“Jenkinson distinguished himself in the eight inning by making a long running and diving catch of a hard hit ball.” Lewisburg [PA] Journal, May 21, 1897, p2
Previous earliest use (Dickson Baseball Dictionary, 3rd edition, 2009):
1ST USE. 1907. “Hofman also endeavored to show the Bostonians where he gained the alias ‘Circus Solly’ by an attempted diving catch, but he hit the ground so hard he jarred the ball out of his mit” (I.E. Sanborn, Chicago Tribune, Aug. 23; Peter Morris).
