Inside baseball is something that is known or understood only by a small group of people . Sometimes inside baseball describes a subject that has too many uninteresting details . So , most people do not understand it or even want to understand it . We commonly use this expression with subjects like politics , science , or finance . For example , some urban voters are not interested in the inside baseball of constitutional reform . But , they still might support reforms promising good schools , safe neighborhoods , and jobs . Here is another example . Many people would consider the yearly earnings reports of major companies as inside baseball information . The reports would not be of interest to them . But to investors such reports are important . These insiders need the information . On its website , Merriam Webster online dictionary explains how this phrase began back in the 1890s . To score in baseball , a player needs to land on first , second , and third bases before reaching home plate . That is where the player scores . One way to do this is to hit a home run . The player hits the ball so far that the other team cannot get it . Then , the batter and anyone else on a base moves forward all the way to home . That big hit will always please the crowd ! But most hits are not home runs . Most batters hit balls inside the field and move around the bases as other batters take their turns hitting . This can include also very short hits called bunts , where the bat touches the ball lightly to keep it infield . There are also stolen bases -- when runners take a next base usually as the other team is pitching to a batter . These are part of a long list of skills , tools , and possible plays used to play competitive baseball . This kind of play is called inside baseball . It is not an obvious type of scoring , especially when compared the dramatic homerun . “Inside ” is also featured in other popular terms in American English . An inside joke , for example , is a joke that only a few people understand . With inside jokes , we often say this to those who don't understand : “You had to be there .” Insider knowledge is also things understood by a special few . Maybe you know people who work there or their product line . This insider knowledge may give you an advantage over others . An inside track is a good position in a situation . It comes from racers on a circular track . The runners on the inside may have an advantage . Here's how to use it : She seems to have an inside track at the university . She knows everyone ! And finally , an inside job is something done with the help of someone inside an organization . The term , however , is usually used in connection with a crime . If police think a bank robbery was an inside job , for example , they would probably question all who work at the bank .