How to Keep Score in Baseball

8/11/2019 How to Keep Score in Baseball

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HOW TO KEEP SCORE IN BASEBALL(INTRODUCTION)

This instruction manual will show you how to properly fill out a baseball scorecard during the game. Itassumes you know the rules of baseball and are familiar with baseballs terms and lingo.

A completed scorecard gives you an in depth record of all the action in a baseball game. It is an inning byinning account of every at batand play made in the field. The scoring system described in this manualhas been used, in one form or another, since the 1860s. It is the basis for all statistical records in MajorLeague Baseball.

Part 1 of the instructions will teach you all the symbols used in keeping score.Part 2 will introduce the scorecard and show you how to apply the symbols.Part 3 is an example of a scorecard following one team through 3 innings of game play.If you have kept score in the past, you can go directly to Part 3 and refresh your memory.

Optional steps are denoted by a small baseball icon.

MATERIALS NEEDED:Two scorecards (one for each team)

A pencil (preferably with eraser)

With the advancements in computing technology, the time honored tradition of keeping score with ascorecard and pencil is going away. Keep this 150 year old tradition alive. Whether youre watching themajor leaguers or the little leaguers, it is a fun way to follow your favorite team.

WARNING: There is a danger of serious injury when foul balls are hit into the stands. Many fanshave been hospitalized after being struck by foul balls. There have been two recorded deaths of fans

being struck in the head by foul balls. SO PAY ATTENTION!

Tips are shown inside an orange textbox

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HOW TO KEEP SCORE IN BASEBALL(PART 1)

Field Positions:Each player in the field is assigned a number that corresponds to the position they play. When an out is

made, you will refer to the defensive player on the scorecard by the number they are assigned. Thediagram below shows the positions on the field. The assigned numbers are shown in red.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Basic Symbols:All the action in a baseball game is represented by a symbol. These standardized symbols are used onthe scorecard as a shorthand language. If youre keeping score for fun, you may develop your ownsymbols. If youre keeping score as part of a league organization, it is important that all score keepers usethe same symbols to avoid confusion when tabulating league statistics.

Single 1B Balk BKDouble 2B Wild Pitch WPTriple 3B Passed Ball PBHome Run HR Force Out FOBunt B Strikeout KWalk BB Double Play DPError E Caught Stealing CS

Fielders Choice FC Sacrifice Bunt SBHit By Pitch HP Sacrifice Fly SFSteal S Unassisted U

l

DHDesignated

Hitter

Tip: It is important to memorize the field positions and basic symbols before you attempt to keep

score. You may not have time to refer to this page between plays.

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The Scorecard:You will need two scorecards (one for each team). Scorecards are usually provided inside the programs

sold at Major League Baseball games. If you do not have the scorecards, they are provided on the lasttwo pages of this instruction manual. Lets familiarize ourselves with the different areas of the scorecard.

Batters:Batting order and player information

Game Play:Action that occurs in the game

Batters Statistics:Battersfinal offensive statistics

Pitchers:Pitchers and final pitching statistics

Game Information:Linescore and historical information describing who, when, and where

5

4

3

2

1

1 2 3

4 5

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Before The Game Starts:1. Record the game information (area 5):

a) Name of the away teamb) Name of the home teamc) Name of the team for this scorecardd) Name of the opponent

e) Date of the gamef) Starting time of the gameg) Location or name of the field

Example:

2. Record the batting order (area 1):

a) Batters jersey numberb) Batters namec) Position symbold) Inning the batter began play

Example:

3. Record the starting pitcher (area 4):

a) Pitchers jersey numberb) Pitchers name

Example:

These will be reversed on the other scorecard

TIP: Notice that Polanco is in the nextbox down from Granderson. Thisleaves room for recording pinchbatters and replacement players.

TIP: The batting order can be filled in as thegame progresses or obtained from the coachesprior to the game if your scoring in little league.

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Keeping Score:

Each game play box contains a diamond that represents the base path from first base to home plate. Asa batter moves along the base path, you keep track of him by darkening the dotted lines. When a batter

scores, darken the entire diamond.

Examples:

Runner On First Runner On Second Runner On Third Runner Scores

We also need to explain how each batter advanced around the base path. When a batter advances byway of his action, place the appropriate symbol next to the base path. When a batter advances becauseof the action of another batter, place the batters jersey number next to the base path. If the base runneradvances more than one base during a play, place the symbol next to the furthest base path.

