Scoreboards

[mjrbaseball]

I'm starting this thread for the discussion of scoreboards. I love to study the configuration and makeup of scoreboards, and I wonder if there is anyone else who has this same fascination.

For example, is there anyone who is interested in such things as the matrix of bulbs in a digit (4x7, 5x7, 4x6, etc.); layout of the out-of-town scores (inning number to left or right, etc.); home game line scores; and other components.

Or just what scoreboards you find attractive or ugly; informative or lacking; or just with intriguing features. Don't restrict yourselves to the majors, either ... I'd love to hear about the guitar-shaped board in Nashville, for example.

I'll have my thoughts and some photos, too.

mjrbaseball

[mjrbaseball]

I wonder if this is the only scoreboard that was ever used in two major league stadiums? After the Yankees replaced it, it was moved to Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

[mjrbaseball]

I've noticed that in some of the newer ballparks, there are different ways of showing extra innings on the home game line score.

In older parks, the innings were/are numbered 1-10, and when the 10th inning is reached, they clear the board and put the 11th inning in the 1st inning spot.

Nowadays, I've seen some boards "slide" the line score. (I think Camden Yards does this.) After the 10th inning, the score slides to the left, and the first inning drops off the edge, so it has the 2nd through 11th innings on. Then it will show only the 3rd through 12th, etc.

I can't remember where I saw it, but one park with a computerized board "squeezes" the line score. They fit all the innings where the original 1st-9th were by making the numbers and/or the spaces between them narrower. When that room is used up, they change the team name to an abbreviation to make more room. But I'm sure that system has a limit to it, and I don't know what happens then.

Of the "rerack", the "slide" and the "squeeze", I prefer the rerack, just for tradition's sake, although the squeeze keeps all the information up. The slide is worthless.

[mjrbaseball]

This is cool:

[otis89]

Which stadium's scoreboard has never been hit by a home run?

[Chisox73]

This is cool:

Now that's one of the most unique designs I've seen.

[tonypug]

One of the best scoreboards of all time was the famous Ebbets Field scoreboard. The great advertising, the vast size and the fact it was in play, just added to the enjoyment of a game there. Just a wonderful piece of baseball history.

[Chisox73]

Here's a nice pic of the Ebbets Field scoreboard. Enjoy!

[tonypug]

THanks Chisox73, they don't make them like that anymore. Another of my favoites was the exploding scoreboard at old Comiskey.

[Chisox73]

In that pic,you get a great view of that concave wall.They don't make walls like that anymore,too.

[mjrbaseball]

Look closely at the Ebbetts Field scoreboard, at the very bottom, just above the Abe Stark sign. They squeezed in the Yankees score there. (It says YANKS at far left and CLEVE in the center.) I guess they put the lines side-by-side instead of on top of each other.

[mjrbaseball]

tonypug: Another of my favoites was the exploding scoreboard at old Comiskey.

What is that OFF DEF RULE at the lower right for? And what is a PITCHOMETER?

[tonypug]

What is that OFF DEF RULE at the lower right for? And what is a PITCHOMETER?

Great picture,and good questions, hope somebody has the answer.

[BeatEmBucs]

What is that OFF DEF RULE at the lower right for? And what is a PITCHOMETER?

I would think Pitch-o-meter would've been one of the first attempts at posting pitch speed on a scoreboard. Not sure what those OFF/DEF/RULE is for. I would think RULE might be where the "Hit" or "Error" would be posted on a close play. Those scoreboards shown were cool, but my most memorable was the original behemouth scoreboard at the old 3 rivers stadium that stretched from left center to right center. And had the Pirate logo in the center (and steeler logo during football season) Of course the classic hand operated Wrigley board is cool too.

[Elvis]

Which stadium's scoreboard has never been hit by a home run?

There isn't really one answer to that, although, I'm sure you're thinking of Wrigley Field. I know Dodger Stadium's boards have never been touched by a home run either.

This is a great topic!

One of my favorite scoreboards is the original 230 ft high "Big A" scoreboard at Anaheim Stadium. The halo-topped giant was in use behind the left field wall from 1966-78. After the stadium was enclosed for the Rams, the board was moved to the edge of the parking lot to be used for advertising stadium events. The board was built at a cost of $2 million in 1966. The cost was paid for by Standard Oil in exchange for exclusive advertising rights.

Unfortunately, when the stadium was remodeled in 1997-98, the board was not restored to it's rightfull place in left field. But at least it's still being used at the Big A.

[Bluesteve32]

Now just a message board for the 57 Freeway.

[DODGER DEB]

Here's a nice pic of the Ebbets Field scoreboard. Enjoy!

A thing of beauty is a joy forever!

Thanks, Chisox73! You just brightened my day.

Sadly, when OUR Ebbets Field was demolished, it was sold to a minor league team somewhere in NC. It has since been destroyed.

c.

[Chisox73]

What is that OFF DEF RULE at the lower right for? And what is a PITCHOMETER?

Great pic there.That is a pic from 1967.

The Pitchometer was an early version of the radar gun.The Rule on the board is for the official scoring on the play.I don't know exactly what the other 2 are for.

I'll look for the others.

[mjrbaseball]

Great pic there.That is a pic from 1967.

The Pitchometer was an early version of the radar gun.The Rule on the board is for the official scoring on the play.I don't know exactly what the other 2 are for.

I'll look for the others.

Thanks for the info!

By the way, since you told me it was from 1967, I looked it up at Retrosheet. That game was May 17, 1967, and the Sox ended up winning 5-4.

[west coast orange and black]

This is cool...

waaay cool.

[west coast orange and black]

Which stadium's scoreboard has never been hit by a home run?

pac bell is my guess.

pretty sure that the electronic scoreboard way out there beyond center has not been touched, and the manual one in right field is within the field of play and has not been included in an eventual inside-the-parker.

[west coast orange and black]

Or just what scoreboards you find attractive or ugly; informative or lacking...

the board at pac bell is severely lacking:
only the batting team's lineup is up on the board...
and i end up gripin' about it EVERY time i am at the yard (about 65 games a season).

[shoeless1920]

On the right side of the scoreboard is the lineup for each team, listed as the team on offense (off) and defense (def). Adjacent to "Rule" is a spot to display the H or E ruling.

[Bleacherbee]

I believe, at least when it was built, the scoreboard at Comerica park was the largest (in the world?)

Its also never, ever, ever even come close to being hit, being, at its lowest point, more than 20 feet above a point over 500 feet from home plate, making it (I would recon, without doing any geometry in my head) like probably about a 560 foot shot to even graze the bottom.

It's also tacky, annoying, and barely functional. I still think it looks better than that Veeck disaster.

[efin98]

I'd venture to guess that the electronic scoreboard at Fenway Park hasn't been hit in it's lifetime...
Now the manual scoreboard on the other hand I'd be surprised if it didn't go a game since it's installation without getting at least one ball hit off of it