How to keep score in baseball
Keeping score looks like a secret code, but it's really just a tidy shorthand for what happens on the field. This beginner's guide covers the basics, the position numbers, the common symbols, and a worked inning-by-inning example.
Scoring basics
A scorecard has one row per batter in the lineup and one column per inning. Each cell contains a small diamond that represents the four bases. As a batter comes up, you record what they did in that inning's cell — and if they reach base, you trace their path around the diamond as they advance, all the way home if they score.
Three ideas do most of the work:
- Every fielder has a number (see the table below). Defensive plays are written with those numbers.
- The diamond in each cell is a map. Fill in the corner or trace the line a runner reaches — first, second, third, home.
- A filled-in diamond means a run scored. A clear, consistent scorecard lets anyone replay the game later.
Fielding position numbers
Defensive positions are numbered 1–9. These never change, and they're the backbone of scorekeeping notation.
| # | Position | # | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pitcher (P) | 6 | Shortstop (SS) |
| 2 | Catcher (C) | 7 | Left Field (LF) |
| 3 | First Base (1B) | 8 | Center Field (CF) |
| 4 | Second Base (2B) | 9 | Right Field (RF) |
| 5 | Third Base (3B) |
So a ground ball fielded by the shortstop and thrown to first base for the out is written 6-3. A fly ball caught by the center fielder is F8.
Common symbols and notation
Here are the marks you'll use most. Chadwick's Revenge places these for you, but knowing them makes any scorecard readable.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1B | Single |
| 2B | Double |
| 3B | Triple |
| HR | Home run |
| BB | Base on balls (walk) |
| HBP | Hit by pitch |
| K | Strikeout (swinging) |
| Kc / ˉK | Called strikeout (looking) |
| F7 | Fly out (here, to left field) |
| 6-3 | Ground out, shortstop to first |
| FC | Fielder's choice |
| E6 | Reached on error (here, by the shortstop) |
| SB / CS | Stolen base / caught stealing |
| SF / SH | Sacrifice fly / sacrifice bunt |
| DP | Double play |
| WP / PB | Wild pitch / passed ball |
An inning, step by step
Imagine the top of the first. Here's how four batters might look on the card:
- Batter 1 lines a single to right. Write
1Band shade the path to first base. - Batter 2 strikes out swinging. Write
Kand mark the first out. - Batter 3 hits a double; the runner from first comes around to score. Write
2Bfor batter 3, extend batter 1's path all the way home, and fill in batter 1's diamond to show the run. - Batter 4 grounds out, shortstop to first:
6-3, the second out. Batter 3 holds at second.
At the end of the inning you can read the whole story off the card: one run, one hit left on base, and exactly who did what.
How Chadwick's Revenge helps
You can learn all of this on paper — but the app makes it painless while you're still learning:
- It writes the symbols for you. Tap what happened and the correct notation appears in the right cell.
- It does the math. Batting averages, RBIs, earned runs, and the box score are computed automatically.
- It's shareable and printable. Print your scorecard or download a PDF when the game ends.
- It works anywhere. Any tablet, phone, or laptop, online or off — free, with no install.
Scorekeeping questions
What do the numbers 1–9 mean on a scorecard?
They're the defensive positions: 1 is the pitcher, 2 the catcher, 3–5 the infield corners and second base, 6 the shortstop, and 7–9 the outfield from left to right. Plays are written using those numbers, like 6-3 for shortstop to first.
Do I have to memorize the symbols?
No. In Chadwick's Revenge you tap what happened and the app fills in the correct symbol and runner path — a great way to learn by watching.
Is this the same for softball?
Mostly, yes — the notation is shared. See the softball scorekeeper to set up a softball game.
Learn by doing
The fastest way to learn scorekeeping is to score a game. Open Chadwick's Revenge and let it place the symbols while you follow along — free and in your browser.
Open the Scorekeeper