Never kept score? Don’t worry, it’s not that hard, even if the MLB official page looks messy!
Each Position has a Number
Since writing in the players names or jersey numbers gets cluttered, use numbers for identifying players on your cards:
- 1: Pitcher
- 2: Catcher
- 3: First Base
- 4: Second Base
- 5: Third Base (The Hot Corner)
- 6: Shortstop
- 7: Left Field
- 8: Center Field
- 9: Right Field
Each Play has a Shorthand
- 6-4-3: The classic “Around the Horn” Double Play.
- K: Strikeout swinging.
- ꓘ: Strikeout looking (The “Umpire’s Special”).
- 3: The third baseman made the out, unassisted, likely from a dribbler up the line.
- F8: A fly out to center field.
- E: Error (a Belle is gentle when pointing these out, unless it’s the opposing team).
Each baserunner has their own data
The basic methodology is when a player gets a hit, draw a line from home plate, around the path, to wherever they end up. If they advance to another base, extend the line, until they make it home. Then write in the run in the middle of the diamond.
But then you get into some more complex moments, like a runner on first is thrown out at second, and the batter is thrown out at first. That’s a double play, and the fielder’s numbers (i.e. 6-4-3) go on the batter’s entry. The runner gets a line halfway to second and then a DP in their box.
If an error causes a player to advance a base, write E# above the line drawn to the next base. If the runner is caught stealing, do the halfway line and write CS.
The Weird Stuff
Baseball is evolving, and sometimes the rulebook moves faster than the scorecard. As a Belle, you are a pioneer of the modern game.
Managers Challenge: There is not yet a collectively agreed-upon way to mark down when a manager challenges a play. Some people use a lightning bolt, a question mark, or a tiny drawing of a headset. A Belle’s shorthand is their own.
ABS (Automatic Balls & Strikes): Introduced in 2026, we simply haven’t used the “Robot Umps” enough to know how that looks on paper. Is it a Kbot? A KAI?
The Belle’s Prerogative: Each Belle is encouraged to come up with their own shorthand for these modern quirks. Or, they may simply choose to scream into their hands because it was a beautiful unassisted double play by the first baseman and how dare they overturn it!