Q&A for How to Mark a Baseball Scorecard

A capital "E" is the symbol for an error. If the second baseman makes an error, for example, you would write "E-4." If the error is specifically a ''throwing'' error, you would write an E with a small superscript "T" to the upper-right, similar to writing an exponent in math, such as 3². This would be followed by the hyphen and the number designating the player making the throwing error.

A fielder's choice is noted by writing "FC." This can be used to show how a batter reached base safely and also how any other baserunners advanced.

A balk is shown with a capital "B." It's shown on the "infield" symbol of the runner(s) affected. Thus, if a runner advances from first to second on a balk, mark the "B" between first and second on the player's infield symbol.

Score it "K-PB": that is, a strikeout and a "passed ball" (catcher's error), or "K-WP": a strikeout and a "wild pitch" if the pitch was not catchable by the catcher. In either case, show the batter making it safely to first base. No out is recorded, although a strikeout is credited to the pitcher.

Show the double normally, and show the advance to third as a fielder's choice.

If the catcher drops a third strike and then throws to first base to retire the batter, it's noted as a strikeout and a throw-out: K 2-3. If the catcher drops the strike but then tags the batter, it's scored as a regular strikeout (although you could note the dropped third strike). If the batter makes it safely to first base, it's scored K-PB (passed ball) or K-WP (wild pitch), and the batter is shown as making it to first base.

It means "put out" (thrown or tagged out).

The inventor of the first baseball scoring system decided to use the letter "K," because he used "S" to designate a sacrifice, and "K" was the last letter in the word "struck," as in "struck out."

It means "sacrifice hit" (or bunt sacrifice), indicating the batter is thrown out at first.

In baseball, there is no such thing as "leaving early." If you are talking about slow-pitch softball (or some other game where leading off is not allowed), the infielder nearest the base in question is credited with the putout.

Show it as a double with the notation "GR."

There is no compelling rationale involved. Whoever invented the scoring system had to start somewhere and must have decided that the pitcher and catcher deserved to have the first numbers.

"Start time" is the time of day (or night) when the first pitch is thrown. "Time of game" refers to the length of time the game takes from first pitch to last out.

This refers to a batter's interfering with the catcher's ability to throw the ball or tag a runner.

It's much easier to use the numbers, preceded by "DP" or "TP."

You fill out one score sheet for the home team and one for the opposing team. The opposing team pitchers go on their sheet.

Simply move on to record in the next inning's column on your scorecard, but remember to renumber the remaining innings at the top of the card.

It is scored simply as "K 2". Yes, the catcher is credited with the putout, as is the case with all strikeouts except on a dropped third strike where the catcher has to throw the batter out at first base (and the first baseman gets the putout).

Score it the usual way. The numbers refer to the position, no matter where the player is actually standing.

If more than nine batters hit, you would have to enter the tenth batter (even if it's the same player as the first batter) -- as well as further batters -- on additional lines on the scorecard (or a second scorecard if there's no room on the first). You could also improvise a second "infield" drawing on the original line(s) (if there's room) to show the second at-bat of the inning.

Runs are scored for each team in each inning column, then the scored runs are totaled in the R column of the box score per team.

Pickoffs are scored as "PO" on the scorecard. Ensure the original play is recorded, and note the players involved (such as "2-3" for catcher to first baseman), followed by "PO" in parentheses.

Mark the batter moving to second base and label it with "GRD," standing for Ground-Rule Double.

Whether a strikeout is marked with a backward K or a regular K depends on the batter's actions. A backward K indicates the batter didn't swing at the pitch, while a regular K means the batter swung and missed.

In this scenario, you generally extend the innings into the following inning's line on the scorecard and use a separator between batters to indicate what happened in that inning.

Some scorecards ask for the position there, while others ask for the players jersey number. Others provide you a spot to record the player's original batting average. Follow directional column titles for what the scorecards tell you to mark.

Continue to mark the players in their second time through in the second inning but make sure to mark the second inning with a line separating where the inning started pushing everything back into position.

Scorecards are generally bright enough to give you spots for continued innings so you have at least a few more innings.

The ghost runner doesn't get a mark. Though its understood the ghost runner to be its the player that got the last out in the previous inning.

Note the putout with words like "left basepath" and give the putout to the nearest defensive player (subject to any ruling by an official scorer).