How to Read a Baseball Box Score

Statistical summary of a game of baseball game

A baseball box score from 1876.

A box score is a nautical chart used in baseball to present data about player achievement in a particular game. An abbreviated version of the box score, duplicated from the field scoreboard, is the line score. The Baseball game Hall of Fame credits Henry Chadwick with the invention of the box score in 1858.

Line score [edit]

The line score is a two-line chart that reports each team'southward run totals by inning, and full runs, total hits, and total errors on a line. The visiting team is on the top line and the domicile team on the lesser line. The terms top of the inning and bottom of the inning are derived from their positions in the line score. Sometimes, the winning team is bolded or colored for quick-reference. If the home team is leading afterward the superlative of the 9th inning, an "X" is placed for that team'south entry in the line score for the bottom of the 9th inning instead of a number of runs scored since the team does not bat in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Line score for the Brooklyn Dodgers–New York Giants pennant-winning game of October 3, 1951:

Squad 1 2 iii four 5 6 7 viii nine R H E
Brooklyn ane 0 0 0 0 0 0 iii 0 4 8 0
New York 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 v 8 0
WP: Larry Jansen LP: Ralph Branca

Box score [edit]

The box score lists the line score likewise as individual and squad functioning in the game. The statistics used are those recorded by the official scorer of each game.

The following box score is of a notable game in baseball game history, Game 6 of the 1991 World Serial.

Saturday, October 26, 1991 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota  Atlanta      0 0 0   0 two 0   i 0 0   0 0 – 3 9 1 Minnesota    2 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0   0 1 - 4 nine 0  Atlanta Braves     ab  r  h rbi   bb then   po  a Smith dh            3  ane  0   0    1  0    0  0 Pendleton 3b        five  1  4   2    0  0    ane  ii Gant cf             v  0  0   i    0  0    two  0 Justice rf          4  0  0   0    1  1    3  0 Bream 1b            4  0  1   0    one  0   12  2   Mitchell pr,lf    0  0  0   0    0  0    0  0 Hunter lf,1b        5  0  0   0    0  0    ane  0 Olson c             5  0  0   0    0  one    6  0 Lemke 2b            4  ane  2   0    0  0    2  3 Belliard ss         ii  0  1   0    0  i    i  4   Gregg ph          0  0  0   0    0  0    0  0   Blauser ph,ss     2  0  1   0    0  1    1  3  Totals             39  3  9   3    3  4   thirty 14  FIELDING - Atlanta DP: two. Bream-Belliard-Bream, Blauser-Lemke-Bream. East: Hunter (1).  BATTING - Atlanta  60 minutes: Pendleton (ii,5th inning off Erickson 1 on 1 out). HBP: Smith (ane,by Erickson). Gdp: Smith (one,off Willis). Team LOB: vii.  BASERUNNING - Atlanta CS: Mitchell (1,2nd base by Aguilera/Harper).  Minnesota Twins    ab  r  h rbi   bb then   po  a Gladden lf          four  one  0   0    1  0    1  0 Knoblauch 2b        5  1  ane   0    0  0    4  1 Puckett cf          4  2  three   3    0  1    three  0 Davis dh            four  0  0   0    0  one    0  0 Mack rf             4  0  2   1    0  0    0  0 Leius 3b            iii  0  2   0    0  0    3  ii   Pagliarulo ph,3b  1  0  0   0    0  1    2  0 Hrbek 1b            four  0  0   0    0  1   xi  1 Ortiz c             2  0  0   0    0  i    4  0   Harper ph,c       ii  0  0   0    0  1    0  ane Gagne ss            four  0  1   0    0  0    5  six  Totals             37  4  nine   4    1  half dozen   33 11  FIELDING - Minnesota  DP: 2. Gagne-Hrbek, Gagne.  BATTING - Minnesota  2B: Mack (1,off Avery). 3B: Puckett (1,off Avery). HR: Puckett (ii,11th inning off Leibrandt 0 on 0 out). SF: Puckett (1,off Avery). GDP: Hrbek (1,off Avery); Gladden (1,off Stanton). Team LOB: 5.  BASERUNNING - Minnesota  SB: Gladden (2,2nd base off Avery/Olson); Puckett (ane,2nd base off Stanton/Olson).   Pitchers  Atlanta Braves       IP  H  R  ER  BB  SO HR BFP Avery               6.0  6  3   3   i   iii  0  25 Stanton             2.0  2  0   0   0   1  0   vii Pena                2.0  0  0   0   0   two  0   6 Leibrandt (L, 0-2)  0.0  ane  1   1   0   0  1   1 TOTALS               10  9  four   4   1   half-dozen  1  39 Leibrandt faced ane batter in the 11th inning  Minnesota Twins      IP  H  R  ER  BB  And then Hour BFP Erickson            vi.0  five  iii   3   2   ii  1  26 Guthrie             0.1  ane  0   0   1   ane  0   3 Willis              2.2  i  0   0   0   one  0   eight Aguilera  (W, one-ane)  2.0  2  0   0   0   0  0   vi TOTALS               xi  9  3   3   3   4  one  43 Erickson faced 1 concoction in the seventh inning  WP–Guthrie (ane).  HBP–Erickson (1,Smith).   Inherited Runners - Scored: Guthrie ane-0; Willis 3-1.  U–Ed Montague (NL), Don Denkinger (AL), Harry Wendelstedt (NL), Drew Coble (AL),  Rick Reed (AL), Terry Tata (NL).  T–iii:46.  A–55,155.          

