5 Best Baseball Scorebooks [2022 Buyers Guide]

America’s pastime is full of valuable data and information to help coaches and scouts determine play time, positions, and lineups. The best baseball scorebook will not only help you keep track of all this info, but it makes it easier and more efficient.

In this review of the best baseball scorebooks, we’re looking at the features you need to determine which scorebook gets the job done right.

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The Best Baseball Scorebooks

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Best Baseball Scorebook: Cramer Scorebook, C.S Peterson’s Super 16 (Our Top Pick)

 

Our top choice is a baseball scorebook offering a complete summary of batting records and pitching performance. The book makes it easy to keep track of batting averages and ERAs over time. This feature helps you decide on playing time and determine your best from worst starters.

The book is 12†x 8.5†in size, and it comes with a durable cover and strong wire binding so it won’t break apart, and you won’t lose pages.

One of the top features of this book is that you have room for 12 innings, which is helpful when the team bats around the order. If you don’t run deep into extra innings, you’ll always have more than enough space to keep track of everything.

There’s also enough room to take notes on each player’s at-bat making this an ideal choice for coaching staff members.

Pros

• Scores 24 games
• Compact but durable
• Room for substitutes under each player
• 12 innings on each page

Cons

• Does not have space for pitch count
• Only room for three pitchers

Should You Buy This Baseball Scorebook?

Yes:

• If you’re scoring one team (two requires two pages)
• For scoring youth games
• If you like making a lot of notes

No:

• If you need an MLB scorebook
• If you require more than one substitute

Our Conclusion

Overall, this is a solid baseball scorebook. You get more than enough space on the diamond to mark balls and strikes plus some extra room to insert notes such as fly out, double play, bunt, etc.

We also like the fact that the binding is thick and durable, so you can write with it on your lap or while holding it. You don’t need a hard surface to write on. 

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Most Straight Forward: Murray Sporting Goods Baseball/Softball Scorebook – 35 Games

Our second choice is a 35 game, 16 player roster scorebook that tracks all batting, fielding, and pitching for nine innings. The notebook is spiral bound at the top, and it provides plenty of instructions if you’re unsure how to score games.

If you’re looking for a less busy design than the Cramer scorebook, we recommend this one. It looks basic, but sometimes less is more.

This one also offers a unique section at the top where you can document errors and other details about every position. A lot of notebooks don’t offer this.

Lastly, there’s even a section for your pitchers. You can keep track of pitch count, walks, strikeouts, hits, runs, and errors. The notebook only allows three pitchers per game, which is a downside, but at least you have room to track this data.

Pros

• Simple design
• Section for defensive scoring
• Room for pitch count and pitcher data
• Track small info like people left on base and hits per inning

Cons

• Only allows three pitchers
• Only room for one sub per spot in the lineup
• Requires two pages for opposing team

Should You Buy This Baseball Scorebook?

Yes:

• If you require large print and plenty of room
• You coach youth baseball
• You need an affordable baseball/softball scorebook

No:

• If you require more than one sub per player
• If you need something a little more durable

Our Conclusion

You really can’t go wrong with this scorebook. Its simple one-page format is great, but you will have to use two pages if you’re scoring both sides. The best feature here is the amount of info you can track. You’ll be busy scoring every pitch, at-bat, and play in the field with the Murray Sporting Goods scorebook.

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Best for Notes: Rawlings Deluxe System – 17 Baseball & Softball Scorebook

Rawlings is a staple when it comes to baseball, which stands true for their scorebook. This deluxe scorebook offers plenty of room for pitcher stats, notes, and they’ve made it easy to read.

There’s space for 17 batters, and each has three lines, which means you can substitute two players and still be able to keep track of each. There’s also a section at the bottom titled “game highlights,†where you have a ton of room to insert notes and discuss different details from each inning.

The major downside we see is that there’s only enough space for nine innings. If the team bats through the order or you go into extra innings, you’ll have to use another page or try and squeeze it in.

We think the book’s best feature is their “quick tally†pitch count log, which is unlike any other book. They make it easier to keep track of each innings pitch count instead of inputting the numbers manually each inning.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Tracking for 17 players
• Allows two subs per player
• Pitch and defensive scoring

Cons

• Only room for nine innings
• The design doesn’t always make sense (runs come before hits) 

Should You Buy This Baseball Scorebook?

Yes:

• If you’re scoring a recreational team
• You like the pre-written play outcomes
• If you need a large notebook with plenty of space

No:

• If you need more than nine innings
• You need an MLB scorebook
• If you need a compact book for traveling

Our Conclusion

Our final thought is that this scorebook is more intended for training, practices, or recreational leagues. The fact that it only comes with nine innings doesn’t make a lot of sense and tells us that, although it’s a large book – it’s not for professional use.

