Big Sports, Mike Edwards, Springfield Cardinals, Tim Tourville - Scoring the Game
Scoring the Game He Loves
Article from July/August 2009 Issue of Big Sports
As you sit at beautiful Hammons Field and watch the Springfield Cardinals play, you’re probably oblivious to what goes on behind closed doors during a game. Many of us slip thru the turnstiles, look for our seats, and look for the nearest vendor to get our favorite snack or beverage. After all, we’re settling in to watch a little bit of America’s Pastime! But what about those closed doors? The dozens of people working the concession stands, preparing your favorite ballpark cuisine. 
Or the many maintenance workers who keep the park pristine. Then, there’s the press box. The PA announcer, radio guys, other media, and, oh yes, the Official Scorer.
There’s a spot on the scoreboard out in left-center field that from time to time will have different letters and numbers in it. E3, SB, PB, H…these don’t just appear on their own. They appear as the judgment of the Official Scorer, most nights handled by official Tim Tourville. Tim has been an official scorer for the Cardinals since the team’s inception five years ago. It’s not a job he takes lightly. “This is their livelihood,” said Tourville. “It’s important to get it right and just be fair, no matter which team it is.”
Tourville began his duties as an official scorer down at Price Cutter Park. “I applied for the job, and Brad Eldridge (then Ozark Mountain Ducks GM) said I was the only one that applied so I got the job,” he said. “I guess I got it by default. It was me, Danny Clinton running the scoreboard, and Rob Evans doing the radio.” Then, when the Springfield Cardinals came to town he applied for the same position. “I didn’t do the first two exhibition games, but when the regular season rolled around, I got the job.” Tourville shares his duties with former MSU Sports Information Director Mark Stillwell. “I have a quarter season ticket package so when I use those tickets Mark takes over. I handle about 55 games a year.”
Being the official scorer is not a tremendously difficult job, it’s more common sense that anything else, that according to the long-time area official. “I just learned that if the infielder makes a great play but makes a bad throw, I judge the call by whether the runner would have been out with an accurate throw. Any ball in the dirt is a wild pitch. Pretty much common sense.” But sometimes his decisions do get reversed. “It does happen from time to time. Someone has a better vantage point or the managers get together and determine to change an error to a hit. But it doesn’t happen all that often.”
When asked about why he took the job Tourville was quick to point out he’s not doing it for the money. “I do get paid, but I’m doing this because I love baseball! It’s the only sport I know of that when you think you’ve seen it all, something happens and you say, ‘wow, I never saw that before.’ I just love the game of baseball.” Tourville says he also cherishes the long-time relationships he’s made over the years. “You meet so many great people and that’s a great part of the job, too.”
Tourville may love baseball, but that’s not the only sport he has attachments to. He’s officiated fast and slow pitch softball (12 years), football (37 years) and basketball (43 years and still counting)! “I guess I’m the oldest one still out there, but I told them only 3 man crews from now on.”
His approach to scoring a baseball game at Hammons Field is very much the same as when he has a whistle in his mouth. “I just try to get it right. No favorites, just fair!” So how long will he continue being the man in the booth making those decisions? “I’m not ready to quit just yet. As long as they want me back I’ll be there.”
