As the crack of bats echoes through spring training facilities in Arizona and Florida, scorekeepers everywhere are dusting off their pencils and preparing their scorebooks for another season of America's pastime. There's something magical about these pre-season moments – both for the players shaking off their winter rust and for us in the scorekeeper's box preparing to document every play of 2025.
The spring brings unique scorekeeping challenges. With split-squad games, frequent substitutions, and jersey numbers ranging into the 80s and 90s, these exhibition games test our adaptability. Gone are the days of settling into familiar batting orders and defensive alignments – spring training requires agility with our notation and keen attention to the constant roster shuffling.
For newer scorekeepers joining our ranks this season, here's a gentle reminder: spring training is the perfect time to practice your craft. Don't get discouraged by the rapid-fire pitching changes or the unfamiliar names. Use this time to experiment with different scoring systems and find what works best for you. Whether you're a devotee of the Project Scoresheet method or prefer a more traditional Reisner system, these games provide a low-pressure environment to refine your technique.
Veterans of the craft know that spring training also offers a chance to break in new scorebooks. Those crisp, empty pages hold the promise of countless 6-4-3 double plays and 9th-inning rallies yet to come. Take time now to stock up on your preferred pencils (personally, I'm a steadfast believer in the Palomino Blackwing 602) and ensure your pencil sharpener is ready for the marathon ahead.
As we approach Opening Day, let's remember why we love this aspect of baseball. Scorekeeping isn't just about recording outs and runs – it's about crafting a handwritten story of each game, creating a personal archive of baseball history one play at a time.
Here's to the new season ahead, fellow scorekeepers. May your erasers be fresh, your pencils sharp, and your scoring decisions confident.