Examples:

Single Double Triple Home Run

Walk, Steal Single, Advances Error on Shortstop Double,To Third Base Advances Home Wild PitchOn #14s Hit On #33s Hit

Each players at bat is recorded in a

game play box directly across from

their name.

The numbers across the top of the

game play boxes (area 2) represent

the number of at bats and not the

innin s.

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Some scorekeepers like to track the pitch count. This is done by placing a small mark in the upperleft corner for balls and a small mark in the upper right corner for strikes. You can also keep track of howmany pitches the batter fouled off. Place a small x at the bottom of the box for each foul ball.

Examples:

Batter At The Plate Batter Doubles Batter Walks Batter At The Plate2 Balls 1 Strike 3 Balls 2 Strikes 4 Balls 0 Strikes 2 Balls 2 Strikes

0 Pitches Fouled 5 Pitches Fouled 1 Pitch Fouled 2 Pitches Fouled

Each out is recorded inside the diamond. Use the player positions to describe which fielders wereinvolved. Record the first and last player to touch the ball for each out. In the case of a double play,record the fielders positions inside the box of the batter who hit into the play. There will be three numbers

because you record the first fielder who caught the ball, the relay man, and last fielder to catch the ball.When the third out is made, darken the bottom line of the game play box to signify the end of the inning.

Examples:

Fly Out To Ground Out Double Play Force OutCenter Field To Shortstop Short-Second-First At Second Base

Strikeout Unassisted Ground Sacrifice Fly Out Thrown OutEnd Of Inning Out To First Base To Left Field Trying For Double

Caught Trying To Sacrifice Bunt Picked Off Third Unassisted ForceSteal Second Base End Of Inning Out At Third Base

TIP: Remember that hits are recorded along the base path and outs are recorded

inside the diamond. It is important to darken the bottom line of the game box afterthe third out. You must know where the break between innings occurred.

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This instruction manual uses a set of basic symbols. Some scorekeepers use a more advanced setof symbols. They describe the play in more detail. You can add symbols to represent any information youfeel is important. The advanced symbols below are shown in red.

Examples:

Single To Foul Ball Caught Strikeout Line DriveLeft Center Field By Third Baseman Looking To Shortstop

As the game progresses, you must keep track of replacement players. When a relief pitcher enters thegame, record his jersey number and name in the area 4 underneath the pitcher who is being relieved.Record the number of innings pitched and the jersey number of the last batter faced. One out equals 1/3of an inning. A pitcher relieved in the 4

thinning with 2 outs recorded, has pitched 4 and 2/3 innings.

When a pinch batter or replacement player enters the game, record his jersey number, name, positionand the inning he entered the game in area 1 under the player he replaced. Darken the right side of thelast game play box of the player who is being replaced. This will separate the at bats for each player.

Thames Replaces Rayburn in 6thInning Rayburn At Bat Thames At Bat

Once the game is over, tabulate the statistics. Below is breakdown of the abbreviations for statistics.

Pitching Statistics:IP Innings Pitched BB WalksLB Last Batter Faced K Strikeouts

R Runs Allowed HP Batters Hit By A PitchH Hits Allowed WP Wild PitchesER Earned Runs

Batting Statistics:AB At Bats 3B Triples HitR Runs Scored HR Home Runs HitH Hits BB WalksRBI Runs Batted In K Strikeouts2B Doubles Hit

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Below is a sample portion of a scorecard following one team through three innings of game play. This willgive you a good idea of how your scorecard should look. On the right side, inside the light green box, is

the play by play of all 14 at bats that occurred during the three innings.

Scorecard Play By Play

1. Granderson grounds out to 2n

2. Polanco singles

3. Cabrera flys out to right field

4. Thames strikes out

(END OF FIRST INNING)

5. Rayburn walks

6. Inge hits a ground ball to short.

Rayburn is forced out at 2nd

ona fielders choice.

7. Ordonez doubles

Inge advances to 3rd

8. Ryan hits a sacrifice fly to center

Inge scores from 3rd

9. Everett reaches 1ston error by

the 3rd

baseman

10. Ordonez and Everett advance

on a wild pitch. Granderson flys

out to right field.

(END OF SECOND INNING)11. Polanco bunts for a single

12. Cabrera hits a ground ball to

short. Its relayed to 2nd

then

relayed to 1stfor a double play.

13. Thames hits a home run

14. Raburn grounds out to 1st

(END OF THIRD INNING)

TIP: You should practice keeping score beforeattempting to score games in an official capacity.

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Documents

How to Keep Score in Baseball