The good news is, it’s a Rawlings product, there’s a ton of room for everything you can think of, and the large font is great for people with poor vision.

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Best Side-by-Side: Glover’s Scorebooks Baseball/Softball – 30 Games

Next, we have a 30 game, 15 player scorebook with individual player stat sheets, pitcher sheets, and player information sheets. If you need to keep track of specific player data for recruiting and scouting, this notebook is a great choice.

As for tracking the game, you only get nine innings, which is a huge downside. We like the fact that when you open the notebook, you’re looking at two pages side-by-side. This factor makes this a great notebook for those of you tracking two teams at the same time.

We’re also a fan of the three lines allowing two substitutions per position in the lineup. You can also track two different sets of pitcher data. You can keep track of the overall game with data such as walks, hits, and runs. There’s a section next to that where you can keep track of pitch count as well.

One major downside we see is how large the notebook is; it’s 11†x 14.5â€. So you’ll have a hard time traveling with it, but it’s useful as an umbrella if it starts to rain. The large size offers plenty of room for notations, and it has large print as well.

Pros

• Side-by-side view for two teams
• Pitch count, pitcher, and fielder sections
• Room for two subs
• Large print

Cons

• Large size
• A bit more expensive than others

Should You Buy This Baseball Scorebook?

Yes:

• If you need large print
• You’re scoring two teams
• If you need to track individual players

No:

• You need a small notebook
• If you need more than nine innings per game

Our Conclusion

We’re fans of this scorebook because of its large scoring boxes, easy to follow instructions, and extra room for notes and additional data. This is the perfect choice for scouting and recruiting because you can score a game and then make notes on specific players.

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Best Large Scorebook: Covey Sports Baseball and Softball Scorebook – 100 Games

The first thing that stands out about this scorebook is you can score two teams side by side! This feature is important to many people, and you’ll get it in this book without having to flip back and forth or hold two pages open.

The scorebook comes with a hard backing and laminate cover, so it’s sturdy enough to write on without needing a table or bench. It’s large at 17†x 11â€, which gives you more room to write, but there’s a little less space for details than we’d like.

With this one, you’re sacrificing room for notes in exchange for getting two teams on the same page. There are no sections for notes, but you can still keep track of pitch count. There’s no room for tracking fielding data, such as errors.

Plus, you have space for 100 games, and under each batter, there’s a section where you can note the RBIs from each at-bat. This feature will save you from having to go back at the end and determine that.

Pros

• Keep track of 100 games
• Large scoreboard
• Durable construction with a hard backing
• Room for two subs

Cons

• Limited room for notes
• Limited space for defensive notes

Should You Buy This Baseball Scorebook?

Yes:

• If you need to score two teams side by side
• You need a large scorebook
• If you’re scoring for little league or travel ball

No:

• If you need an MLB scorebook
• You take a lot of notes
• If you need to keep specific player details

Our Conclusion

This game will last you a long time with space for 100 games. You can use it for multiple seasons, and the two team design of each page is the best choice for those of you scoring each team in the game. It’s also a great choice for scouting if you’re trying to compare the performance of two teams side-by-side.

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More About Baseball Scorebooks

If you’re trying to learn how to score baseball games, there’s a lot to learn. There are many abbreviations and terminology you’ll need to learn. When you look at the scorebook for the first time, it might look like a foreign language.

Don’t worry, it’s simple, and we’ll help you through it.

Abbreviations

The first thing you’ll have to learn is positional abbreviations. You have the choice to use numbers for this, but it’s easier if you use letters. Here are the standard abbreviations per position:

Number	Position	Pos. Abbr.
1	Pitcher	P
2	Catcher	C
3	First baseman	1B
4	Second baseman	2B
5	Third baseman	3B
6	Shortstop	SS
7	Left field	LF
8	Center field	CF
9	Right field	RF
	Designated Hitter	DH

In addition to positions, there are also abbreviations for what’s happening in the game. When a player of a certain position gets a hit, strikes out, or walks, you need to know what to write for them. Here are the abbreviations for actions in the game:

Play	Abbreviation
Single	1B
Double	2B
Triple	3B
Home run	HR
Strikeout swinging	K
Strikeout looking	K backward
Run batted in	RBI
Double play	DP
Fielder’s choice	FC
Hit by pitch	HBP
Stolen base	SB
Caught stealing	CS

Scoring Balls and Strikes

One of the simplest things to track is balls and strikes. Most scorebooks will have three boxes for balls and two for strikes. As the batter gets balls and strikes thrown to them, you’ll check off each box until a hit, walk, or strikeout occurs.

Scoring Outs

There are a few different ways you’ll score an out, and it depends entirely on what happens. You need to score where the ball went, who they threw it to, and who caught it. For example, if the batter hit the ball to third base and the third baseman threw the runner out at first, you would write 5-3 in the diamond. 5 is the third baseman, and 3 is the first baseman.

