If you read box scores or follow play-by-play feeds, you will often see short numeric sequences such as 6-4-3 or 6-4-3-2. These codes are shorthand for who touched the ball during a defensive play and who recorded the out. This guide explains the standard position mapping from 1 to 9, shows how to read fielder sequences, and walks through examples so you can interpret DP and TP entries in MLB and collegiate logs with confidence.

Numbers 1 to 9 are the standard position codes used to record who handled the ball in a play.

A sequence like 6-4-3 lists handling order, with the final number showing who made the putout.

A trailing -2 indicates the catcher made the final out in the same continuous play, which can produce a 6-4-3-2 entry.

What the position numbers 1 to 9 mean in baseball

If you have searched terms such as how to bet on mlb while researching box scores, understanding the numeric position codes will make play-by-play lines much clearer.

Minimalist annotated top down baseball infield diagram showing positions numbered 1 to 9 with shortstop labeled 6 and catcher labeled 2 useful for how to bet on mlb guides

The standard mapping assigns numbers 1 through 9 to defensive positions so scorers and statisticians can record plays compactly and without ambiguity. The mapping is: 1 pitcher, 2 catcher, 3 first base, 4 second base, 5 third base, 6 shortstop, 7 left field, 8 center field, and 9 right field, as documented in official scoring references and manuals NCAA Baseball Statisticians Manual.

Scorers use numbers instead of full position names because a compact code fits cleanly in box scores, play-by-play feeds, and historical event logs. This makes machine parsing and human scanning faster, especially in tight columns or when summarizing multiple plays on a single line.

Standard position-number mapping

Using numbers reduces errors and standardizes reporting across leagues and databases. Longstanding glossaries and data providers also use the same mapping so a sequence recorded in one place means the same thing when read in another log, which helps researchers and fans comparing games across seasons.

Why scorers use numbers instead of names

Short codes avoid inconsistency from position synonyms and let statisticians tag each contact point during a play in a single, ordered sequence that can be tallied later for assists, putouts, and double play totals.

How to read a fielder-sequence like 6-4-3

A fielder-sequence lists the defensive players who touched the ball in the order those touches occurred; the last digit names the fielder who recorded the putout under official scoring rules.

Each number stands for a fielding position and the sequence is strictly chronological for that play. Under Rule 9 principles, prior fielders who handled the ball are credited with assists when their actions directly lead to the recorded out, while the final fielder takes the putout. The rule set used in MLB and collegiate scoring explains this assignment in detail Official Baseball Rules: Scoring (Rule 9).

Practice scoring with structured challenges

Try reading the next example play step by step, noting who touched the ball and who made the final out.

Explore FundedPlays Challenges

For practical reading, treat a sequence like 6-4-3 as a mini timeline: shortstop, then second baseman, then first baseman. The last named player is the one who completed the out, not necessarily the player who started the defensive action.

Order equals handling sequence

Think of each number as a stage in the handling chain. When you read box scores or event feeds, the numbers tell you exactly who moved the ball and in what order, which is essential when reconstructing plays or checking assists and putouts for scorekeeping accuracy.

Last number = fielder who recorded the putout

The final number is the decisive one for the recorded out. That matters when you count individual statistics because putouts and assists are assigned differently depending on who completed the out and who merely assisted.

What a 6-4-3 play typically describes

A classic 6-4-3 play describes a ground ball fielded by the shortstop, thrown to the second baseman who touches second base to retire the lead runner or force the runner, followed by a throw to first base where the first baseman records the final putout.

Quick scorer checklist for a 6-4-3 double play

Ball to SS
Throw to 2B
Throw to 1B

Use this as a step mnemonic

Scorekeepers often use a short checklist or mnemonic to keep the sequence correct: who fielded, who received, who completed. That helps when the play is fast and multiple players handle the ball in under a second. (Read more on our site: how we evaluate plays.)

