leave the bench swinging (1937)

“He [Hugh Shelley] leaves the bench swinging. He not only gets on base his first time up but he frequently connects with the first pitch that comes within range of his long and nervous bat.” “Shelley Sparks Cats’ Drive with Early Hits“, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 15, 1937, p13

No earliest use given in 2009 Dickson Baseball Dictionary

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