Wikipedia:WikiProject Baseball/Style advice
 | This is an essay on style. It contains the advice or opinions of one or more WikiProjects on how to format and present article content within their area of interest. This information is not a formal Wikipedia policy or guideline, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. |
 | This project page is in the process of being expanded with consensus views on writing style for articles within the scope of WikiProject Baseball. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well, and discussing appropriate style advice on the WikiProject Baseball discussion page |
WikiProject Baseball style advice applies to articles within the scope of WikiProject Baseball. It represents the consensus view of editors interested in maintaining Wikipedia's articles about baseball. As the recommendations strike a balance between differing views, some may appear less than perfect. Nonetheless, please respect them, and feel free to discuss the style advice on the WikiProject Baseball discussion page.
Articles
[edit]Notability
[edit]Any topic meeting Wikipedia's general notability guideline (WP:GNG) is always notable. However, to assist in determining when a baseball figure is likely to meet WP:GNG, the following set of criteria has been agreed upon:
- notability criteria for baseball figures (WP:BASEBALL/N)
Again, all of those who meet WP:GNG are notable, even if they do not meet WP:BASEBALL/N.
Reliable sources
[edit]Major League Baseball
[edit]- Official web site
- Baseball-Reference (but not the Baseball-Reference Bullpen, which is a user-maintained wiki)
Copyright-free images
[edit]- Bowman baseball cards: use commons:Template:PD-US-not_renewed,_Bowman on Wikimedia Commons to identify Bowman cards prior to 1989 being in public domain
- 1950s
General advice
[edit]Writing style
[edit]- half game: use ½ to represent half games in the standings
- RBIs: plural of RBI
- slash line, slashed: do not use these terms without explanation, as it is jargon that is not familiar to a general audience
Linking to other articles
[edit]In accordance with Wikipedia's principle of least astonishment, make sure readers know what to expect when they click on a link. The most obvious destination for a given hyperlinked phrase is preferred. However, where the immediately surrounding words or context limits the scope of the phrase, then an alternative may be sensible. Examples:
- In tables containing a list of annual results, such as the first table of league champions in List of National League pennant winners, as the scope of each row is limited to a single year, the team name in the "Team" column can link to the season article for that team. The table's legend should clearly identify the destination for the link in each column.[1]
Note each case must be evaluated on its own merits.
Players
[edit]Teams
[edit]- Article naming conventions:
- For North American teams: follow the format <city name> <team nickname>. Exception: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- For season articles: follow the format <year> <team article name> season. Example: 1882 Cincinnati Red Stockings season
- Note the {{Infobox MLB yearly}} template relies on season articles using this format, so it can automatically link to the previous and next seasons for a team.
- Team article style advice
- MLB team season article advice
Navigational aids
[edit]- Category:Baseball
- list of article templates (including navigational boxes)
- list of project templates