Scorekeeping Glossary

Fielders' Numbers

The traditional numerical notation to indicate the fielders' handling of a ball on the play. A single number indicates a caught out (for example, a lone 9 would be a fly to right field), while multiple numbers with dashes indicate throws (6-3 means the ball was grounded to the shortstop, who threw to first for the forceout).
1 - Pitcher
2 - Catcher
3 - First Baseman
4 - Second Baseman
5 - Third Baseman
6 - Shortstop
7 - Left Fielder
8 - Center Fielder
9 - Right Fielder
10 - Short Fielder / Rover (softball)

Abbreviations

Some common abbreviations for your card, or for confusing your friends by dropping into everyday speech.
  • b : Bunt 
    • Can be used in the lower-right with a single line for a base hit, or in the middle of the box for a failed attempt (i.e. b2-1, where the catcher fields the bunt and throws to first for the out).
  • BB : Base on balls 
    • Usually drawn in the lower-right of the scorebox. A far more common notation than the equivalent W for walk.
  • CS : Caught stealing
    • ​Usually accompanied by fielder's numbers, as in CS2-4 for a pitchout play to second. Can either go in the middle of the box or next to the basepath where the failed heist occurred.
  • DP / GIDP : Double play or grounded into double play 
    • Generally followed by the fielder's numbers on the play; DP6-4-3 means a shortstop to second base to first base double play. For double plays that begin with a caught out, a few notations can be used: for example, a liner to short - pickoff to first double play could be styled  LIDP 6-3 (for lined into double play) or, alternately, DP L6-3. 
  • E : Error
    • ​Accompanied by the offending player's fielding number. A batter who reaches first due to a bad throw by the third baseman would get an E5 in the bottom right of his scorebox.
  • F : Foul out / fly out
    • Depending on your style, generally used for a foul out (as in F2, a pop foul to the catcher) or a flyout (as in F8, a flyout to the center fielder.) Foul outs can also be indicated with a lower case f (i.e. f5, a pop foul to the third base side.)
  • FC : Fielder's choice  
    • Any ball where the batter reaches first but the fielders attempt to put out a different runner. Generally, the FC goes in the bottom-right for the batter, and in the center of the box along with fielders' numbers for the runner (i.e. FC6-4 for a runner on first put out by a throw from short to second.)
  • GR / GRD : Ground rule double
    • ​Generally placed in the upper-right corner of the box to accompany the usual two-line notation for double.
  • IBB / IW : Intentional base on balls / intentional walk  
    • If you want to be precise, an intentional base on balls is only supposed to be scored by official scorekeepers if a) the catcher is signaling for the walk, and b) the fourth ball of the walk is intentional. 
  • IF / IFR : Infield fly / infield fly rule  
  • K : Strikeout
    • ​Many scorekeepers use a forward K to denote a strikeout swinging (on the third strike) and a backwards K to denote a strikeout looking. Some others use subscript: Ks (swinging), Kc (called),  Kf (foul tip caught), etcetera.  The use of K rather than SO or S stems from Father of Scorekeeping Henry Chadwick, who picked the dominant letter of the word way back in the 19th century.
  • L : Lineout
    • ​A ball, sharply hit with minimal rise, caught by a player for the out (i.e. L4, a liner caught by the second baseman.)
  • P : Popout 
    • A ball lofted into the air that's handled in, or shortly beyond, the infield. Notations like P7 are rare, but possible (when a left fielder runs into the infield to make the play).
  • S / SAC / SF / SH : Sacrifice
    • All notations used to indicate a sacrifice play, where the batter takes an out to advance a runner.
      • A sacrifice bunt traditionally gets the S, SAC, or SH notation before fielders' numbers (stay away from SB, which is generally used for stolen bases, though we like the somewhat iconoclastic Sb.)  When totalling up stats, sac bunts don't count as an at bat and therefore don't impact a batting average; they are considered a plate appearance but don't impact on-base percentage. Remember, if the advancing runner is thrown out, it's a fielder's choice instead; if the batter otherwise reaches first safely it's a single (or an error). And it's a run batted in if a runner scores on the play!
      • A sacrifice fly, which traditionally gets the SF before a fielder's number, can only be scored when all of the following are true: there are less than two outs, and the ball is caught (generally, though errors on the catch can count too) outside the infield (including all foul territory), and a runner scores on the play. It's consider a run batted in; it's not an at bat and does not impact batting average, and it is a plate appearance and therefore impacts on-base percentage.
  • SB : Stolen base
    • ​Jot it in next to the baseline where the heist took place.
  • u :  Unassisted 
    • ​Generally used as a subscript before a fielder's number on a play.  For example, a grounder to first where the first baseman scoops up the ball and tags the base himself is a u3. 
  • WW : "Wasn't Watching."
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