cadillac

v. in baseball, to run in an unhurried, showy way; generally, to perform or operate lackadaisically, carelessly, or without worry. Subjects: English, Baseball, Sports & Recreation, Slang

Editorial Note: An older meaning of “cadillac” is “to drive a car; to drive someone around in a car.” Etymological Note: From the Cadillac automobile, seen by some as an ostentatious symbol of luxury or “taking it easy.” In The New Dickson Baseball Dictionary, an entry for “cadillac trot” suggests that “the term certainly can be traced to a famous line uttered by slugger Ralph Kiner in the 1950s: ‘Hitters of home runs drive Cadillacs, single hitters jalopies.’ On another occasion Kiner told a reporter that he never choked up on the bat because the Cadillacs were down at the end of the bat.” However, in 1956 Kiner himself credited the saying to Fritz Ostermueller, a pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to a the Oakland Tribune of Mar. 15. Also, syndicated sports columnist Oscar Fraley wrote something similar in 1953 in a column mentioning Kiner, but it was not credited to him: “Guys with good averages eat with gratifying frequency—but guys who hit home runs ride in Cadillacs.” (May 4, 1953, Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune, p. 8).

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Citations: 1957 Bob Addie @ Boston Washington Post and Times Herald (May 14) “Bob Addie’s Column…” p. A20: In baseball, you’re supposed to “Cadillac” around the bases…The expression the ballplayers’ own for savoring the sweet cheers of the crowd by trotting majestically around the bases. 1959 Washington Post and Times Herald (Oct. 2) “‘Greatest Thrill’ Says Big Klu” (in Chicago) p. D1: I knew that second one (another 2-run smash in the fourth) was going. I was so sure that I hot-dogged it around the bases. You know what I mean—I gave it that home run trot—sort of Cadillacked my way around the bases. 1989 A Reference Guide to Medicinal Plants “John K. Crellin, Jane Philpott” p. 22: Bass is correct in saying that too many people go “cadillacking” along with herbs and take large doses. 1989 Seattle Times (Aug. 28) “Coming Apart Or Pulling Together?” p. E1: He moved to his right to catch a fly out, but Greg Gagne surprisingly tagged from first base and reached second when Griffey’s threw was too soft and wide. “I don’t like him ‘Cadillacing’ like that,” he said. “It may be an insignificant play but a guy can’t take it for granted that just because they have a five-run lead doesn’t mean they’re not going to be aggressive.” 1992 R.B. Fallstrom Los Angeles Daily News (Apr. 5) “Guerrero Is No Joker As Cardinals’ Left Fielder” p. S3: Center fielder Ray Lankford also has noticed that Guerrero can handle his territory. “He’s not out there Cadillacking,” said Lankford, using a euphemism for loafing. 2005 Fair Disclosure Wire (May 10) “Q1 2005 Parallel Petroleum Corporation Earnings Conference Call - Final”: What a good well. We’re sitting there, cadillacing at 8 million a day and they are going to co-mingle on upper zone. And we really don’t know what that upper zone is capable of doing, but if its 50% of what the lower one is doing, you’re looking at a well that’s going to produce in excess of 10 million a day. [2005 Dina Cappiello Houston Chronicle (Texas) (Aug. 7) “Latest BP blast site had record of inadequate maintenance”: “People who work on that unit, the operators say, ‘We have that thing Cadillacing,’” Geary said. “It’s not a fair assertion that the unit was undermaintained.”] 2007 [Galley] Autoblog (July 19) “Auto Lexicon: Top 5 four-wheeled metaphors”: When one of our tablet press operators has a easy night with no problems, they are referred to as “Cadillacing it.”

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