How to Learn to Keep a Baseball Scorebook
Flipping open a baseball scorebook to score a game can be daunting when you're doing it for the first time. Essentially, a scorebook is page after page filled with tiny diamonds and tinier letters. Yet this somewhat complex book is the backbone of America's national pastime--and learning to keep score isn't hard once you've learned a few basics.
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Instructions
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Keeping score
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Read the directions and learn the lingo before the game. Most scorebooks come with a simple glossary of terms to help you understand the basics of keeping score. This includes what the various symbols mean (K for strikeout, BB for base on balls, etc.), a listing of the numbers given to the various fielders, as well as samples of how to keep track of each play.
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Ask for help. If you're using a scorebook at a game, chances are there is somebody nearby who can give you some pointers on what to look for. If you're at a youth game, you may be able to get close to the official scorer to get advice on things such as errors, passed balls and other game details.
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Watch the ball at all times. This sounds simple, but many people keeping a scorebook can get lulled into a false sense of security between pitches. They let their mind wander or they talk to the person next to them or they are reviewing the game's stats. But anything can happen on any pitch, and that means you need to pay attention by watching the pitcher and following the play of the game.
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Buy a program if you're at a professional game. The inside of the scorebook will have the complete rosters of both teams, and most have a page dedicated to learning how to keep score. Many also have a sample page, often taken from a famous game, that will demonstrate how to keep score.
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Tips & Warnings
Always use pencils. Bring several pencils and erasers in case of emergency.
Don't write down the scoring until the umpire makes his call. There is nothing worse than shading in a diamond to signify a run scored only to see the umpire rule a player out instead. Never assume a play is over or mark it a certain way until the umpire make the call.
Fill out the batting orders completely before the start of the game (i.e. players' names, positions and uniform numbers). This ensures fewer errors as the game goes on.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit baseball field image by Dave from Fotolia.com
