| Here's an experiment for you. At your next | | | | very few people take advantage of this. |
| practice ask your players a simple question: | | | | Well it's not to late to learn. Thanks to the |
| "Raise your hand if you know how to "keep the | | | | internet there are dozens of sites that will help |
| book" meaning keep proper score of a baseball | | | | you learn how to keep a proper book. Goggle |
| game?" | | | | "baseball score keeping" to see a number of great |
| Depending on their age you may get a few who | | | | sites to look at. |
| say yes.. but I don't think many of your players | | | | 1. Go to the sporting goods store and buy a |
| would answer in the affirmative. That's because | | | | scorebook. They usually have instructions on how |
| keeping the book is a lost art. | | | | to keep score on the first few pages. |
| When preparing to write this article I thought back | | | | 2. Spend some time on the sites listed above. Get |
| to when and how I learned this skill. Couldn't | | | | familiar with the language of score keeping. |
| remember.. so I called my Dad who remembered | | | | 3. Keep the book while your watching games on |
| vividly. Apparently when I was about 9 or 10 I | | | | TV. This is the best way to learn. After your 3rd |
| came home from a game one day and asked him | | | | or 4th game you'll be in good shape. |
| to teach me. So he made up a sheet with boxes | | | | 4. Use the internet as a resource. Even those |
| on it.. we turned on the TV, and he taught me | | | | who consider themselves accomplished score |
| how to do it while watching a Mets game. He | | | | keepers run into scoring situations that are |
| didn't remember me saying why I wanted to | | | | confusing and rare. You can generally find answers |
| learn but as I think back I can recall just about | | | | on the internet. |
| every kid who played little league baseball knew | | | | 5. Once you learn, teach your children. It will keep |
| how to keep the book. I wanted to learn how to | | | | them interested in the game and it's a skill they |
| do it just like my friends. | | | | will pass down to their children. |
| Next time you attend a pro, minor league or | | | | 6. Volunteer to score for your kids' baseball team. |
| college game take notice as to how many people | | | | There are few who can do it so it's always |
| are keeping score. Very few. Every pro and | | | | welcome when a parent steps up to keep the |
| nearly every college baseball game provide | | | | book. |
| program books when you enter the gate (either | | | | Let's keep the art of baseball score keeping alive... |
| free or for a few dollars). These have a section in | | | | learn how to do it and pass this important skill on |
| the center of the book for keeping score. Yet | | | | to others. |