Box score (baseball)

A box score is a chart used in baseball to present data about player achievement in a particular game.

The Baseball Hall of Fame credits Henry Chadwick with the invention of the box score[1] in 1858.

At the top of the box score, the editor of a publication may list the time, date, and/or place of the game.

(Brian Hunter, in the sixth position of the Braves' batting order, started at left field but also served as the first baseman.)

(The Twins' Brian Harper pinch hit for Junior Ortiz and then remained in the game as catcher.)

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.

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.

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.