Why Are Left-Handed People Called 'Southpaws'?
Focus on Sport/Getty Images While the term southpaw officially applies to any left-handed person, you probably hear it most often in baseball, where left-handedness can really impact a player’s game (for better or worse). It’s generally assumed that the term originated within the sport—a theory that's supported by this pretty convincing origin story: During the 19th century, baseball diamonds were built so that batters faced east, away from the setting sun. Pitchers faced west, which meant a left-handed pitcher threw with the arm on the south side of the mound. (That doesn’t address ...
Source: mentalfloss.com