A box score is a 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 Hall of Fame credits Henry Chadwick with the invention of the box score [1] in 1858.
The line score is a two-line chart that reports each team's run totals by inning, and total runs, total hits, and total errors on a line. The visiting team is on the top line and the home team on the bottom 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 after the top of the 9th inning, an "X" is placed for that team's 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 9th inning.
Line score for the Brooklyn Dodgers – New York Giants pennant-winning game of October 3, 1951:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Larry Jansen LP: Ralph Branca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The box score lists the line score as well as individual and team performance 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 history, Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.
Saturday, October 26, 1991 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota Atlanta 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 3 9 1 Minnesota 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 4 9 0 Atlanta Braves ab r h rbi bb so po a Smith dh 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Pendleton 3b 5 1 4 2 0 0 1 2 Gant cf 5 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 Justice rf 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 Bream 1b 4 0 1 0 1 0 12 2 Mitchell pr,lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hunter lf,1b 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Olson c 5 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 Lemke 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 3 Belliard ss 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 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 30 14 FIELDING - Atlanta DP: 2. Bream-Belliard-Bream, Blauser-Lemke-Bream. E: Hunter (1). BATTING - Atlanta HR: Pendleton (2,5th inning off Erickson 1 on 1 out). HBP: Smith (1,by Erickson). GDP: Smith (1,off Willis). Team LOB: 7. BASERUNNING - Atlanta CS: Mitchell (1,2nd base by Aguilera/Harper). Minnesota Twins ab r h rbi bb so po a Gladden lf 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Knoblauch 2b 5 1 1 0 0 0 4 1 Puckett cf 4 2 3 3 0 1 3 0 Davis dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Mack rf 4 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 Leius 3b 3 0 2 0 0 0 3 2 Pagliarulo ph,3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Hrbek 1b 4 0 0 0 0 1 11 1 Ortiz c 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 Harper ph,c 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 Gagne ss 4 0 1 0 0 0 5 6 Totals 37 4 9 4 1 6 33 11 FIELDING - Minnesota DP: 2. Gagne-Hrbek, Gagne. BATTING - Minnesota 2B: Mack (1,off Avery). 3B: Puckett (1,off Avery). HR: Puckett (2,11th 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 (1,2nd base off Stanton/Olson). Pitchers Atlanta Braves IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Avery 6.0 6 3 3 1 3 0 25 Stanton 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 7 Pena 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 6 Leibrandt (L, 0-2) 0.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 TOTALS 10 9 4 4 1 6 1 39 Leibrandt faced 1 batter in the 11th inning Minnesota Twins IP H R ER BB SO HR BFP Erickson 6.0 5 3 3 2 2 1 26 Guthrie 0.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 Willis 2.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 8 Aguilera (W, 1-1) 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6 TOTALS 11 9 3 3 3 4 1 43 Erickson faced 1 batter in the 7th inning WP–Guthrie (1). HBP–Erickson (1,Smith). Inherited Runners - Scored: Guthrie 1-0; Willis 3-1. U–Ed Montague (NL), Don Denkinger (AL), Harry Wendelstedt (NL), Drew Coble (AL), Rick Reed (AL), Terry Tata (NL). T–3:46. 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 time, date, and/or place of the game. In the example, the stadium's name (the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome ) and city ( Minneapolis ) are listed.
The line score is always listed as part 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 first inning, one in the fifth, and one in the eleventh. ) Innings are normally grouped in sets of three for ease of reading. The team totals of runs, hits, and errors are listed last, after a separating character such as a dash. The actual score of the game is represented by the first column after the dash; (the Twins won this game four runs to three.)
The batting performances of each player in the game are grouped by team, with the visiting team listed first. Players are listed by last name in the order in which they were listed on the lineup card for the game, showing all players who enter the game at any point whether they make a plate appearance or not. Their fielding positions or batting roles are normally listed next to their last name. Typically only last names are used, unless two players with the same name appear in the game, in which case a distinctive first initial is also used. When a player 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 order (in cases such as a double switch, not necessarily in the position of the player they replaced). Players who had an offensive role only are listed by that role: "ph" if they entered as a pinch hitter or "pr" if as a pinch runner. Substitutes who enter for defensive purposes and do not make a plate appearance 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 indicate their spot in the order was the same as the non-indented starter's name above it; others will leave all names left-justified. (The Twins' Brian Harper pinch hit 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 batter's at bats, runs, hits, and runs batted in. Some box scores show other player statistics such as home runs, stolen bases, bases on balls, strikeouts, fielding errors, times left on base, home runs, or season batting average. At the bottom of the lineup are the team totals for each category.
Additional batting, fielding, and base-running statistics are listed in non-tabular form normally below the batting order summaries:
Below the batting orders and line score, the pitching summary is listed. Each pitcher used in the game is listed, along with any 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 also shown, for either regular season or post-season play. To the right of each pitcher's name are recorded the total innings pitched, hits given up, runs allowed, earned runs allowed, bases on balls issued, and strikeouts made. More elaborate statistics may also be displayed, such as home runs allowed, pitch count, or the pitcher's cumulative earned run average.
Other pitching events are shown below the summary.
Other overall game information is shown at the bottom of the box score.
Most box scores also give the temperature, weather, and wind speed/direction.
