Can of corn explained

[Umpire in Chief]

Well tonight on MLB Network Joe Magrane explained the origin of "Can of Corn." I've heard this phrase forever and have been asked what the origin is but have never had an answer. Well here it is....

Can of corn as explained by Joe Magrane on MLB Tonight on MLB Network 9/21/09

You know where the term “can of corn” came from? I think I told you this the other day. It’s back to the old general store days when you would go in and say, “I’ll take a can of corn” and it was stacked way high on the top shelves and the guy would get a stick and just like pull it down and catch the can of corn. Thus the term or phrase “Can of corn.”

[BrianC14]

But what if you wanted a can of beans? :angel4:

[Umpete]

I always thought it was one of those Dizzy Dean expressions, like a "blue darter," or a "dying quail."

[scobes7]

Or it's a bleeder.....