How To Score A Double Play

We hear the announcers at almost every major league baseball game, "Ground Ball Double Play 6-4-3".    Do you know what they are talking about?

When the announcers talk about "6-4-3", they are discussing the defensive players who were involved in a a play. In this case the ground ball double play was completed with the teamwork of the shortstop "6", the second baseman "4" and the first baseman "3".

There are different types of double plays but I we will focus in the ground ball double play and how to score one in a baseball score sheet. Let's take an example:

The scenario:

• There are no outs and a runner on first base.


• The batter hits a hard ground ball towards the shortstop.


• The shortstop catches the ball and throws it to the second baseman covering second base for the first out.


• The second baseman continues the double play by catching the ball from the shortstop, stepping on second base before the runner and throwing the ball to the first baseman to complete the double play.


• The play is entered into a baseball score sheet as follows:

In the hitter's at-bat enter "DP 6-4-3". Where:

• "DP" represents Double Play


• "6" represents the shortstop catching the ground ball


• "4" represents the second baseman catching the ball
  tagging the base before the runner gets there (recording the first out), and


• "3" represents the first baseman catching the ball and
  tagging the base before the runner recording the second out).

The first two outs of an inning are recorded on a baseball
score sheet chronologically as follows:

• The number "1" (with a circle around it) is entered in the upper right hand corner of the RUNNER's at-bat. This signifies the first out of the inning



• The number"2" (with a circle around it) is entered in the upper right hand corner of the HITTER's at-bat. It signifies the second out of the inning.


• Hitter's are not credited with an RBI if a run scores
  during a ground ball double play.


• Defensive players are not charged an error on a double play attempt if a putout is made.


• The Shortstop and Second basebman get credit with an assist each


• The Second Baseman and the First Baseman get credit with a putout each

Here is an outstanding resource for learning more than just scoring a double play - How To Score Baseball.