Hit or Error?

The ability to keep track of every play is one of the beautiful things about baseball. The brief pause between batters gives you time to mark your scorecard without missing anything. It isn't that way in any other sport.

C. C. Johnson Spink, editor and publisher of The Sporting News, 1974


The earliest known scorecard was for a game on October 6, 1845 by the Knickerbocker Ball Club. I kept score the first time June 28, 1994 in a doubleheader between the Rockies and San Diego Padres at Mile High Stadium. I don't recall why I started keeping score, I just remember one day deciding I'd give it a try. Paul Dickson, in his book "The Joy of Keeping Score", says "Scoring will always bring you closer to the game on the field, giving you an understanding you cannot gain otherwise." It didn't take long for me to realize that this was true.

I have two of what I call my "baseball buddies". Baseball is certainly not the only thing I have in common with these two friends. However, they are the only people I've found (except for my father) who match and understand my passion for the game. Keeping score intensifies that passion. My "baseball buddies" are Rod and Scot, both Rockies fans. Shortly after I started keeping score, Rod began also. I'm still working on Scot.

Anyone who keeps score with regularity for any length of time will discover one element that can truly wreak havoc on the ability to score well and recall it later. RAIN! I have a number of scoresheets that are wrinkled or smudged due to rain. Initially, I utilized the "Inside Jacket" method of keeping score at games where it was raining. This involves keeping your scorebook inside your jacket and quickly and briefly taking it out to make a notation and then returning it inside the jacket. This method is adequate, but your scorebook still gets somewhat wet and the inside of your jacket gets wet as well. Rod came up with, ingeniously I might add, the "Backup Quarterback" method. While watching a football game in inclement weather, he noticed the backup quarterback making notations on a clipboard with a clear, plastic bag covering both the clipboard and his hands. This method was a major improvement to the "Inside Jacket" method. (In order to effectively employ the "Backup Quarterback" method you have to remember your clear plastic bag. If you forget your plastic bag, you have to resort to the "Inside Jacket" method. If you forget your jacket, you're screwed).

Scot and I used to have an unofficial policy which dictated that we "remain in our seats the duration of the game, regardless of the elements and/or status of play on the field". We attended a game that rained frequently and even encountered a rain delay, all the while staying in our seats. The "Backup Quarterback" method came in handy that day.

Here's a few of my most memorable games where I kept score:

May 20, 1996- Oakland A's vs. Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park with JoEllen

The most significant aspect of this game was that it was on our honeymoon. As I was trying to convince Jo that we HAD to go to a game if we were staying in Boston a few days, she asked what was the big deal about Fenway. I explained it's historic nature and, of course, described the Green Monster and the difficulty of hitting a home run over it. Boston won 16-4 and a total of six home runs were hit, all but one over the Green Monster. She questioned if I really knew what I was talking about after that. All the stars hit home runs in that game. Mo Vaughn, Jose Canseco (2), Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi all hit home runs. It was truly a night I will never forget.

May 19, 1999- Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies at Coors Field with Rod

In many regards, Coors Field deserves it's reputation. This was a game that contributed to that reputation. Cincinnati won 24-12. Collectively there were 42 hits and nine home runs. Denny Neagle started the game for the Reds and Brian Bohanon for the Rockies. The Reds scored six runs in the first inning, but Neagle couldn't hold the lead and actually had a shorter outing than Bohanon. An oddity with this game was that Ron Villone earned a save, despite entering the game with a 12-run lead, due to a quirk in the rules for scorekeeping. (Stay tuned for a future article on this topic.)

May 13, 2002- Florida Marlins vs. Colorado Rockies

This game was Scot's bachelor party. The Rockies won 6-3, but were only ahead 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth when Greg Norton hit a pinch-hit grand slam to make it 6-0. The Marlins got one in the eighth and two in the ninth to make it close. Scot and his wife Mindy share the same wedding anniversary as Jo and I, May 18. My marriage advice to him was that if he ever forgot the date of his anniversary, google up Mt. St. Helens, which erupted May 18, 1980.

Paul Dickson starts his book by stating, "The world is divided into two kinds of baseball fans: those who keep score at the ballgame...and those who have never made the leap." My hope is that if you are a baseball fan, after reading this you will make that leap.

Walkerless

Well, as expected, I've survived the first week without Larry Walker as a member of the Colorado Rockies. It hasn't been quite as difficult as anticipated, given that I knew he would eventually be leaving. I figured it would be this offseason. In the long run, I believe it was the best move for the organization. With the money saved, the Rox can sign Jennings, Kennedy, Burnitz and Estes. Jennings and Kennedy will most likely compose 40% of the Rockies' rotation for quite some time. Burnitz and Estes will help maintain some credibility until a few of the young players are ready in the next year or so.

Back to the subject though, Larry Walker. I'm convinced that he is the best all-around player I will ever see play in person, hands down. He could do everything well. In his prime he was a perfect example of a five-tool player. A five-tool player hits for average, hits for power, has speed on the bases, has a strong throwing arm and is a strong defensive fielder. I saw him hit tape-measure home runs, run down fly balls in the gap with ease and even throw out a runner at first on a single to right.

Walker joined the Rox in 1995 as a free agent and quickly became my favorite player. He even became my wife's favorite player. Back then, and to some degree now, she thought that baseball was boring. However, she enjoyed watching Walker play. Shoot, when we adopted our son from India, we named him Walker.

Over the years, there's only been two negatives against him. First, for most of his career he has battled injuries. Second, in the last few years some have questioned his desire. Despite these issues, Walker was one of the best when he was on the field. He is the franchise leader in nearly every offensive category. Todd Helton will likely someday pass Walker in some, if not all, these categories, but Walker will still hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Rockies fans.
It was truly an honor to watch one of the best play the game on a daily basis. Here's to Larry Walker. Good luck in St. Louie.