Scoring Hits

Each scorebook comes with a pre-drawn diamond, and you’ll use that to document hits. Some also come with singles, doubles, triples, homers, and walks on the side. If they don’t, you can write it in.

To score hits, you’ll mark in on the diamond how far the runner went on their hit, and then you’ll continue to advance them until the inning is over or they get out.

For example, if a batter gets a double, you’ll write 2B and draw a line to second base. If the next batter gets a single and the baserunner advances to third, you’ll draw a line connecting them to third. You’ll then draw a line for the second batter to first base.

Scoring Walks

When a batter gets a walk, you’ll move them around the diamond as you would for a hit. The only difference is you’ll write BB for “base on balls.†If they score a walk because they got hit by a pitch, you’ll write “HBP†in the middle of the diamond and advance them to first.

Scoring Strikeouts

Keeping it simple, there are two ways to score a strikeout. A regular K and a backward K indicate what kind of strikeout occurred. If the batter goes out swinging, you’ll write a K in the middle of the diamond. If they go out looking, you’ll write a backward K.

Runs and RBIs

A run is when the ball player makes it back to home, and you’ll indicate this with a fully drawn in diamond. An RBI is when the batter hits the ball and drives in one of the base runners currently on base. If that happens, the player who hit the ball gets credited with the RBI. Some scorebooks have a section for this, while others require you to write it in manually.

Ending Innings

When an inning is over, you’ll have to mark the end of that inning. Most people do this by drawing a dark line at the bottom of the diamond of the player who ended the inning with the out. You’ll then draw a vertical line through every other player who didn’t bat that inning.

Substitutions

When you’re subbing in a new player, you’ll want to indicate what inning this happened and top or bottom. For example, if you subbed in Jim Jones for Tom Smith in the bottom of the sixth inning, you would write:

“Jim Jones B6†in his box

Fielder’s Choice

A fielder’s choice occurs where there is a baserunner already on the bases, and a batter hits the ball. Instead of throwing the ball to first and getting out the player who hit the ball, the fielder throws the ball to second to force the out.

While the hitter reached first safely, the runner going to second is out. This is called a fielder’s choice and gets documented on the player who hit the ball as FC. The base runner who got out will get numbers indicating who caught the ball and where they threw him out.

For example, if the batter grounded the ball to second and the second baseman threw out the runner at shortstop, you would write 4-6 indicating that.

Errors

An error occurs when the batter reaches a base due to a mistake on behalf of someone in the field. For example, let’s say the batter hits the ball to the shortstop, and the fielder scrambles to throw the ball in time and throws it way above the first baseman’s head.

This would be an error on behalf of the shortstop and would get labeled E-6 on the diamond. The hitter does not get credit for the hit, but they still get the base.

Passed Balls/Wild Pitches

When there is a base runner on base, and the pitcher throws a pitch to the catcher, and it gets by the catcher, this is called a passed ball or a wild pitch depending on who is at fault. A passed ball is generally the catcher missing the ball. A wild pitch is when the pitcher misses the catcher and throws the ball in the dirt or out of the catcher’s reach.

If the baserunner advances a base due to these, you can write PB or WP to document why they stole a base.

Examples When Scoring Games

Now that you understand the abbreviations, you have to understand how to score a game in the book. You’ll use a combination of letters and numbers with each play. Here are a few examples to give you an idea:

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“Derek Jeter, the shortstop comes up to bat. The pitcher throws two balls and one strike before Jeter hits the ball right up the middle for a single.â€

You would check off two of the boxes below the diamond for balls and one box for strikes. You would then draw a line from home to first base and write 1B next to the baseline on the diamond.

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“Curtis Granderson, the center fielder, comes up to bat. The pitcher throws one ball and two strikes before Granderson grounds out to third.â€

For this one, you would check off two boxes for strikes and one for balls. Then, you’d write 5-3 inside the diamond because he hit the ball to third (5), and the third baseman threw it to first (3).

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Let’s do one more!

“Aaron Judge, the right fielder, comes up to bat. The pitcher throws one ball before Aaron grounds to the shortstop. The shortstop throws out the base runner at second, and the second baseman throws the ball to first for the double play. Judge beats out the ball and makes it to first.â€

This play is called a “fielder’s choice.†For this, you would draw a line from home to first base and write FC next to the baseline on the diamond. The baserunner still got out, so you would write 6-4 in their diamond.

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Final Thoughts

The best baseball scorebook helps you have plenty of room to document everything that happens during a baseball or softball game. It’s important that you choose a scorebook that offers you space for details such as RBIs, pitch count, walks, substitutions, and game results.

Now you can spend more time watching the game and less time trying to cram in your data before the next pitch!