Scorecap

To add to your enjoyment of the no-hitters and no-hit bids featured on this site, we've developed Compact Play Notation (CPN), a notation system that provides a summary of each game as at a glance. If you are familiar with keeping score, you'll be able to read this format without any trouble at all.

CPN focuses on the result of each plate appearance, the only thing that really matters as a pitcher works toward a no-hitter or perfect game. Some additional information, such as base-runner outs and runs scored, is included for context.Template:Efn By scanning the CPN, you'll be able to visualize the important events of the game in the order they occurred: how each out was made, when the first base runner and hit occurred, and when any runs were scored.

That said, you don't have to use CPN to enjoy this site. Links are provided so you can click through to Retrosheet or Baseball-Reference if you'd like to take a more detailed look at the box score and play-by-play of a game.

Example

To get started, let's take a look at a sample that includes most of the elements of Compact Play Notation:

7 e1 3+•6c95•6K6║ wwx8166•376•4w'4║ k1KK•886•K d ■𝒾4K

• Batters reaching base are always indicated by lower-case letters or a small capital k. Base hits are shown as s, d, t, and h (single, double, triple, and home run). A batter may also reach by a walk (w), intentional walk (script 𝒾, see note 1), hit by pitch (x), or error (e). When a batter reaches base on an error, the fielder making the error is normally not shown. However, if the batter is the first base runner, "e" is followed by a small numeral indicating the fielder that made the error; for example,  e5 . Note that is is possible that the error was on a fielder receiving a throw at first base (3 or 1) rather than the player that fielded the batted ball.
  The remaining methods of reaching base are less common: a dropped third strike (k), catcher's interference (c), or a fielder's choice (f) where no runner is retired and no error is recorded.

• Batter outs are always indicated by a full-height character: K for a strikeout and a numeral indicating the player that fielded a batted ball. The method that the batter was retired, if it was recorded, is represented by an overline (fly ball, foul fly, or pop fly), a red strike-through (line out), an underline (ground ball), or a double underline (a bunt on the ground). Fielder's choices are included in this category if a base runner was put out. Note that there is no information about where the ball might have been thrown after it was fielded. When the type of out is known but the fielder is not recorded, the numeral 0 is used with the appropriate markup. If no details of an out are known, it is indicated by a question mark (?).

• Base runner outs are indicated by superscript symbols. As mentioned in the previous item, this does not include a base runner retired on a fielder's choice, where the batter essentially replaces the baserunner. However it may include an out made by the batter after reaching first base.
  An apostrophe (') covers a single out, typically a runner caught stealing, picked off, or out trying to take an extra base on the immediately previous play. A plus sign (+) indicates a double play. So far only one triple play (#) has been recorded in a long no-hit bid (note 2). A raised circle (o) indicates a runner hit by a batted ball—a rarity (note 3).

• Runs scored are indicated by subscript numerals, such as 1 or 2. Usually the scoring occurred on the play indicated by the previous symbol. Occasionally the scoring occurred on a separate play that did not involve the batter, such as a wild pitch, passed ball, or steal of home.

• Other symbols. Breaks between innings are indicated by a centered dot (•). Every three innings are broken up by a double vertical bar (║). Pitching changes are shown by a dark square (■).

• Colors: In busted no-hitters and perfect games, background colors highlight the play that ended the bid: the first base runner (yellow) and the first base hit (pink), respectively. If the first base runner was the result of the first hit, the color is orange.

Key

Elements of Compact Play Notation
Batter Outs 1  fly out, pop fly, or foul out 1  lineout 1  ground out or fielder's choice 1  bunt on ground (often a sacrifice) 1  unspecified fly out, pop fly, foul out, or line out 0  used (with markup) when the type of out     is known but the fielder is unknown ?  unspecified out K  strikeout (X if third in a row in inning) Base Runner Outs  '  runner out on bases +  double play #  triple play o  runner hit by batted ball	Batters Reaching Base s  single d  double t  triple h  home run w  walk 𝒾  intentional walk x  hit by pitch e  error k  dropped third strike f  fielder's choice (no out made) c  catcher's interference	Runs Scored 1 2 3 4  runs scored on play Bustup Plays  yellow   first base runner  pink   first hit  orange   first base runner & hit Other Symbols  •  end of inning ║  end of every third inning ■  pitching change

Quiz

Got it? Now try to identify these famous no-hitters or busted no-hit bids. The answers are provided further below.

EASIEST: 638•K45•96K║ K88•577•36K║ 5K5•K75•K7K║ 886•688•185║  e5 1𝒾 d 1

HARDER: 833•644•866║ 38K•711•K89║ 486•6K4•86 s 5

HARDEST: 3 w 14•1wK9•4xK5║ 55wwK•636•w6+4║ xe561•w1𝒾32•ww521w■e15

BONUS: 799•KK6•996║ 446•75 w w7•743║ w9'K•44ewwe3e16

Answers

Game 1 starts with 12 perfect innings, so it has to be Harvey Haddix's famous game from 1959.

Game 2 is perfect through 8⅔ innings. There have been a few such games. This one is Armando Gallaraga's from 2010, which was busted by an incorrect safe call at first base.

Game 3 is from 1967, the wild, wonderful combined no-hitter of Steve Barber and Stu Miller, which they lost, 2-1. Look at all the base runners.

Game 4. And who can forget the unfortunate Andy Hawkins, who pitched a complete game and allowed no hits, but gave up four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on two consecutive outfield errors?

______________

Note 1 Why a script 𝒾 ? In a sans-serif font, the letter i is barely visible in the jumble of numbers and letters.

Note 2 Search <A HREF="../lists/LongNoHitters,Pitchers-M.htm">here</A> for Roger Moret.

Note 3 No instance has been found of an MLB no-hit bid being broken up by a ball hitting a base runner after the fifth inning. But check out UNC celebrates a no-hitter that never happened.