(All game references below refer to the box score above.)

At the top of the box score, the editor of a publication may list the fourth dimension, date, and/or place of the game. In the example, the stadium'south proper noun (the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome) and city (Minneapolis) are listed.

The line score is always listed every bit office of the box score, usually near the top; it lists the total runs scored in each inning. (The Atlanta Braves scored two runs in the fifth inning and one in the seventh. The Minnesota Twins scored two runs in the get-go inning, one in the fifth, and one in the eleventh. ) Innings are unremarkably grouped in sets of 3 for ease of reading. The team totals of runs, hits, and errors are listed last, later on a separating graphic symbol such as a dash. The actual score of the game is represented by the first column later on the dash; (the Twins won this game four runs to three.)

The batting performances of each role player in the game are grouped by team, with the visiting team listed first. Players are listed by last proper name in the club in which they were listed on the lineup card for the game, showing all players who enter the game at any indicate whether they make a plate appearance or non. Their fielding positions or batting roles are usually listed next to their last name. Typically only last names are used, unless 2 players with the same name announced in the game, in which case a distinctive first initial is too used. When a thespian switches fielding position, both positions are listed. (Brian Hunter, in the sixth position of the Braves' batting order, started at left field but also served as the first baseman.) Substitute players are listed where they were placed in the batting club (in cases such as a double switch, not necessarily in the position of the player they replaced). Players who had an offensive role but are listed by that role: "ph" if they entered every bit a pinch hitter or "pr" if as a pinch runner. Substitutes who enter for defensive purposes and do not make a plate advent have their fielding position shown and their batting line score shown as zeros. When a pinch hitter or pinch runner remains in the game, his fielding position is also listed. Some box scores will indent substitutes' names to point their spot in the lodge was the aforementioned as the not-indented starter's proper name to a higher place information technology; others will leave all names left-justified. (The Twins' Brian Harper compression striking for Junior Ortiz and then remained in the game as catcher.)

Batting statistics are displayed to the right of the names in the lineup. At minimum are shown each concoction'southward at bats, runs, hits, and runs batted in. Some box scores show other actor statistics such equally dwelling house runs, stolen bases, bases on balls, strikeouts, fielding errors, times left on base, habitation runs, or flavour batting average. At the bottom of the lineup are the squad totals for each category.

Additional batting, fielding, and base-running statistics are listed in non-tabular form normally beneath the batting club summaries:

  • E– errors (Brian Hunter committed an fault, his first of the postseason series).
  • DP– double plays (Each team turned two double plays.) Some box scores list the fielders involved.
  • 2B– doubles (Shane Mack striking a double, on a pitch from Steve Avery, his first in the postseason).
  • 3B- triples (Kirby Puckett striking a triple, on a pitch from Avery, his beginning).
  • Hour- home runs (There were two domicile runs in the game. With one out, Terry Pendleton hitting his second dwelling house run of the serial, a abode run with a man on base on a pitch from Scott Erickson in the fifth inning; with no outs, Puckett hit abode run with no one on base of operations in the eleventh inning, his second of the serial, which won the game for Minnesota.)
  • HBP- batters hit by a pitch (Lonnie Smith was striking by a pitch from Erickson. It was his offset time being hit in this serial)
  • SF- sacrifice fly (Puckett was credited with a sacrifice wing, striking off of Avery.)
  • CS- caught stealing (Keith Mitchell was thrown out by Brian Harper when attempting to steal second base on a pitch by Rick Aguilera.)
  • SB– stolen base (Dan Gladden stole his second base of the serial on a pitch from Avery to Greg Olson; Puckett also stole 2d on a pitch from Mike Stanton--his offset stolen base of operations of the series.)
  • TB– total bases (It's 1 for a unmarried, two for a double, three for a triple and four for a home run. For example, if a concoction has two singles, a double and a home run, this would be eight total bases.)

