Wait a day or so and I’m sure you’ll get some comments about a .doc or .pdf that’s available and may be manipulated to a larger-print size. We also have a regular poster here that is visually impaired and she may be able to offer some help. Good luck!

Dan

keep score, myself. I can’t see pencil and all the score books I’ve manged to find are teeny tiny.

After a bit of googling, I’ve found freeware software that seems to all you to keep score via computer. That might be a good teaching mechanism while you continue to find a way to let him do it on paper.

Depending on how low your godson’s vision is that may or may not work. I’ll continue looking. Best of luck!!

I think I can help you.

I worked for twenty-five years in Special Education as a School Psychologist in Illinois.

The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind would be an excellent resource to inquire about different largeprint materials options for your godson:

http://www.thechicagolighthouse.org/programs-and-services/educational-services/illinois-instructional-materials-center-iimc

The link above is for their Eduactioanl Services that houses the Illinois Instructional Materials Center (IIMC). All of their services are free, and this is a state-operated service that includes producing textbooks into large print.

Although a baseball scorecard is not exactly a text book (although I would argue that it SHOULD be!), there are many published scorecard books that you could checkout, and discuss with the IIMC to consider reproducing. One very good, complete, and age appropriate instructional scorecard book is sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods for $4.99; although the copyright is listed as B.P. Longo, 1996; SCORE RIGHT PUBLISHING CO., Phone: 1-800-969-6896.

This scorecard book is titled “SCORE RIGHT; BASEBALL/SOFTBALL SCORING BOOK”. It includes 16 batting positions for each scorecard per game, plus it is spiral bound, with “simplified scoring instructions”. The 60 scorecards are duplexed -printed back-to-back. This includes 29 duplexed scorecard pages, plus two scorecard pages that are duplexed to the initial scoring directions in the front; and a “Batting Averages” pre-calculated chart that displays computed batting averages data for number of hits (through 45) up to 89 total at bats.

A “Season Totals” page is also included in the back with ERA, Slugging Percentage, On Base Average, and Stolen Base Average computation formulas, plus a complete legend for all abbreviations; e.g., AB, H, R, RBI, ERA, etc.

This book was designed for non-professional groups, but would be an excellent published text to discuss with IIMC for reprinting. Since Dick’s Sporting Goods has their logo on the cover, they might also be interested in promoting the availability to individuals and groups, and supporting the IIMC in getting the publisher to assist with the large print edition needed for your grandson.

Be sure to have your grandson’s specific visual impairment information available to discuss his exact vision (print) needs when you contact the IIMC. His parent/s’, legal guradian’s consent will probably be needed to release his confidential medical information to the IIMC.

If you or your grandson are not residents of Illinois, I would be happy to help you with similar services available in your home state. The print (font size), as well as color and background are just a few of the variables that need to be considered for optimal large font reprinting, depending on your grandson’s specific type and degree of visual impairment.

A transition option would be to buy the book, and experiment with enlarging a scorecard page for effective use. I always recommend ultimately obtaining a professionally reproduced enlargement that will enhance your grandson’s effective use, enjoyment, and minimize any “stigma” associated with NOT having a professioanlly produced “genuine” scorecard book of his own!

One other option to explore would be to contact the Cubs Care organization, especially addressing this to the attention of Derrick Lee. He would probably be very supportive, becuase of his family’s personal history involving his daughter, Jada’s, rare vision condition. If you share the IIMC information with Cubs Care, this might assist them in getting things started.

Please keep me posted on your progress. I am approaching the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind as a prospective graduate Psychology practicum/internship site for some of our students in the ABA Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Chicago Campus).

Best wishes for a wonderfully supportive and educational project! Your grandson is very blessed to have you in his baseball corner and life!

Someday…

The correct name and contact information for this outstanding organization is:

The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
1850 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, IL 60608-1298
Tel: (312) 666-1331
Fax: (312) 243-8539TDD: (312) 666-8874

The IIMC contact information:

Illinois Instructional Materials Center: Barbara Perkis (312) 997-3699

In the ’50s as a young boy, when I first attended games at Wrigley Field, I recall one particularly helpful cigar-smoking “oldtimer” fan, who shared his extensive knowledge and skills with my brother, cousin, and me to learn how to keep score correctly.

With a little practice and perfecting my skills, I always looked forward to the PA announcement at Wrigley by Pat Piper to “Get your pencils and scorecard ready for today’s lineup”!

I hope that the BCB community and my help is “paying it forward” for you and your godson!

Someday…