Keeping score a dying art.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/96...imate-art-form
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In fact, Henry Chadwick started out covering cricket before switching to baseball and becoming the father of scorekeeping in the 1860s. As Alan Schwarz writes in his wonderful history of baseball statistics, "
The Numbers Game," Chadwick "invented his own personal scoring form in the hope it would become standard." Similar to the ones we use today, Chadwick's scoring grid was nine batters deep and nine innings wide and was coded with letters for what the batter did and numbers for which fielders handled the ball.
That system evolved over time, but at least one notation remains the same as it did more than a century ago: a "K" in the scorebook means the batter struck out. Chadwick originated the "K" because he used the last letter of an out -- in this case, "struck'' -- as his way of identifying it in the book.
Scorekeeping, thus, has been around for about 150 years; and like Mark Twain, Paul McCartney or the Dodgers' pennant hopes on June 1, rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated. Are we really seeing any fewer people keeping score now than we would have noticed a couple decades ago? After all, I was the only player on my team who raised a hand when our coach asked if anyone knew how to do it. Maybe we just don't notice scorekeepers because we don't look closely enough.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
As a kid, my dad was teaching me how to keep score at a Reds game one summer at Riverfront. We were sitting in the first row of the red seats right behind home plate. We were both looking down at the scorecard as he explained some detail when something smacked against the empty seat next to us. Confused, we looked down onto the walkway and realized it was a foul ball. I was crushed knowing I had a chance to catch a real foul ball but I was too busy with my scorecard.
Although I haven't kept score while attending a Reds game since, I love to keep score and I'm in my mid-twenties. I used to draw up my own scorecard with a piece of notebook paper and a ruler and keep score as I listened to the Reds on the radio. I like to keep score at minor league games and during World Series games as I watch on TV. Does that make me a dork?
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
I used to do it every game I went to. Helps me pay attention to the game instead of gazing about aimlessly.
But now its a sporadic thing. Sometimes I don't have the energy to concentrate. I have scored every game I've been to this year though.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
Reds Freak
I like to keep score at minor league games and during World Series games as I watch on TV. Does that make me a dork?
Nope, that makes you part of a select group being addressed when the announcer says, "For those of you keeping score at home."
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
westofyou
Nope, that makes you part of a select group being addressed when the announcer says, "For those of you keeping score at home."
It also makes him kind of a dork. And yes, I also used to keep score at home when listening to the games and at every game I went to. (Then I discovered beer)
I probably haven't kept score at a game in 20 years. And I haven't really considered keeping score at a game for a long time either. I think the next time I go to a game I will keep score just for old time's sake. Good chance to teach my 6 year-old the dying art.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
I was on my high school's varsity baseball team my senior year even though I was fairly terrible, and I kept score for our team. Really the only interesting part of the task was determining hits/errors, but I loved being on the team itself.
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I used to score the games, but only at the ballpark. My scoring pad had ketchup stains.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
westofyou
Nope, that makes you part of a select group being addressed when the announcer says, "For those of you keeping score at home."
I prefer the phrasing "for those of you scoring at home"
;)
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
If there is anyone around here who knows about scoring, it's Roy.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
I keep score but I don't do it correctly. Or, more accurately, I rock my own brand of scoring.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
Boston Red
It also makes him kind of a dork. And yes, I also used to keep score at home when listening to the games and at every game I went to. (Then I discovered beer)
I probably haven't kept score at a game in 20 years. And I haven't really considered keeping score at a game for a long time either. I think the next time I go to a game I will keep score just for old time's sake. Good chance to teach my 6 year-old the dying art.
You need more dork evidence? In college, on occasion, my roommate and I would drink beers, watch the Reds, score the game, and compare styles. Granted, this only happened maybe five times. But I'll admit, it happened.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
I'm a pretty classic-style scorer. Gets the job done and effective.
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
Reds Freak
You need more dork evidence? In college, on occasion, my roommate and I would drink beers, watch the Reds, score the game, and compare styles. Granted, this only happened maybe five times. But I'll admit, it happened.
I could have hung out with you guys. You would have been jealous of my style. :)
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
Back in college my roommate and I had an argument about home runs. It ended when he busted my face with a heavy hardback book.
Finally had my nose fixed last year after 20 years
Re: Keeping score a dying art.
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Originally Posted by
Raisor
Back in college my roommate and I had an argument about home runs. It ended when he busted my face with a heavy hardback book.
Finally had my nose fixed last year after 20 years
Ahh, so you like your scoring rough, eh?