Scorekeeping guides

Everything here is free, and none of it needs an account. These guides cover keeping score of a baseball game by hand — the notation, the equipment, and the reading skills that go with it — written for somebody starting from nothing.

AStart keeping score

Learn the grid, the common notation and its variations, and how to stay with the game when it gets complicated.

01
How to score a baseball game
How to keep score in baseball by hand: the scorecard grid, the nine position numbers, the symbols for hits, outs and walks, and a worked half-inning to follow.
02
Baseball scorekeeping symbols and position numbers
Baseball scorecard abbreviations in one reference: the nine position numbers, the marks for outs, hits, walks, steals and substitutions, and where scorers differ.
03
How to record baseball substitutions on a scorecard
Record pinch hitters, pinch runners, pitching changes, defensive replacements and position changes without losing the batting order.
04
What to do when you miss a play while keeping score
Recover a baseball scorecard after you miss a play: protect the batting order, mark the gap, use play-by-play, and correct the card without falling behind.

BChoose your paper setup

Pick a scorebook and writing tool that fit the detail you want to keep.

1
Choosing a baseball scorebook
What differs between baseball scorebooks — cell size, binding, page count, pitch grids — with a fair look at Numbers Game, Bob Carpenter, Eephus League and two more.
2
Pen or pencil for baseball scorekeeping?
Choose a pen or pencil for a baseball scorebook by line width, paper, correction needs and writing feel. Includes a simple ballpark kit.

CTake the book to the ballpark

Score from the stands and keep a record of the parks and games you saw.

1
Keeping score at a baseball game in person
What to bring, where to sit, and how to keep a scorecard going through the substitutions, the crowd noise and the dead wifi at a live baseball game.
2
Ballpark passports and keeping a record of the games you saw
What an MLB ballpark passport is, how the validation stamp works, where to get your book stamped at the park, and how to keep the same record on a phone.

DRead and follow the game

Read a line score and box score, put statistics in context, or follow a game without seeing ahead.

1
How to read a baseball box score and a line score
What every column in a baseball box score means — AB, RBI, IP, ER, ERA and WHIP — plus R/H/E, the X in the ninth, and why 5.2 innings pitched is five and two-thirds.
2
Baseball stats glossary
What every common baseball statistic measures and what counts as good — AVG, OPS, wRC+, ERA, FIP, WAR, exit velocity and more, in plain language.
3
How to watch a baseball game on delay without spoilers
A practical guide to watching a baseball game hours late without learning the score: what leaks it, what to turn off, and how to follow lineups safely.