Why is strikeout k backwards

In order to be as precise and accurate as possible, Henry Chadwick resorted to using letters to symbolize what had happened during any particular play. So he had to come up with something else to indicate if the play resulted in a strikeout. With the evolution of baseball, statistics also grew to include more and more ways to track the performance of players. The way to calculate the K rate is to divide the total strikeouts by the total batters faced. Sometimes, the K Rate can also be referred to as how many strikeouts the pitcher had per 9 innings.

The K Rate can tell managers how well pitchers can get an out without the hitter putting the ball in play. The higher the K Rate is, the better the pitcher typically does. The batter is automatically out on a strikeout, unless the catcher does not cleanly hold onto the baseball or if the baseball hits the dirt. If the catcher does not catch the third strike, the batter may attempt to run to first base -- if it is open or if there are two outs.

However, even if the batter reaches first base safely, the pitcher and the batter are still credited with a strikeout in the scorebook. In the scorebook, a strikeout is denoted by the letter K. A third-strike call on which the batter doesn't swing is denoted with a backward K.

As shown above, the backward K on both a box score sheet and a sign in the crowd can signify when a player strikes out looking.

The backward K can be seen in ballparks all across the world. Fans often use red or black lettering that way; everyone can see the K signs that hang on the wall. The more backward K signs on the wall, the more time the pitcher fooled the batter when striking out.

It will continue to be part of the baseball scoring system to signify that the player has struck out looking. The K will continue to signify the player has struck out, and the backward K will alert people when there has been a strikeout looking.

How do you grade for punchouts? Do you have a different way to grade your box score and put something different for strikeouts? Let us know in the comment section below!