Classic 6-4-3 double play sequence

A grounder to shortstop that leads to a 6-4-3 double play will be recorded by listing shortstop, second base, and first base in that order. In shorthand box scores it is often noted simply as a 6-4-3 DP, and that shorthand is used widely in public glossaries and statistical feeds MLB glossary: Double Play.

When a batter is charged with GIDP

When the batter grounds into a double play, the batter’s line will record a GIDP entry and the play will appear in the defensive play summary. The box score and batter stats reflect that event while the sequence clarifies which fielders earned the assists and the putout.

Why you might see 6-4-3-2 in a game log

A 6-4-3-2 sequence appears when a play that looks like a standard 6-4-3 unfolding then continues with a final throw to the catcher who records the terminal putout, so the catcher is listed last.

This four-number chain can arise when a runner is being retired at home plate after the initial double play attempt, or in other continuous plays where the final recorded out happens at the plate and is part of the same continuous sequence governed by scoring continuity rules NCAA Baseball Statisticians Manual.

Because continuity matters, scorers judge whether the throw home is part of the same play or a separate play; if it is part of the original action, the sequence lists four numbers with the catcher last.

Continuous plays that add a throw home

Imagine the shortstop fields the ball and starts a 6-4-3 relay, but the lead runner tries to score instead of being forced at first. If the defense turns the play into an out at the plate in the same continuous sequence, the catcher becomes the final fielder and the play is logged with a trailing 2.

When a double play attempt adds a second out at the plate

This is less common than the usual 6-4-3, but it is valid scoring notation. Scorers reference the rulebook language when deciding whether to add the fourth number and which players receive assists and putouts for their official totals Official Baseball Rules: Scoring (Rule 9).

How official scorers assign putouts, assists, DP and TP credits

Official scorers follow Rule 9 principles: the putout is credited to the fielder who actually completes the out, and preceding players who handled the ball and whose actions directly contributed receive assists, subject to the continuity of play rules.

Putouts and assists contribute to team totals for double plays and triple plays, and official manuals include examples showing how to log these events consistently across games and leagues NCAA Baseball Statisticians Manual.

What does 6-4-3-2 mean in baseball scoring and how is it recorded?

It lists the defensive players who handled the ball in order, with the final number naming the fielder who recorded the putout; a 6-4-3-2 shows a handling chain that ends with the catcher recording the final out as part of the same continuous play.

When a scorer decides whether a play is a DP or a TP, they consider whether the outs were recorded in one uninterrupted sequence and whether any player’s action was an error that would change credit assignments. Those judgments are guided by the rulebook and long practice in scoring.

Rule 9 principles for putouts and assists

Rule 9 spells out how to apply assists and putouts so statistics remain consistent. The fielder who physically completes the out gets the putout, and the others in the chain receive assists when their actions lead to that out; this follows the same logic used in league and collegiate scoring.

How team totals and individual stats reflect these plays

Double plays and triple plays appear in both the play-by-play text and the cumulative box score. Team totals list DP and TP counts, and individual player lines show assists and putouts that add up to those team totals, which is why accurate sequence logging matters to record-keeping and later analysis SABR scoring resources.

How to spot these plays in box scores and play-by-play logs

Box scores include a defensive summary line for double plays and often a separate section for detailed play-by-play where sequences like 6-4-3 or 6-4-3-2 appear immediately following a play description.

Public glossaries and data sites show where the sequence and the DP label appear so you can quickly find the play in a log or condensed box score; common resources illustrate the shorthand and explain abbreviations used in batter and team lines Baseball Almanac abbreviations.

Where DP/TP and sequence notations appear

Look in the play-by-play pane for the sequential notation next to the action. The batter’s line will also show GIDP when applicable, and the defensive summary tallies team double plays for the game.

