The baseball term "grand slam" was coined by New York sportswriter Ernest Lanigan in 1933.

The term "grand slam" is an integral part of the game of baseball, but few know the origin of the phrase. It was coined by New York sportswriter Ernest Lanigan in 1933.

The term was inspired by a dramatic event at the Polo Grounds in New York City. On June 12th, 1933, the Brooklyn Dodgers were playing the New York Giants. The Dodgers' batter, Charles "Chuck" Klein, hit a home run with the bases loaded - a grand slam.

At the time, the term was not widely used, but Lanigan recognized the significance of the event and decided to coin a term for it. He wrote, “Klein’s grand slam home run was the feature of the afternoon and served to emphasize the impotence of the Giants’ pitching in the clutch.”

The term "grand slam" quickly caught on and has been a part of baseball lingo ever since. It is often used to refer to any situation in which a team or individual achieves a great success, such as winning a championship or completing a major project.

Ernest Lanigan's contribution to the game of baseball has been immense. His invention of the phrase "grand slam" has become an integral part of the game and has been used to describe other situations as well. His influence and impact on the sport will be remembered for generations to come.