Earn money watching baseball

No, this is not a spam email. We’ve been asked by Major League Baseball to post the following:

MLB.com, the official web site of Major League Baseball, is seeking stats stringers to cover these clubs in 2014 and beyond:{exp:list_maker}Anaheim/Los Angeles
Chicago (both teams)
Cleveland
Colorado
Detroit
Miami
Oakland/San Francisco
Texas {/exp:list_maker}Stats stringers are responsible for digitally scoring games from the MLB ballparks, which provides the data used in the live content applications on MLB.com, including At-Bat, Gameday and MLB.TV, real-time highlights and text alerts, and by their business partners.

Responsibilities include:

• Arrive at the ballpark no later than one hour prior to the scheduled start time;
• Double-check and verify all pre-game information: rosters, umpires, weather conditions, etc.;
• During the game, enter the results of every pitch and game event (plays, substitutions, etc.) using our proprietary software and coding language;
• Work closely with our game-night support staff (via AOL Instant Messenger) to ensure proper scoring of all game events and accuracy of data;
• After the game, enter all post-game information: winning and losing pitcher, saves, holds, time and attendance
• Validate all stats and data in our scoring software against the official box score provided by the Official Scorer.

Qualifications include:

• Exceptional (and demonstrable) knowledge of baseball and how to score a baseball game;
• Strong computer proficiency (Windows OS and Windows-based software) and the ability to quickly learn and operate new software;
• Previous experience (including pressbox exposure) with a professional or college sports team, preferably baseball;
• Regular availability to attend games in-person as required by the schedule: weekdays, nights and weekends;
• A “team player” with a great attitude, including but not limited to a willingness to make and learn from mistakes and the ability to work closely and cooperatively (and take direction from) our game-night staff;
• Professionalism.

(New stringers undergo an 8-10 week correspondence training program, and co-score several practice games in the ballpark with a returning stringer, before scoring any games solo in the ballpark.)

Those interested in applying should send a resume and cover later, addressing the above-listed qualifications, to


Dave Studeman was called a "national treasure" by Rob Neyer. Seriously. Follow his sporadic tweets @dastudes.
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Jim
10 years ago

I used to do this.  It’s a great part-time job.  Pays well, free parking, see the games, visit with other members of the media, etc.  A friend of mine estimated I was getting paid about $150 per game, but then she was considering the price of a comparable ticket.  It is one of the best seats in the house as MLB has told the clubs they want their stringers as close to the middle front of the press box as possible.

However, it is intense.  This is the reason I quit because I was not able to think and react fast enough anymore.  But if you are quite dexterous and know how to score baseball games, this is a great deal.  The scoring is a variation (enhancement?) of the old project scoresheet method, still in use on Retrosheet.

You do get plenty of help from your supervisor, wherever they may be for that game, so you are not alone.  If you go on MLB.com and pick a game and then click on gameday and then click on classic, you will see part of the results of your efforts.  If you are interested, I would suggest you follow tonight’s game on gameday to get an idea of what is involved.  The fx pitch trax is not part of it.

Anyway, think about it.  I mentioned it was intense, I would get home afterward and my wife would ask who won and I couldn’t answer her.  I was concentrating on doing the job, I never paid attention to the final score.

Dr.Miraculous
10 years ago

AOL instant messenger? Are they still in the league?
Is MLB also hiring statisticians with required experience using an abacus?

Its a throwback era thing, just sayin…

Day Jobber
10 years ago

It’s something I think I’d do well with and really enjoy doing, but I’d really need to know what the pay is before I considered changing job commitments.

Jim
10 years ago

Day Jobber, this is not a full time job.  This is a moonlighting job that pays well and gives you an opportunity to work in a baseball atmosphere.  They have 2 and usually 3 of these stringers for each team, so you may get 25-30 games over a 6 month period.  Just enough to help pay for your summer vacation.  I really don’t want to tell you what I was getting as it was many years ago and I’m sure the rates have changed.

Tim Weeks
10 years ago

Are the stringers expected to work all 81 home games or is the schedule split with other stringers?