Baseball Scavenger Hunt Ideas – Finds for Any Game

How it works

Nine innings is a long sit for a child at a first game. These baseball scavenger hunt ideas give the eyes a job: the field, the plays, the umpires, the crowd and the scoreboard, scored 1 to 3 points.

Read the full guide

One list for each place to look

On the field suits the wait before the first pitch: The warning track and A foul pole are there before anyone bats. Choose a list in the menu, then press Print this list, or tick finds off on the phone.

What the notes are for

Each note says in one line what the thing is, so a grown-up who does not follow the game can still judge it. Rare plays score 3: A bunt may not come all afternoon.

Tips

Keep Plays to watch for for the middle innings, when the first excitement has worn off.
Eyes go back to the batter between ticks: foul balls reach the seats fast.

Questions and answers

What can kids look for at a baseball game?

The on-deck circle, a dugout, a stolen base, a glove brought from home, a mascot and an inning with a zero. Common sights score 1 point and rare ones, such as A rally cap, score 3.

Does it work at a youth league game?

Yes. Nothing names a league or a stadium. A small field may have no bullpen, no mascot and no pitch speed on the board, so cross those off before you start.

How do you keep score with more than one child?

Print a sheet each, or one for the family. A find counts once the whole team has seen it, and the points are added up after the last out.

All 60 finds

On the field 12

A batter's box 2 points. A rectangle on either side of home plate. The batter stands in one.
A coach's box 3 points. Marked behind first base and third base. A base coach is meant to stand in it.
A dugout 1 point. Where a team's bench is. Players who are not on the field watch from it.
A foul line 1 point. The line from home plate past first or third base to the fence.
A foul pole 1 point. A tall pole where a foul line meets the outfield fence. A fly ball that hits it is a home run.
The backstop 1 point. The fence or net behind home plate. It protects the crowd from wild pitches and foul balls.
The bullpen 2 points. The area where pitchers and catchers warm up before they come into the game.
The grass line 3 points. Where the dirt of the infield ends and the grass of the outfield begins.
The mound in the middle of the diamond 1 point. The raised dirt where the pitcher stands to throw.
The on-deck circle 1 point. Where the next batter warms up while waiting for a turn.
The slab called home plate 1 point. Five sides, white rubber, set level with the ground.
The warning track 2 points. The strip of dirt along the fence. Its feel tells a fielder the wall is close.

Plays to watch for 12

A bunt 3 points. The batter holds the bat nearly still and lets the ball hit it.
A double play turned by the infield 2 points. The defense puts two players out on one play.
A fly ball caught by an outfielder 1 point. A fly ball is a ball hit high in the air.
A foul ball that reaches the seats 1 point. A foul ball is a batted ball that ends up in foul territory.
A ground ball 1 point. A hit that bounces in the infield.
A home run that clears the wall 3 points. A home run lets the batter circle all the bases and score.
A line drive hit past an infielder 2 points. A ball hit hard in the air on a low arc.
A pickoff throw 2 points. A quick throw from the pitcher to a fielder covering a base.
A runner sliding into a base 2 points. The runner drops to the ground on the way in, to avoid a tag.
A stolen base 2 points. A runner takes the next base while the pitcher is throwing to home plate.
A strikeout 1 point. Three strikes on one batter. It normally counts as one out.
A walk 1 point. Also called a base on balls. It comes on the fourth ball.

Umpires and calls 12

A called third strike 2 points. The batter does not swing and the umpire calls strike three. Players call it caught looking.
A new ball put into the game 1 point. Watch the plate umpire hand it over or throw it out.
A relief pitcher coming in 2 points. A relief pitcher is brought in as a substitute for the pitcher before.
A runner called out at first base 1 point. Each team is allowed three outs in its half of an inning.
A safe call at a base 1 point. Watch the umpire nearest the base. Say how the call was shown.
A visit to the mound 2 points. Play stops while somebody walks out to talk with the pitcher.
An umpire standing near a base 1 point. Field umpires stand near the bases and make most of the calls on runners.
An umpire sweeping the plate with a little brush 2 points. Count how many times it happens in one inning.
An umpire's punching motion on strike three 3 points. Many umpires punch the air on the third strike. Players call a strikeout a punch out.
The plate umpire looking at a lineup card 3 points. Easiest to catch before the first pitch.
The plate umpire's mask 1 point. The plate umpire wears a mask, a chest protector and leg guards, much like the catcher.
Two umpires talking over a call 3 points. Tick it when they meet on the field.

In the stands 12

A cheer that travels round the whole ballpark 3 points. It has to pass through your own section.
A fan filling in a paper scorecard 2 points. Ticked from your seat, not photographed.
A foul ball caught in the air by somebody in the crowd 3 points. Caught, not picked up off the ground.
A glove brought from home 1 point. Worn in the seats, ready for a foul ball.
A homemade sign held up in the crowd 2 points. Read it out to your team.
A mascot 2 points. On the field or in the seats.
A rally cap 3 points. A cap worn backward, sideways or inside out to bring on a rally.
A seat number that matches your age 2 points. In your own row or the row in front.
A vendor carrying a tray up the steps 1 point. Say what was on the tray.
A whole row standing for the anthem 1 point. Before the first pitch.
Two people wearing the same number 2 points. On shirts or jerseys, anywhere you can see from your seat.
The whole crowd standing up to stretch 1 point. The seventh-inning stretch comes between the top and the bottom of the seventh inning.

The scoreboard 12

A full count 2 points. Three balls and two strikes on the batter.
A number on the board that matches the batter's back 2 points. Check it while the batter walks to the plate.
A pitch speed 2 points. Write the fastest one you see all game.
A run going up while you watch 1 point. Look at the board as the runner touches home plate.
A tied score 2 points. Write the inning it happened in.
An extra inning 3 points. Extra innings are played when the game is tied after the regular number.
An inning with a zero 1 point. No runs for that team in that inning.
The bottom of an inning 1 point. The second half, when the home team bats.
The E on the scoreboard 3 points. It counts errors. An error is a fielder's misplay that lets a batter or a runner get farther.
The lineup 2 points. The batting order, with each player's position.
The top of an inning 1 point. The first half, when the visiting team bats.
Two outs on the board 1 point. One more out ends that half of the inning.

How this list was compiled

Written for this site by its editors in September 2026: original finds for a child at a baseball game with a grown-up, at any level from a youth league field to a big stadium, sorted into On the field, Plays to watch for, Umpires and calls, In the stands and The scoreboard. Nothing was copied from another list, and no league, team, player, ballpark or broadcaster is named. The choice of finds and the points are the editors' own. Each baseball term and the one-line meaning beside it was checked on 2026-09-30 against English Wikipedia: the Glossary of baseball terms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_baseball_terms) for stolen base, double play, bunt, pickoff, foul ball, strike out, walk, ball, full count, home run, fly ball, ground ball, slide, line drive, caught looking, punch out, out, inning, top and bottom of the inning, extra innings, error, lineup, relief pitcher, bullpen, warning track, mound, batter's box, dugout, backstop, foul pole, on deck, rally cap and seventh-inning stretch; Baseball field (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_field) for the on-deck circle, the foul poles and foul lines, the warning track, home plate, the coach's boxes and the grass line; and Umpire (baseball) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umpire_(baseball)) for the field umpires and the plate umpire's equipment. Every find is scored by looking from a seat: nothing is bought and nobody outside the family is approached. Licence: own work