You Talking to Me? Talkin' baseball scorekeeping

I walked through the concourse during a Phillies game last week, killing time after I had filed my story and waiting for the game to play out. I had my scorebook with me, keeping up with the game while I strolled around.

I missed a play and I started looking for someone else in the stands who was keeping score, so I could get it. I must have walked every section of the lower concourse. Finally, it became like an Easter egg hunt, just looking for one person with a scorecard, someone keeping track of the game. I saw a lot of stuff, but I saw only one guy keeping score. He was about 80, Frank's age, and when I got his attention and he cupped his hand behind his ear, I got the answer. "K-swinging."

Why doesn't anyone keep score any more? And, just a guess here, what percentage of fans at the ballpark could correctly tell you the 1-through-9 numbering of the positions on the field?

From: Salisbury, James T.

To: Ford, Bob; Fitzpatrick, Frank

Re: 5-4-3

It's hard to keep score when you're constantly reaching for your wallet. That's the goal of these new parks. Get you to spend, spend, spend. And do it on things more expensive than scorecards, for gosh sakes. I'd say 70 percent know the positions, but the folks out on the alley couldn't recite them backward after the fourth inning.

From: Fitzpatrick, Frank

To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James T.

Re: 5-4-3

Well, in my day, everyone was required to bring a No. 2 pencil and a fresh scorecard to the game. Why, when the beer hawker would come down the steps and someone would ask for a cold lager, the hawker would say, "Oh, yeah? What did Delahanty do in the fourth?" And if you couldn't correctly answer that he hammered the pellet into the starboard garden for a two-bagger, then there were no suds for you.

That said, James, I would wager that fewer than half could give the proper numbers to the positions. What makes you think otherwise?

From: Salisbury, James T.

To: Ford, Bob; Fitzpatrick, Frank

Re: 5-4-3

Frank, were the concessions good at Baker Bowl? Did they sell Putsy Caballero shirts?

From: Fitzpatrick, Frank

To: Ford, Bob; Salisbury, James T.

Re: 5-4-3

No linen goods were available, but I did get to see Betsy Ross throw out the first pitch one afternoon on the greensward. She was a fair lass, well endowed by her creator with life, liberty, and an interesting scorekeeping method employing many stars and stripes.

From: Ford, Bob

To: Salisbury, James T.; Fitzpatrick, Frank

Re: 5-4-3

I'd put the figure significantly under half, for those who could name the numerical positions. I mean, you've got kids, very casual fans, and so forth. And, let's face it, shortstop is tricky.

You might have something, though, Jimmy. Why would the club want to push a 50-cent scorecard? Maybe that's why I couldn't find anyone who had purchased one.

From: Salisbury, James T.

To: Ford, Bob; Fitzpatrick, Frank

Re: 5-4-3

Actually, it's probably under 50 percent. I purposely went heavy. I have learned from Frank that when you insult the fans, you have to change your home phone number.

From: Ford, Bob

To: Salisbury, James T.; Fitzpatrick, Frank

Re: 5-4-3

Frank has a land line now? He used to go to the general store once a week to get his messages.

From: Fitzpatrick, Frank

To: Salisbury, James T.; Ford, Bob

Re: 5-4-3

I had to get it for the AOL dial-up. It's NOrris 5-2929. If the phone doesn't ring, I'll know it's you.