On scorecards strikeouts are shown as a egular K and sometimes a backwards K..is one a swinging strike out and the other with the pitch taken?

by Bill Pope
(Burbank, CA)

Bill asked: On a baseball score sheet a strikeout is shown as a regular "K' or as a backward K...does one represent a swinging strikeout and the other as a "taken" strikeout? Bill Pope


Rick answered: Bill, thank you for your question.

You are correct, the regular K is a swinging strike out, the backward K is a taken called strike 3.

This is a denotation for whomever keeps the stats for that particular team, whether the player is swinging and missing, or simply not swinging.

Most coaches will keep close track of that stat, easy to gather the data with this system, tough if you have to go back after the fact and attempt to remember.

Yours in baseball,

Rick