Not all baseball scoreboards look the same. From Little League up to the majors, some are electronic, and some are changed by hand. Some are a few feet tall and some are gigantic. But they all report the same basic information, even if not in the same spots on the board, and they use common letter abbreviations that baseball fans memorize from an early age.
Teams
Some scoreboards list the names of the teams, but others use the static "guest" or "visitor" and "home" team. The guest is always on top since the guest bats first.
Innings
Spread across at least nine columns--some scoreboards make space for potential extra innings--both teams' scores are tallied for each inning. Beneath each column, the top number represents how many runs the guest team made, and the bottom number shows the number for the home team. Find out the score (which adds the runs in each inning) by looking for the "R" or "Runs" on the scoreboard. Often it is located to the right of the innings columns. The game is in the "top of the inning" when the guest team is at bat and in the "bottom of the inning" when it is the home team's turn.
R
R stands for "runs." It is the ongoing score of the game, updated every time a runner crosses home plate. The top number below "R" is the number of runs for the guest team; the bottom number represents the home team's score.
H
H stands for "hits." It is the ongoing number of times batters on each team hit the ball and safely reach at least first base. Teams keep track of individual players' hit percentages as a way to measure their performance.
E
E stands for "errors." It's the ongoing number of times the fielders for each team make mistakes on the field. It could be dropping a ball, not fielding it cleanly or overthrowing a ball. Teams keep track of individual players' errors as a way to measure their performance.
Balls
"Balls" are the number of times a batter neglects to swing at a pitch that is outside of the strike zone. It is an ongoing tally of the player who is up to bat. After four balls, the player takes a free "walk" to first base.
Strikes
Umpires call "strikes" when the batter makes a hit (or a foul), swings and misses at a pitch or neglects to swing at a pitch that is within the strike zone. The scoreboard keeps an ongoing tally of strikes for the player who is up to bat. Three strikes equal one out.
Outs
Teams get three outs per inning, and the scoreboard keeps an ongoing tally of outs for the team that is up to bat.
At-Bat
The number beneath "at bat" tells you which player is batting. You may have to consult a program to learn which player wears what number.
Extras
Some fancier scoreboards may provide the speed of each pitch. Other extras may include large video screens for closeups or replays, and space for scores of other ongoing games with the league.
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