Below the batting orders and line score, the pitching summary is listed. Each pitcher used in the game is listed, forth with whatsoever decision awarded to that pitcher. A pitcher can be credited with a win, a loss, a save, or a hold. Cumulative totals for pitching decisions are as well shown, for either regular flavor or post-season play. To the right of each pitcher's name are recorded the total innings pitched, hits given upward, runs allowed, earned runs allowed, bases on balls issued, and strikeouts made. More elaborate statistics may also be displayed, such every bit home runs allowed, pitch count, or the pitcher's cumulative earned run average.

Other pitching events are shown below the summary.

  • WP- wild pitch thrown (Marker Guthrie threw 1 wild pitch, his kickoff of the series.)
  • HBP – striking by pitch, the reverse of the listing from the batting summary (Erickson hit Lonnie Smith with a pitch, his first hit batsman of the serial).

Other overall game data is shown at the bottom of the box score.

  • U- umpire crew (Six umpires worked this game, listed by umpiring position. The home plate umpire is listed beginning, then the umpires for each base in order, so the left and correct field umpires, if any. In inter-league play, league affiliations were besides shown, but, with the merger of the major-league umpiring staffs prior to the 2000 season, these references have been eliminated .)
  • T- time of the game, not counting rain delays or light failure (The game was played in three hours and forty-6 minutes.)
  • A- paid attendance (55,155 tickets were sold for this game.)

Nigh box scores besides requite the temperature, weather, and air current speed/management.

Other events not shown in the instance but recorded in well-nigh box scores include cede hits ("S"), triple plays ("TP"), balks ("BK"), diddled saves ("BS"), and passed assurance ("PB"). Many box scores, to relieve space, practice non list whatsoever categories where none of that effect occurred in the game. Others will list the category followed by " – None".

In a baseball game, the number of plate appearances for each squad must be equal to the number of batters put out, scored, and left on base of operations. A box score is in residue (or proved) when the full of the team's times at bat, bases on assurance received, hitting batters, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and batters awarded first base considering of interference or obstruction equals the total of that team'southward runs, players left on base of operations and the opposing team's putouts. In other words, the box score is accounting for the number of batters and what became of them (scored, left on base of operations, or put out). If a box score is unbalanced, then there is a logical contradiction and thus an error somewhere in the box score.

Early on box scores [edit]

The first box scores tended to exist vaguely related to cricket scorekeeping, in that but 2 offense-oriented figures were presented for each concoction: "O" and "R", meaning "number of times put out" and "number of runs scored", respectively.

As fan interest in all aspects of the game increased, the box scores were revised and expanded to include the offensive categories At-Bats, Runs, Hits and sometimes Total Bases; and the defensive categories Put-Outs, Assists and Errors for each batter, as well as a statistical summary underneath the lineups list extra-base of operations hits, innings pitched, earned runs, etc.

In baseball, if the team scheduled to bat last is leading subsequently 8½ innings, there is no turn at bat for that squad, equally it would not impact the outcome of the game, so the final of the ninth is usually marked with an "X" equally a placeholder in the line score. Some newspapers (and some scoreboards) in those days showed the home team in the meridian line, resulting in the peculiarity of an "10" placed in what appeared to be the "top" of the ninth. This practice was a carryover from the fourth dimension when the home team had the choice of whether to bat first or terminal, another similarity with cricket. Teams would often cull to bat first, counting on their ability to "get the jump" on the visiting team (equally with football game teams that win the coin toss), but the potential for the visitors scoring the winning run in the last of ninth was clearly an unsatisfying situation for the fans. The rules eventually required the home team to bat last, but the practice of listing the abode squad first was carried on for a while, in some places, even when information technology did non square with the bodily events of the game.

The offensive statistic Runs Batted In was developed in the early on 1900s, and was soon beingness carried in the lineup portion of the box scores.

As relief pitching became more common, a dissever "lineup" section for the pitchers was developed, carrying individual Innings Pitched; the number of Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, and Bases on Balls immune; and Strike-Outs accomplished.

By the late 1960s or so, in the interest of infinite, virtually newspapers dropped the defensive stats from the lineups, just carrying the listing of errors (if whatever) in the game summary. For a special issue, such every bit Earth Serial play (especially if a local team is involved), newspapers still often print the wider version of the box score.

Come across also [edit]

  • Baseball scorekeeping

Sources [edit]

  • Henry Chadwick's biography at Baseball Hall of Fame

sullivanseepince1950.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_score_(baseball)

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