AboutTom Schott Expertise I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. I don't do off-the-field stuff. Please if you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."
Experience I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.
Organizations SABR
Publications Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.
Question What is the significance of recording the number of hits per inning/game in baseball. At the bottom of the TV screen they have Runs, Hits, Errors. Not sure why the keep track of the number of hits.
Answer Dawn,
Hits are fundamental to the game of baseball. Hits are a key statistic in baseball both for hitters and for pitchers, and for teams for that matter. Runs are what wins games, and almost always runs are produced by hits. So hits are intimately related to runs scored, and everything for a team depends on its scoring runs.
It is a tremendous feat in pitching if a pitcher allows no hits or only one or two during a game. Likewise, without hits there are no extra-base hits such as doubles, triples, and home runs. Hits are a key component of a hitter's batting average, or a team's batting average for that matter.
The number of hits a game, an inning, a season, a career for a hitter or allowed by a pitcher are fundamental baseball statistic that have been kept for over 150 years.