Other events not shown in the example but recorded in most box scores include sacrifice hits ("S"), triple plays ("TP"), balks ("BK"), blown saves ("BS"), and passed balls ("PB"). Many box scores, to save space, do not list any categories where none of that event occurred in the game. Others will list the category followed by " – None".
In a baseball game, the number of plate appearances for each team must be equal to the number of batters put out, scored, and left on base. A box score is in balance (or proved) when the total of the team's times at bat, bases on balls received, hit batters, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and batters awarded first base because of interference or obstruction equals the total of that team's runs, players left on base 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, or put out). If a box score is unbalanced, then there is a logical contradiction and thus an error somewhere in the box score.
The first box scores tended to be vaguely related to cricket scorekeeping, in that only two offense-oriented figures were presented for each batter: "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 listing extra-base hits, innings pitched, earned runs, etc.
In baseball, if the team scheduled to bat last is leading after 8½ innings, there is no turn at bat for that team, as it would not affect the outcome of the game, so the last of the ninth is usually marked with an "X" as a placeholder in the line score. Some newspapers (and some scoreboards) in those days showed the home team in the top line, resulting in the peculiarity of an "X" placed in what appeared to be the "top" of the ninth. This practice was a carryover from the time when the home team had the choice of whether to bat first or last, another similarity with cricket. Teams would often choose to bat first, counting on their ability to "get the jump" on the visiting team (as with football 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 home team first was carried on for a while, in some places, even when it did not square with the actual events of the game.
The offensive statistic Runs Batted In was developed in the early 1900s, and was soon being carried in the lineup portion of the box scores.
As relief pitching became more common, a separate "lineup" section for the pitchers was developed, carrying individual Innings Pitched; the number of Hits, Runs, Earned Runs, and Bases on Balls allowed; and Strike-Outs achieved.
By the late 1960s or so, in the interest of space, most newspapers dropped the defensive stats from the lineups, just carrying the list of errors (if any) in the game summary. For a special event, such as World Series play (especially if a local team is involved), newspapers still often print the wider version of the box score.
Baseball statistics refers to a variety of metrics used to evaluate player and team performance in the game of baseball.
In baseball, an earned run is any run that was fully enabled by the offensive team's production in the face of competent play from the defensive team. Conversely, an unearned run is a run that would not have been scored without the aid of an error or a passed ball committed by the defense.
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run is usually achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles without the ball touching the field.
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In the game of baseball, the official scorer is a person appointed by the league to record the events on the field, and to send the official scoring record of the game back to the league offices. In addition to recording the events on the field such as the outcome of each plate appearance and the circumstances of any baserunner's advance around the bases, the official scorer is also charged with making judgment calls that do not affect the progress or outcome of the game. Judgment calls are primarily made about errors, unearned runs, fielder's choice, the value of hits in certain situations, and wild pitches, all of which are included in the record compiled. This record is used to compile statistics for each player and team. A box score is a summary of the official scorer's game record.
In baseball, an intentional base on balls, usually referred to as an intentional walk and denoted in baseball scorekeeping by IBB, is a walk issued to a batter by a pitcher with the intent of removing the batter's opportunity to swing at the pitched ball. A pitch that is intentionally thrown far outside the strike zone for this purpose is referred to as an intentional ball.
In baseball, the batting order or batting lineup is the sequence in which the members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. In Major League Baseball, the batting order is set by the manager, who before the game begins must present the home plate umpire with two copies of his team's lineup card, a card on which a team's starting batting order is recorded. The home plate umpire keeps one copy of the lineup card of each team, and gives the second copy to the opposing manager. Once the home plate umpire gives the lineup cards to the opposing managers, the batting lineup is final and a manager can make changes only under the Official Baseball Rules governing substitutions. If a team bats out of order, it is a violation of baseball's rules and subject to penalty.
Throughout the history of baseball, the rules have frequently changed as the game continues to evolve. A few common rules most professional leagues have in common is that four balls is a base on balls, three strikes is a strikeout, and three outs end a half-inning.
In baseball, a cleanup hitter is the fourth hitter in the batting order. The cleanup hitter is traditionally the team's most powerful hitter. His job is to "clean up the bases", i.e., drive in base runners.
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher. The three main goals of batters are to become a baserunner, to drive runners home or to advance runners along the bases for others to drive home, but the techniques and strategies they use to do so vary. Hitting uses a motion that is virtually unique to baseball and its fellow bat-and-ball sports, one that is rarely used in other sports. Hitting is unique because it involves rotating in the horizontal plane of movement, unlike most sports movements which occur in the vertical plane.
The 1987 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1987 season. The 84th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Minnesota Twins and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Twins defeated the Cardinals four games to three to win the Series, their first in Minnesota and the first since last winning as the Washington Senators in 1924. Twins pitcher Frank Viola was named as the 1987 World Series MVP.
The 1991 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1991 season. The 88th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Minnesota Twins (95–67) and the National League (NL) champion Atlanta Braves (94–68). The Twins defeated the Braves four games to three to win the championship, their second in Minnesota and third overall. The series was also unique because of the standings of the two participating teams in the previous season: both finished the 1990 season in last place; before 1991, no league champion had ever finished the previous season in last place.
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