What makes a run earned in baseball

Earned runs were originally intended as an offensive measure, showing how much of a team's scoring was the result of their batting success rather than the other team's fielding mistakes.

Today is it used as a measure of pitching , showing how many of the runs given up by a pitcher were the result of his own mistakes rather than defensive failures. See also: Earned Run Average. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Are you a Stathead, too? Subscribe to our Free Newsletter.

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Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Many thanks to him. Edward singles, scoring Baker. Baker reaches on a base on balls. Abel is picked off second base. Daniel doubles, scoring Baker from first base. Baker reaches first base on a base on balls.

Sierra relieves Roger. Charlie forces Abel at third base. Daniel forces Baker at third base. Edward hits a home run, scoring three runs. Charlie singles, filling the bases. Daniel forces Abel at home plate.

Edward singles, scoring Baker and Charlie. The Official Scorer shall charge one run to Peter and one run to Roger. Baker singles, but Abel is out trying to reach third base and Baker advances to second base on the throw.

Charlie singles, scoring Baker. The provisions of Rule 9. In some instances, runs charged as earned against the relief pitcher can be charged as unearned against the team.

Baker reaches first base on an error. Of those 50 runs, only 40 of the runs were earned, and 10 were unearned runs. This ERA comes out to a 3. It is important to note that if a pitcher exits a game with runners on base, any runs earned by those runners still count against their ERA since they pitched to those runners and allowed them to get on base. A lower ERA means that the pitcher has allowed fewer earned runs. In 21st century baseball, an ERA below 4.

An ERA below 2. Anything above 5. Louis Cardinals. He achieved a 1. Dazzy Vance — who was known for his fastball and was the only pitcher to lead the National League in strikeouts for seven consecutive seasons — had an ERA of 2.

Of course, while the legendary Babe Ruth of the Red Sox was most famous for his slugging, he was also an outstanding left-hand pitcher with a career ERA of 2.

He had a career ERA of 2. Tim Keefe holds the record for the lowest-ever one-season ERA in baseball history with a score of 0. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account? Earned run. History Talk 0. A run is counted as unearned when: A batter reaches base on an error including catcher's interference , and later scores a run in that inning.

A baserunner remains on base as the result of an error on a fielder's choice play that would put the baserunner out except for an error, and subsequently scores. A batter reaches base on a fielder's choice which removes a baserunner who has reached base safely on an error or has remained on base as the result of an error, reaching first base on a passed ball on a called or swinging third strike, or remained on base on an error on a fielders' choice play that should have retired him, and subsequently scores.

A batter or runner advances one or more bases on an error or passed ball and scores on a play that would otherwise not have provided the opportunity to score. A baserunner scores after the third out would have been made.

Historical differences In the early history of major league baseball, the difference between the number of earned runs given up by a pitcher and the total number of runs given up was much more significant than today.

External links Major League Baseball Rule Categories Terminology Statistics.