hardball, n.¹ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

hardball n.¹

[the hard balls used in professional baseball, as opposed to softball]

1. (US) aggressive tactics.

1976		(con. 1971) J.W. Dean III Blind Ambition 72: Nixon speechwriter Patrick J.] Buchanan, who popularized the term ‘political hardball,’ argued for such [quasi-illegal] tactics.
1985		New Yorker 15 Apr. 100/2: Word was leaked from the White House [...] that members of the President’s party who did not support his programs should not expect reelection help. Such ‘hardball’ is not new, but it is not Reagan’s style, and it also isn't very effective .

2. (US) a tough, aggressive indivdual.

1986

J. Ellroy Suicide Hill 274: ‘[T]his dude Fritz Hill [...] He was a righteous hardball and the hill was named after him?

play hardball (v.)

(orig. US) to act ruthlessly and single-mindedly in pursuit of a goal; thus hardballer, one who is ruthless and aggressive.

1974		Woodward & Bernstein All the President’s Men 173: This is the hardest hardball that’s ever been played in this town.
1979		New Yorker 29 Jan. 62: Evidently, you guys have decided that you are going to play hardball.
1983		S. King Christine 413: If we’ve got to play hardball with these guys, we ought to be glad the game’s going to be played on our home court. Extradition isn’t the problem here.
1993		C. Hiaasen Strip Tease 77: Don’t be fooled, Erin. I can play hardball.
1997		C. Hiaasen Lucky You 305: He’d had to play hardball with those blockhead wholesalers back in Wisconsin.
1998		C. Fleming High Concept 94: Sometimes . . . you just have to play hardball.
2000		W. Shaw Westsiders 110: Charlie and Tyronne are playing hardball with Cube’s people.
2006		G. Iles Turning Angel 326: That little son of a bitch plays hardball.
2006		B. Matthews Intractable [ebook] ‘Go to the butcher’s and get some heart and guts before you play hard ball, you fucking maggot’.
2009		T. Black Gutted 194: I gasped uncontrollably, said, ‘This would be playing hardball, I guess?’.
2013		C. Dundas ‘Rightful King of Wrestling’ in ThugLit Nov.-Dec. [ebook] He asked me if I was really going to play hardball with him on this.
2022		A. Kirzman Giuliani 220: Oxford told him that the campaign needed an aggressive New York communications pro [...] someone who [. . .] could play hardball with reporters.