game 7 Double Play
- Blue Jays hit a ground ball toward Dodgers’ infield
- Dodgers’ shortstop picked up the ball and stepped on second base, stopping one runner
- He threw to first base, stopping the batter from reaching first
- That stopped two runners at once and ended the game and World Series
Fun Fact: Ending a World Series on a double play is as dramatic as it gets.
6. Intentional Walk
Normally, a pitcher tries to throw strikes so the batter has to swing. An intentional walk is when the pitcher deliberately throws four balls far outside the strike zone. The batter does not swing and is automatically allowed to go to first base. Why do teams do it? Usually, the batter is very strong or dangerous, like Shohei Ohtani.
Example from 2025:
Ohtani was intentionally walked four times in the 18-inning Game 3 marathon, setting a World Series record.
“You just don’t see that type of behavior from opposing managers and that’s just the ultimate sign of respect.” (Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager, highlighting the extraordinary lengths to which teams will go in order to neutralize baseball’s most dominant force)
Fun Fact: Modern MLB rules allow managers to signal the walk directly - no pitches needed.
Baseball is a sport built on pauses, precision and patience. The 2025 World Series reminded us that language is part of the drama. Understanding terms like dead ball, complete game or pinch hit isn’t just trivia - it’s the key to following the tension, strategy and beauty of the game’s most unpredictable moments.
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