How did the "K" become a Strike in Scoring?

[Steve02C5]

I heard long ago that the "S" was used for some other stat so the "K" was dedicated to being a Strike.
Anyone know the history of the letters used for scoring?

[Dodgerfan1]

The use of 'K' for a strikeout was created by Henry Chadwick because an 'S' was already in use for a sacrifice. 'K' was chosen because the word 'strike' ends with a 'K' sound. Later on, a backwards 'K' came to symbolize a strikeout on which the batter does not swing "caught looking".

[milladrive]

The use of 'K' for a strikeout was created by Henry Chadwick because an 'S' was already in use for a sacrifice. Later on, a backwards 'K' came to symbolize a strikeout on which the batter does not swing "caught looking".

Learn sump'n new every day. :)

[Sliding Billy]

The use of 'K' for a strikeout was created by Henry Chadwick because an 'S' was already in use for a sacrifice. 'K' was chosen because the word 'strike' ends with a 'K' sound. Later on, a backwards 'K' came to symbolize a strikeout on which the batter does not swing "caught looking".
By happy coincidence, a backwards K looks like a right-handed batter who hasn't swung.

[bluezebra]

Some people claimed that "K" was short for "KO", the boxing symbol for a knockout.

Bob

[Dodgerfan1]

Here is something I just dug up. If any part of my answer is incorrect, I disavow all knowledge of it! :D

FROM YAHOO SPORTS....

Why does the letter "K" stand for a strikeout in baseball?
Bob
West River, Maryland

Dear Bob:
As The Straight Dope explains, we owe the "K" to an early sportswriter named Henry Chadwick. In fact, Chadwick and another writer named M.J. Kelly are largely responsible for the scoring system baseball uses today.
But whence the K? Chadwick already had "S" slated for "sacrifice." So a strikeout became a "K", after the last letter of the word "struck." The reason a strikeout isn't a "T" is because "struck" was the preferred term of the day.

While we tend to side with the Straight Dope (which cites Pete Palmer's book Total Baseball and Neil Cohen's article "How to Score a Game" as its sources), you can read some other creative "K" theories on this baseball message board. We especially like "the three lines in a K, three strikes in a strikeout" suggestion.

If you're interested in learning more about the ins and outs of baseball scoring, the Baseball Almanac hosts an excellent scoring guide. And you can discreetly follow games in real time at Yahoo! Sports.

[Steve02C5]

Thanks to all who posted for the enlightenment. Guess we'll never know 100% for sure how the K was originally designated - oh well.

[cubsfan1073]

Henry Chadwick used many the last letter of a lot of different words for their abbreviations. He used K for strucK out and I believe he also used r for erroR among other things. Chadwick was the Bill James of early baseball. I am currently reading a book entitled The Numbers Game, by Alan Schwartz, which talks a lot about Chadwick.

[beelobomber2]

Because of the KKK, or ku klux klan, a backwards K is posted on a wall at the stadium by fans when recording strikeouts so as not to offend anyone. This is prevalent in southern cities such as atlanta.

[Old Sweater]

Because of the KKK, or ku klux klan, a backwards K is posted on a wall at the stadium by fans when recording strikeouts so as not to offend anyone. This is prevalent in southern cities such as atlanta.

Where did you hear or read this?