ballhawk

See also: ball hawk

English

From ball +‎ hawk.

ballhawk (plural ballhawks)

(American football, basketball) A player who is particularly good at catching interceptions.
(baseball) A fielder who is particularly good at catching fly balls.
- 2001 October 5, Deanna Isaacs, “Oddballs and True Believers/Film Center's New Marquee Player”, in Chicago Reader‎^[1]:
  They documented Waveland Avenue's ballhawk culture, where Moe Mullins, who's recovered more than 3,500, is king, and followed him home to gape at his bounty: 1,000 major-league balls hoarded like dinosaur eggs.
- 2007 July 18, Lee Jenkins, “At Wrigley, Fans Debate What to Do With a Ball”, in New York Times‎^[2]:
  Last season, when the Giants came to town, a noted ballhawk named Wes Wagner scored tickets in the first row of the bleacher boxes in right field.

player in team ball games who is skilled at catching or getting possession of the ball