Kids Sports
Baseball: Keeping Score
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Baseball Rules
Many people enjoy keeping score during a baseball game. Keeping score involves using a score card to write down what occurred on each at bat. This includes which players were involved on defense when an out is made, whether a player reached first due to a walk or a base hit, stolen bases, and more. Keeping score can be fun and keep you involved in the details of the game.
The Scorecard
The first thing you need is a scorecard. The program for the baseball game will have a scorecard. You can also buy a book of generic scorecards or download them from the internet and print them out. You use two scorecards during a game; one for each team.
There are usually four main areas on the scorecard:
- Line up or Roster list - This is where you write down each player's name, position, and number. You write them down in the order that they bat.
- Inning area - This is where you will spend most of the time during the game. In this area you record the results of each at bat.
- Totals area - At the end of the game you total up each player's stats to get number of hits, at bats, errors, etc.
- Pitcher area - Here you record each pitcher who pitched and their results such as innings pitched, earned runs, hits, strike outs, etc.
Player Position Numbers
One of the things you need to know for scoring the game is the player position numbers. Each position has a number as well as a standard abbreviation:
1. Pitcher (P)
2. Catcher (C)
3. First baseman (1B)
4. Second baseman (2B)
5. Third baseman (3B)
6. Shortstop (SS)
7. Left fielder (LF)
8. Center fielder (CF)
9. Right fielder (RF)
So the shortstop, for example, can also be referred to as "6" or "SS".
Recording an Out
When a player gets out you need to record that in the main scoring area. You write it under the inning and next to the player who is out. There are a number of ways a player can get out:
- Strikeout - You write a "K" in the space if the player strikes out. If you want to get fancy you can write Kc for a called third strike or Ks if the player swung on the third strike.
- Groundout - If the player hits a ground ball and then is thrown out at first base, you write the down the players in the field who were involved in the out. For example, if the grounder went to the third baseman and then to the first baseman you write 5-3 (5 for the third baseman and 3 for first base).
- Flyout - If the player is out because the ball was caught you write the position that caught the ball next to an "F" for flyout. For example, if it was the right fielder who caught the ball you write F9.
- Double Play - In the case of a double play, you again write all the players involved in getting the out. A typical double play would be shortstop to second base to first base. This would be written 6-4-3. You would also write DP in the middle of the diamond.
Each time an out is made during an inning write the number of the out (1,2,3) circled in the bottom left of the player's box. At the end of the inning, put a slash at the bottom right of the last player to get out.
When a Player Reaches Base Safely
When a player reaches a base safely, you draw a line to that base. If they hit a single you write 1B, a double 2B, and a triple 3B. For a home run, draw in the entire diamond and write HR in the middle.
Other Notations
- PB - Passed ball
- E - Error
- SB - Stolen base
- HP - Hit Pitch
- FC - Fielder's choice
- WP - Wild pitch
- GRD - Ground rule double
More Kids Baseball Links:
Back to Baseball
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Today In History |
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Who was born on this day:
1952 Mr. T (Actor)
1981 Josh Hamilton (Baseball player)
What happened today in history:
1881 The American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton.
1927 Charles Lindbergh completes the first solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
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