What are Box Scores?

Sports are full of statistics. From touchdowns to interceptions to goals to points, there are dozens of different stats for all the different sports. Box scores are a convenient way to record what events took place in a given game between two teams. A complete box score should give the reader a clear idea of how that game was played.

  1. Basics

    • Box scores are a structured numerical summary of a game between two sports teams. The box score usually shows the number of points each team scored in each interval of play (quarters in football or innings in baseball, for example) as well as the total number of points each team scored. They typically a team's totals. For example, if more than one player records a steal in a basketball game, the box score will show the total number of steals for the team.

    History

    • There is some controversy as to what was the first official box score, it is generally accepted that sportswriter Henry Chadwick was the pioneer of the concept. Chadwick, a native Englishman, put all of the statistics for a baseball game between the Brooklyn Excelsiors and Brooklyn Stars in convenient tablet form in 1859. That move created what many agree was the first full baseball box score.

    Individual Stats

    • Box scores will typically have a line showing how each player contributed to the game. Some box scores will have in-depth information. Some basketball box scores will only show the player's name and the points scored, while others may break down how many shots that player took. A football box score will usually show individual statistics like how many passes a quarterback attempted and completed. Baseball box scores typically show each player's name, his number of at-bats, runs, hits and RBI (runs batted in) in one line. It will show a pitcher's name and his number of innings pitched, hits, runs and walks allowed, and number of strikeouts. A paragraph at the bottom will sum up which players had extra base hits, stolen bases and other stats that do not fit in the line.

    Sports

    • Box scores can be found in virtually any sport, even in individual sports like tennis. They can often be found on sports reporting websites like ESPN immediately after the game. Some websites even offer up-to-the-minute box scores that update live while the game is in progress.