What Is an Error in Baseball?
Quick answer
A misplay the official scorer charges to a fielder, like a dropped throw or bobbled grounder, that lets a batter reach or a runner advance when ordinary effort would have made the play. Runs that score because of errors are unearned.
In this article
An error is a misplay charged to a fielder by the official scorer when the fielder fails to make a play that ordinary effort would have made, letting a batter reach base or a runner advance. A dropped can of corn, a bobbled grounder and a throw into the dugout are all errors.
Who decides
The official scorer decides, not the umpire. In MLB the scorer sits in the press box, and rulings can be changed after the game if a team asks for a review. The key question is always: would an average fielder have made this play with ordinary effort? If yes, it's an error. If the play was hard, it's a hit.
Types of errors
- Fielding errors: dropping a fly ball, bobbling a grounder, a ball through the legs
- Throwing errors: a throw that pulls the first baseman off the bag or sails away
- Catching errors on throws: a first baseman dropping a good throw
What is not an error
- Wild pitches and passed balls have their own stats.
- Mental mistakes, like throwing to the wrong base or missing the cutoff man, aren't errors unless there's also a physical misplay.
- Hard plays not made: a diving miss on a sinking liner is usually a hit.
How errors show up in scorebooks
Positions are numbered 1 to 9, so scorers write "E" plus the number:
| Code | Fielder |
|---|---|
| E1 | Pitcher |
| E2 | Catcher |
| E3 | First base |
| E4 | Second base |
| E5 | Third base |
| E6 | Shortstop |
| E7, E8, E9 | Left, center, right field |
The "E" column on a scoreboard shows each team's total errors.
Why errors matter
- Unearned runs. Runs that score because of an error don't count against the pitcher's ERA.
- Fielding percentage measures how often a fielder avoids errors.
- Batting stats. A batter who reaches on an error is charged with an at-bat but no hit, so it lowers his batting average.
The most famous error in World Series history is probably Bill Buckner's in Game 6 of 1986, when a ground ball rolled through his legs at first base.
Related terms
More definitions: baseball terms explained.
Frequently asked questions
What is an error in baseball?
An error is a misplay charged to a fielder by the official scorer, such as a dropped fly ball or a bad throw, that lets a batter reach base or a runner advance when ordinary effort would have made the out.
Who decides if a play is an error?
The official scorer, not the umpire. In MLB the scorer sits in the press box and can change a ruling after the game.
What does E6 mean?
E6 means an error by the shortstop. Fielding positions are numbered 1 to 9, so E5 is the third baseman, E4 the second baseman and so on.
Are wild pitches and passed balls errors?
No. Wild pitches and passed balls are their own statistics. Mental mistakes, like throwing to the wrong base, are also not errors unless a physical misplay is involved.
