Hand-operated scoreboard keeps nostalgia alive at Iowa Cubs games
THE IOWA CUBS ARE SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A RARE TWO WEEK HOMESTAND. IT’S A BUSY TIME FOR THE PLAYERS, BUT KCCI SHANNON EHRHARDT INTRODUCES US TO A BALLPARK EMPLOYEE WHO IS ALMOST AS BUSY AS THE GUYS ON THE FIELD. I REALLY ENJOY BASEBALL, SO I FEEL LIKE I’M A LITTLE BIT A PART OF WHAT’S GOING ON, 71 YEAR OLD BEN FRIDLEY JUST LOVES BASEBALL. I TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL AND COACHED FOR LIKE 34 YEARS, TRYING TO HIT THE BALL RIGHT ON THE NOSE. BUT THE SHORTSTOP MADE A REALLY NICE PLAY ON IT. INSTEAD OF PICKING A LINEUP CARD, BEN IS PICKING UP NUMBER CARDS. EVER SINCE I STARTED, I’VE BEEN DOING THE HAND-OPERATED SCOREBOARD OUT HERE IN RIGHT CENTER FIELD. HOW DOES IT WORK? SO IF IT’S AN INNING IN PROGRESS, WE USE YELLOW FOR RUNS. SO THE PRESSURE’S ON THAT LITTLE NARROW TRAY ON THE TOP. PRESSURE’S ON. YEP. FLIP THIS THING OPEN AND SLIDE THIS IN THIS TRAY RIGHT THERE. NOW WATCH YOUR FINGERS WHEN YOU LIFT UP. THERE YOU GO. HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL SCOREBOARD OPERATION HERE. AND WHO KNEW MATH COULD BE SO DANGEROUS? ALMOST BEEN HIT BY A HOME RUN. I WAS DUCKING. I’M GLAD YOU DIDN’T GET HIT. NOW WE’RE GONNA GET BUSY. SO THIS IS BEN’S FIFTH YEAR AS THE MANUAL SCOREBOARD OPERATOR? HE DOES ABOUT 30 HOME GAMES A SEASON AND OPENS THIS BOX ABOUT 50 TIMES A GAME. AND HE’S GOT TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBER ISN’T UPSIDE DOWN. I TALKED TO MYSELF AND SO I’LL SAY, OKAY, THAT’S ONE MORE RUN. SO I, YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN THE INNING. HIS FAVORITE NUMBERS ARE THE ONES THAT HELP THE HOME TEAM, LIKE PUTTING UP VISITORS. SHANNON EHRHARDT, KCCI, IOWA SPORTS LEADER. YOU GIVE ME THAT JOB 100%. I’M GIVING RUNS TO THE WRONG TEAM. THEY’RE GOING UPSIDE DOWN AND BACKWARDS. SIDEWAYS, 100% GUARANTEED. YOU KNOW, WE’RE USED TO HIGH TECH. THAT’
Hand-operated scoreboard keeps nostalgia alive at Iowa Cubs games
Updated: 11:23 PM CDT Jun 22, 2026
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Seventy-one-year-old Ben Fridley loves baseball. He coached high school ball for more than three decades. Now, he stays close to the game by running the Iowa Cubs’ hand-operated scoreboard. Fridley is in his fifth year keeping fans updated from right field.He says it takes a good deal of concentration to keep up with the action and make sure the right numbers go in the correct spots. Fridley even has to dodge a home run ball or two from his spot in right field. Watch the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the scoreboard works.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Seventy-one-year-old Ben Fridley loves baseball. He coached high school ball for more than three decades. Now, he stays close to the game by running the Iowa Cubs’ hand-operated scoreboard. Fridley is in his fifth year keeping fans updated from right field.
He says it takes a good deal of concentration to keep up with the action and make sure the right numbers go in the correct spots. Fridley even has to dodge a home run ball or two from his spot in right field.
Watch the video above to get a behind-the-scenes look at how the scoreboard works.
