In baseball, I read about “walk-off” singles or “walk-off” home runs. What has “walk-off” got to do with anything or is it just slang that writers have picked up on thinking it’s cute, or maybe, catchy? Please explain.

According to a researcher at the National Baseball Hall of Fame library, the term “walk-off’ was coined by Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley when he played for the Oakland A’s. He called a home run hit that ended the game — and caused the pitcher to walk off the mound — a walk-off homer. The term now also extends to a game-winning single.

By the way, the only pitcher to save four games in a league championship series was Dennis Eckersley against Boston in 1988. A year after his election to the Hall of Fame, Eckersley had his number retired by the A’s. “This is the topper,” Eckersley said before Oakland’s game against the Twins. “This is a feeling unmatched because this is my hometown. It’s as special as anything that has happened to me.” Eckersley wore No. 43 with Oakland, and became the fourth A’s player to have his number retired. The others are Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers.

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