Major League Baseball history is full of marathon contests, but none match the sheer endurance test of May 1, 1920. When the Brooklyn Robins visited the Boston Braves at Braves Field, the two teams locked into a pitching duel that lasted an astonishing 26 innings. Darkness finally forced a 1-1 tie, cementing a record that has stood for over a century. While fans often wonder about the absolute limits of professional baseball, this historic afternoon remains the longest Major League Baseball game ever played by innings.
Understanding how baseball reached this milestone requires looking at rule changes, pitching workloads, and famous extra-inning marathons that reshaped the sport. Modern rule adjustments, including the implementation of the runner on second base in extra innings, make a repeat of these endless contests nearly impossible today. Exploring this history reveals just how grueling America's pastime can get when neither side backs down.
The 26-Inning Marathon of 1920
The game between Brooklyn and Boston began under gray skies with neither manager anticipating anything unusual. Pitcher Leon "Caddy" Cadore started for the Robins, while Joe Oeschger took the mound for the Braves. Neither man expected to throw the entire game, but both pitchers put on legendary performances that defied belief.
Cadore faced 95 batters over 26 innings, while Oeschger faced 90. Both hurlers threw complete games, an unthinkable feat in modern baseball where starting pitchers rarely cross the 110-pitch mark. The scoring happened early and stopped completely. Brooklyn plated a run in the fifth inning, and Boston answered in the fourth. After that, zero runs crossed the plate for twenty-two consecutive innings. Analysts at FOX Sports have shared their thoughts on this matter.
As the sun began to set over Boston, visibility dropped rapidly. Without modern stadium lights, home plate umpire Barry McCormick called the game due to darkness after the completion of the 26th frame. Both teams walked off the field exhausted, sharing a 1-1 tie after 3 hours and 50 minutes of play.
Longest MLB Games by Time
While the 1920 matchup holds the crown for most innings, other games pushed the clock to its absolute limit. When measuring by elapsed time, two specific contests stand out in major league record books.
On May 8 and 9, 1984, the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers played a 25-inning thriller at Comiskey Park. The game stretched across two calendar days because of an American League curfew rule that suspended play after 17 innings tied at 3-3. When they resumed the next day, Harold Baines hit a walk-off home run in the 25th inning to give Chicago a 7-6 victory. The total elapsed playing time reached 8 hours and 6 minutes.
Another notable time marathon occurred on September 11 and 12, 1974, when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets 4-3 in 25 innings at Shea Stadium. That game lasted 7 hours and 4 minutes, concluding at 3:15 a.m. when Bake McBride scored the winning run.
Minor League Extremes: The 33-Inning Legend
Baseball fans frequently confuse major league records with professional baseball records as a whole. The absolute longest professional baseball game in history took place in the minor leagues on April 18, 1981.
The Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings played at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in a Triple-A International League contest. Future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs both appeared in the game. The temperature dropped so low that players burned broken bats and wooden stadium benches just to stay warm.
The game was tied 1-1 when umpires finally suspended play at 4:07 a.m. after 32 grueling innings. The two teams returned two months later on June 23, 1981, to finish the contest. Pawtucket scored in the bottom of the 33rd inning to win 3-2. In total, the game consumed 8 hours and 25 minutes of playing time over three separate calendar days.
Why Modern Rules Prevent Endless Games
Marathon baseball games are largely a thing of the past due to recent structural changes designed to protect player health and speed up broadcasts.
- The Extra-Inning Ghost Runner: MLB permanently instituted a rule placing a runner on second base at the start of every half-inning beginning in the 10th frame. This drastically reduces the probability of deep extra-inning games.
- Pitcher Limits and Rosters: Active roster limits and specialized bullpens mean teams cycle through six to eight pitchers per game, making single-pitcher complete-game marathons impossible today.
- Curfews and Scheduled Doubleheaders: leagues utilize strict guidelines to prevent player exhaustion and severe injury risks during brutal summer schedules.
For further reading on official league statistics and historical milestones, consult the Baseball Almanac records database or explore exhibits at the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has any MLB game ever gone past 26 innings?
No. In the history of Major League Baseball, 26 innings remains the absolute maximum length reached by any single game, set by the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves in 1920.
Did both pitchers really throw the entire 26-inning game?
Yes. Both Leon Cadore of Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger of Boston pitched all 26 innings without being relieved, representing one of the most unbreakable endurance feats in sports history.
What is the longest postseason game in MLB history?
The longest postseason game by both time and innings was Game 3 of the 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox. It lasted 18 innings, took 7 hours and 20 minutes, and ended on a walk-off home run by Max Muncy.
Why did the famous Pawtucket game take months to finish?
The game was suspended at 4:09 a.m. after 32 innings because league rules and sheer exhaustion forced a halt. The final 33rd inning was played two months later when Rochester returned to Pawtucket.
