Q&A for How to Mark a Baseball Scorecard

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I record an error?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    Is there an additional entry on the scorecard when a runner reaches on a fielder's choice?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    How would I mark down a balk?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    On a dropped third strike, if the batter makes it to first base before the throw from the catcher, how does that get scored?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I score when the batter hits a double, but advanced to 3rd on a play at the plate?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Show the double normally, and show the advance to third as a fielder's choice.
  • Question
    How do you score a play where the catcher drops a third strike?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    What does "PO" on a card mean?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It means "put out" (thrown or tagged out).
  • Question
    Why is the letter K used to denote a strikeout?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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."
  • Question
    What does "SH" stand for on a score sheet?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It means "sacrifice hit" (or bunt sacrifice), indicating the batter is thrown out at first.
  • Question
    What defensive player receives credit for putout if a base runner leaves too early?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I score a ground rule double?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Show it as a double with the notation "GR."
  • Question
    What is the rationale on numbering pitcher 1, etc? Why is 1 not 1st base?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    What is the difference between the "start time" and the "time of game"?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    "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.
  • Question
    What is the definition of batter interference?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    This refers to a batter's interfering with the catcher's ability to throw the ball or tag a runner.
  • Question
    What about double and triple plays, can't you do the numbers, for example a 6-4-3 double play (shortstop-2b-1b) - can't you do that too?
    Community Answer
    It's much easier to use the numbers, preceded by "DP" or "TP."
  • Question
    Do I put the opposing pitcher on the home team scorecard?
    June Kryk
    Community Answer
    You fill out one score sheet for the home team and one for the opposing team. The opposing team pitchers go on their sheet.
  • Question
    How is scorecard marked for the 10th or other additional batters in the same inning?
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I record a foul-tip 3rd strike for an out? Does the catcher get credited for the putout?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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).
  • Question
    How do I score a ground out into a shift, 3B playing in shallow right, for example?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Score it the usual way. The numbers refer to the position, no matter where the player is actually standing.
  • Question
    How do I put it on the scorecard if a team bats around?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    What is the purpose of a blank line after you put the batters name?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    How do I continue to score an inning when I go through the batting order a second time in the same inning?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    If it goes to extra innings, where do I record the extras?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    Scorecards are generally bright enough to give you spots for continued innings so you have at least a few more innings.
  • Question
    What’s the mark for a ghost runner?
    Christopher
    Top Answerer
    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.
  • Question
    How is it scored if a base runner runs out of the base path?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    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).
  • Question
    What do you do if a team goes through their batting order more than once in the same inning?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If the score sheet has extra innings, use one of them (labeled accordingly). You may need to use a second sheet (again, labeled accordingly).
  • Question
    If it is a tie game starting the 10th, how do you show a runner at second base?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Show the runner starting at second base with no plate appearance. Draw a heavy dot at second to show the player began there.
  • Question
    When all batters hit in 1 inning, what columns to umark?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If a batter hits more than once in an inning, you will have to use another column to note the second at-bat, perhaps on a second sheet of paper.
  • Question
    How do you score a little league game where no one is out of the game forever?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Simply leave blank whatever innings the player does not appear at the plate.
  • Question
    If a batter reaches base on an error and the next batter drives him in for a run, does that count as an rbi? My point being, if it's not counted as an earned run, why credit an rbi?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    A batter is credited with an RBI when he brings a runner home, no matter how the runner originally got on base. To do otherwise would "penalize" the batter for something that wasn't his fault. Earned runs are a pitching statistic, while RBI's are batting statistics, and there's no connection between the two.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article