Scorebooks

Each defensive position has a number: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 centre field and 9 right field. A ground ball to the shortstop thrown to first is scored 6-3, a strikeout is K, a walk is BB, and a single is 1B. Each batter has a small diamond where you draw their path around the bases and fill it in when they score. A scorebook includes a legend to help new scorekeepers.

It depends on the book. The Rawlings Scorebook holds 24 games, with room for 9 innings, 17 players and 2 substitutes per player, enough for most seasons. The Rawlings Big Book Deluxe Edition holds 21 games on a larger 11" x 14" page, with extra writing room and built-in statistical tools for more detailed scorekeeping. Shop all scorebooks.

System-17 is the Rawlings scorekeeping format used in books like The Big Book Deluxe Edition, with space for up to 17 players, which suits youth teams that bat their whole roster. It pairs with the Rawlings Line Up Cards 12-pack, whose 4-part carbonless forms are designed as the companion to the System-17 scorebook. See all line-up cards.

Yes. We carry the official Baseball Québec ScoreSheet, along with the matching Baseball Québec Line Up Cards in our line-up cards collection. Many associations in Québec use these official forms, so check with your league which score sheet it requires. They're available online and in store in Laval, Saint-Hubert and Ottawa.

Yes. Scorebooks like the Rawlings Scorebook and the Wilson Baseball/Softball Scorebook are made for both sports, since scoring works the same way. For slowpitch teams with extra hitters, choose a book with plenty of player lines and substitution spaces, like the Rawlings Big Book Deluxe Edition.

Many teams use both. Scoring apps make stats easy to share, but a paper scorebook never runs out of battery, works without a signal at remote fields, and is often what umpires and leagues refer to when there's a question about the official score. It's also a great way to teach young players and parents how the game works. Keep a scorebook and pencils in your team bag, and see more essentials in our Coach's Corner.