# Anyone else keep score at baseball games?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 4, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820 "2003-08-04T02:55:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/1 "2003-08-04T02:55:45Z")
Serendipity, is why I’m asking.
I went to a Twins game today (I try to take grampa to one at least once a season) and bought a scorecard, as per normal. I just picked up the local rag and there was a story on the front page of the sports section decrying the lack of fan scoring at the local semi-pro games. And, come to think of it, I was the only person within sight keeping score.
I never really think of it, I suppose. I learned to score softball games when I was a kid and still fill in now and again. My big complaint about Twins scorecards is that they don’t have those little “1B, 2B, 3B, HR, BB, etc.” thingies to mark off like in official scorebooks.
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### Author:  [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/2 "2003-08-04T03:00:27Z")
I know how to keep score, but I don’t. I’d rather just sit and chat with my friends and watch the game.
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### Author:  [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/3 "2003-08-04T03:09:45Z")
Well, as a longtime geek, I can admit I’ve done it a lot, **chique** me friend.
If I had kids, I’d do it every time I took them to a game, too.
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### Author:  [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/4 "2003-08-04T03:16:50Z")
I usually do. I’ll get in a streak, especially if my team wins, and out of superstition, I’ll keep score again. Cuz, you know, the only reason they’ll win a game is if I keep score.
Funny, I’m not superstitious about much, except keeping score.
Plus, it’s nice to keep the cards and look back over years past. Still have the scorecard from an 17- or 18-inning game I went to a couple of years back.
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### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/5 "2003-08-04T04:46:01Z")
Yes, I always buy a book and keep score. I don’t know why. I also take down setlists at most concerts I attend (when I know the artist).
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### Author:  [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/6 "2003-08-04T04:54:04Z")
I sort of know the basics of scoring, but I don’t do it. I need to learn though, because I’m considering using my journalism schooling to try to get a job in baseball broadcasting (our college team needs some help in the broadcast booth, IMO, and everyone that’s heard me call a game from the stands says I should give it a try.)
Anyone have a good tutorial I can use to improve my skills?
P.S. - Could I have gotten a few more words in those parentheses?
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### Author:  [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/7 "2003-08-04T12:13:22Z")
My name is Who\_me? and I keep score at baseball game…
I hardly ever use the program though, I buy my own pads and use them…
I’m so ashamed…😉
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/8 "2003-08-04T12:38:32Z")
I usually keep score. I can then go back later and enjoy the game again. If it’s good enough for Ralph Kiner, it’s good enough for me. 🙂
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### Author:  [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/9 "2003-08-04T13:47:48Z")
Of course, keeping score is part of the game, for me at least. I have a Palm Pilot utility called It’s A Hit which I use to keep score, and the best part about that is I can relive games while sitting at boring meetings, and look like I’m taking notes.
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### Author:  [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/10 "2003-08-04T16:32:37Z")
I used to keep score at games as a pre-teen/teen/young adult. I never used the scorecard sold at the games - I bought a professional one, and kept it in my knapsack as part of my kit. I also carried 2 rain ponchos, sun screen, extra pencils, several days worth of newspaper sports sections, and that weeks _Sporting News_. I used to go to 20 or 30 Orioles’ games a year, and I would keep score at home when I listened to the game on the radio as well.
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### Author:  [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/11 "2003-08-04T17:00:32Z")
I always keep score. If I don’t keep score, I sort of have the feeling that I didn’t do my job as a proper fan.
Zev Steinhardt
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### Author:  [@eero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eero)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/12 "2003-08-04T17:14:49Z")
I keep score at little league, but that’s because there’s always a dispute and I want to know who to root for.
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### Author:  [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/13 "2003-08-04T17:49:15Z")
Of course I keep score. It gives me something to do with my hands. I’ve been keeping score at games since I was 5.
Then again, I’m a bit of a baseball geek.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/14 "2003-08-04T17:52:12Z")
I’ve done it at minor league games. It forces you to pay attention to the game every second. It also gets in the way of beer and food.
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### Author:  [@Big\_Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Norse)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/15 "2003-08-04T19:10:30Z")
I’m not a huge fan, but when I go to games I find it a lot more enjoyable when I keep score. Otherwise, my mind tends to wander and things get boring.
Btw, I’m female and my mother is the big baseball fan in the family, my father just goes to keep her company.
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### Author:  [@Non-PC\_Jell-o\_Ad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Non-PC_Jell-o_Ad)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/16 "2003-08-04T22:19:12Z")
My mom taught me how to keep score when I was in elementary school. She was a nurse, and she’d ask a doctor she was working with to write me a medical excuse out of school so we could go watch spring training games. 😃
I second the question about a tutorial. I didn’t keep up with my scorekeeping skills, and I remember just enough to make a total hash out of my program…
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### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/17 "2003-08-04T22:35:30Z")
I kept a scorecard at a Yankee game my friend took her boyfriend to. It was his first trip east, and he enjoyed the scorecard.
I didn’t have the 1B, 2B, 3B cheats, come to think of it. I used / for a single, // for a double, /// for triples, //// for HR, circled great plays, backwards K for strike out looking, etc. I seem to recall that’s how it’s “supposed to be done”, but any way you do it to relive the game down the road is good enough.
I had alot of fun doing it, and I’d do it again someday if I get the chance.
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### Author:  [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/18 "2003-08-04T22:39:12Z")
[Here’s](http://www.baseballscorecard.com/) a good site if you want to learn or brush up on score keeping skills.
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### Author:  [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/19 "2003-08-04T23:51:54Z")
I don’t quite do it “as it’s sposed to be done,” because for 16
years I’ve been playing my own games…
I mark my singles, doubles, triples, home runs as lines around the diamond. / for the single \> for the double /\> (oh, you get the idea) for the triple…
Each time someone scores, the diamond is filled in. There’s a place for RBI, too - a 2-run single gets a lil “2” in the corner.
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### Author:  [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2003, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-keep-score-at-baseball-games/192820/20 "2003-08-05T02:41:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by bayonet1976 \*
> \*\*I have a Palm Pilot utility called It’s A Hit which I use to keep score, and the best part about that is I can relive games while sitting at boring meetings, and look like I’m taking notes. \*\*
That’s too cool! I’ve never heard of that before. I want.
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