Was listening to Steve Czaban on the radio today. A question was posed concerning the reason a shortstop had the number 6 on a scorecard. If you continued on sequentially on the scorecard, the shortstop should be 5 and not the third baseman. Any idea why this is the case ?
I think but not 100% sure on this. The short stop was originally a mid-field outfielder, hence the term "short"-stop. Kinda like the rover position a lot of softball teams play, since you can play 4 outfielders. That being the case, if you number the positions sequentially, the first outfielder position you come to is the short outfielder that being the number 6 position.
I wondered this as well. I always assumed they numbered it by hitting all the base positions, then moving back toward the outfield, picking up shortstop on the way.
when i got a job keeping score when i was about 10, it bothered me because it didnt seem to make sense. but having the three bases listed in order may be a good reason.
Bases listed in order is correct. Mid-outfielder idea is also part of it... :crystal::geaux::crystal::geaux::crystal:
