Basic Baseball ScoreKeeping:Baseball ScoreKeeping - The creation of Baseball Score keeping is generally credited to Sportswriter Henry Chadwick, in the 1870’s. Although the system he used has evolved into today’s rather specific score keeping, his basic intention is still in use. Baseball Score keeping can had fun and excitement to the already fascinating feeling one feels when they exit the confines of the stadium tunnels and walkways, into the bright sunlight and see the beauty of a MLB ball park. The scorecard you’ve just purchased from a vendor, can turn into a treasure of a son or daughter’s first attendance at a MLB game with their parent(s). Let’s examine some of the basics of score keeping. 
Traditional Scorecard information: Modern day scorecards will vary, especially MLB cards, which will be enhanced with pictures of players or advertising, or upcoming dates, but they all include the basic form for recording information.1. There’s a space for general game information: Date, Time, Location and Teams Playing. 2. Space for recording the batting lineup: Both teams, player position and uniform number. 3. The scorecard itself for recording the action. 4. A space to tally each player’s stats for that game. 5 A space to record the Pitchers starting the Game.
Baseball ScoreKeeping - Abbreviations The Baseball Score keeping form is only so big, so abbreviations were created which could put a lot of information in a very small area. To begin, each position is assigned a number identifying that position. #1 Pitcher (P) #2 Catcher © #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) Home run: HR Sacrifice: SH or Sac Balk: BK Hit by Pitch: HP Wild Pitch: WP These numbers, along with other abbreviations, are used to record the story of exactly what happened to a player pertaining to his turn at bat. 
For example: Say the first batter hit’s a ground ball to the shortstop (SS) #6, who fields the ball and throws the ball to the First Baseman (1B) # 3, getting the runner out at first base. This would be recorded as 6-3 Shortstop to First Baseman. You know the ball had to be hit on the ground, because the SS was forced to throw to first, a fly ball or line drive would have been an out as soon as the catch was made.Another example: A batter lifts a fly ball to center field, which the Center Fielder (CF) # 8 catches for the out. You would record this as F8 meaning a fly ball to the center fielder. This would work fine for our purposes, but an Official, would use slightly different abbreviations for the Baseball Score keeping ‘8’ because the letter F is reserved to indicate a foul ball. F8 is just fine. Final Out The final out of the inning is recorded when the third batter strikes out. There are several different methods for recording this Strikeout. The letter K is used indicating a strikeout, but if the batter struck out on a called third strike, you would use a backwards K, other notions such as “Kc” for called strike, or “Ks” swung and missed, are also options.
Baseball ScoreKeeping - Reaching Base We’ve examined ways of recording outs, let’s now look at methods used to tell the story of a batter reaching base safely. When a hitter reaches base safely either by a walk, hit, or an error, a line is drawn from home plate to the base reached. In other words, if a batter singles to left field, you’d draw a line to first base and write a 1B indicating a base hit. If the batter reaches first base by a walk, a line is drawn to 1st and BB( Base on Balls) or W (Walk) is written in. If it was an intentional walk IBB would be used. If a batter hit’s a ground ball to third, which the third baseman fields and throws to second base for a force out, a line is drawn to 1st, but the letters FC(Fielders Choice) would be written. 
Baseball ScoreKeeping - If a batter hit’s a ground ball to the shortstop, who allows the ball to go between his legs into left field, you’d draw a line to 1st and write E6 an error on the shortstop.In this case the batter hit’s a triple to right center field. You’d draw a line from home all the way around to third base and write 3B which indicate the batter hit a triple, not a base hit, then advanced to third on another base hit. Advancing Runners Most amateurs, including myself, simply continue to extend the line of the hitter who is on base as he advances, for whatever reason. The player behind him getting a double which moves the first runner to third, I’d draw a line from 1st to third for the original hitter and a line from home to second (2B) for the second hitter. Baseball scorekeeping professional are much more specific indicating player numbers, fielder numbers and other various information which occurred during the play. We don’t need that, all we need as amateurs is to know a batter hit a double and now there’s runners of second and third.
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Baseball ScoreKeeping can be simple and adequately performed with these few simple abbreviations and numbers, so that when the game is over, you have a treasured souvenir which you and your child completed together. It can be a great way to enjoy the game even more than just watching your favorite player’s actions. 
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Like an old friend, is that old reliable glove you’ve used for years, the one you wore to make that incredible catch which won the championship, suffering dry leather and frayed or broken strings?
Don’t spend $70 or more to have a glove refurbished, which you may or may not have back until the middle of the season. Do it Yourself for pennies!
