Baseball is a complex sport with a set of rules that are recorded by the scorekeeper. In Major League Baseball, the league president assigns an official scorer to maintain the scorebook during every game. The official scorer is in charge of keeping offensive and defensive records, making decisions with record errors and communicating scorebook updates to the press box. Learning how to keep a baseball scorebook can be overwhelming at first but there are a few basic instructions to make it easier.
Step 1
Review the basic layout of the scorebook to become familiar with it. Record information in the appropriate spaces that can include team names, date, names of umpires, start time of the game, location and other statistics.
Step 2
Keep offensive records for every batter and runner. This can include, but is not limited to, batting order, runs scored, hits, runs batted in, home runs, stolen bases, walks and strikeouts. Each team will have their own page in the scorebook to record the batting order with a row for each inning. When a player comes to bat, record the statistical information in the appropriate row and corresponding column that matches the inning being played.
Step 3
Maintain defense and fielding records including putouts, assists, errors and double plays. These records will be recorded using a number system that represents the different defensive positions. The numbers go from one to nine and indicate the pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder and right fielder, respectively. The defensive records are kept on the scorecard for the offensive team and placed in the box lining up with the appropriate hitter or runner. For example, a double play that is fielded by the shortstop, then flipped to the second baseman and thrown to the first baseman will be recorded as 6-4-3.
Step 4
Calculate the pitching records, including number of innings pitched, number of hits, runs, home runs, strikeouts and wild pitches. Also record the winning and losing pitchers and any closing pitcher that can be credited with a save. To be eligible to be a winning pitcher, the starting pitcher must have stayed in the game for at least five innings. If the pitcher does not make five innings, then a relief pitcher can receive credit for the win.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask for help after a difficult or unusual play. Keep a Major League rule book next to the scorebook to answer any unusual questions.
Things You'll Need
- Scorebook
- Pencil
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