Examples from public glossaries and online logs

Resources such as Retrosheet and league glossaries define the position numbers and give sample lines so you can compare a play in a modern MLB box score to the same notation in historical logs Retrosheet definitions.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

A frequent mistake is reading position numbers as jersey numbers or batting order spots instead of defensive positions, which leads to misinterpretation of who actually handled the ball. Always check the play-by-play context instead of guessing.

Funded Plays Challenges

Explore FundedPlays Challenges

Another common error is assuming the sequence shows intent rather than actual touches; the sequence records who physically touched the ball in order, so a fielder who was in the right place but did not handle the ball does not appear in the list.

Misreading position numbers

Quick check: when you see a number, map it to the standard list of positions and then read the sequence as a chain. If something still seems off, compare the play description with the box score totals to see whether the event was recorded as a DP or TP.

Confusing order with responsibility

Responsibility for an outcome and the order of handling are different things. The sequence shows order; official scoring language determines whether a play is an error, an assist, or a putout, and that sometimes alters who is credited in statistics.

Worked examples: three real-style play walkthroughs

Example A: Classic 6-4-3 double play. Situation: runner on first, one out. Batter hits a hard ground ball to the shortstop who fields cleanly and throws to second base for the force, the second baseman steps on the bag and flips to first where the first baseman catches the ball and records the final out. Score entry: 6-4-3 DP. The shortstop and second baseman receive assists, the first baseman receives the putout.

How this looks in a box score: the defensive summary will list the play as 6-4-3 DP and the batter’s line records the GIDP if the batter was the one who hit into the twin killing. Team DP totals increase by one and individual assist and putout lines reflect the event in their respective columns MLB glossary: Double Play.

Example B: 6-4-3 followed by throw home resulting in 6-4-3-2. Situation: runner on first, batter hits to shortstop who throws to second for the force. The defense sees a runner trying to score from second rather than a play at first; the second baseman turns and fires home and the catcher tags the runner out. If the scorer judges the home tag to be part of the same continuous sequence, the play is recorded 6-4-3-2 with the catcher receiving the putout.

In that entry the shortstop and second baseman receive assists for their parts, the first baseman may or may not be credited depending on whether first was involved in the final handling chain, and the catcher gets the recorded putout at home. Continuity decisions are made according to the rulebook Official Baseball Rules: Scoring (Rule 9).

Example C: Scoring edge cases and scorer decisions. A relay that looks like 6-4-3 but includes an error in the throw or a dropped catch can change credits. If the throw to first is dropped, the scorer may rule an error instead of a putout and assist, which changes both the sequence notation and which players receive statistical credit.

To resolve these cases, scorers consult the play-by-play wording, apply continuity rules, and rely on established scoring practice so season totals remain consistent for assists, putouts, and DP or TP counts SABR scoring resources.

Wrap-up: quick reference and further reading

Key takeaway: numbers map to positions and sequences list who handled the ball in order; the final number names the fielder who recorded the putout, which explains how assists and putouts are assigned.

For more detail, consult the official Rule 9 language and public glossaries that define abbreviations and show sample play entries, then practice by reading a few play-by-play lines to get comfortable with the notation Retrosheet definitions and read related posts on our blog: our blog.

What do the numbers in a baseball play like 6-4-3 mean?

They are standard position codes listing the fielders who handled the ball in order; the last number indicates who recorded the putout.

When does a play get recorded as 6-4-3-2 instead of 6-4-3?

When the initial handling sequence continues with a throw home and the catcher records the final out as part of the same continuous play.

Where can I learn official scoring rules?

Official Rule 9 in the MLB rules and scoring manuals such as the NCAA Baseball Statisticians’ Manual and public glossaries provide the authoritative guidance.

Practice by reading a few live or archived play-by-play logs and matching the sequences to what you see in a replay or written description. Over time the mapping and sequence logic will become intuitive and help you follow games more closely. If you want a structured way to practice, start by spotting simple 6-4-3 double plays in a box score and then check the play-by-play to confirm which players received assists and which recorded putouts.