Baseball is unique among major team sports because it lacks a game clock, meaning contests can theoretically last forever. While modern rules have introduced extra-inning tiebreakers to curb endless marathons, baseball history is filled with epic endurance contests. Fans often look back at these staggering box scores to understand just how grueling a single day at the ballpark can become.
The absolute longest game in Major League Baseball history by innings played occurred on May 1, 1920, when the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves battled through 26 innings to a 1–1 tie. Meanwhile, the longest professional baseball game ever played at any level remains the legendary 33-inning minor league matchup between the Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings in 1981. Examining these marathons reveals extraordinary feats of pitching depth, physical exhaustion, and bizarre statistical anomalies.
The Ultimate Inning Marathon: Brooklyn vs. Boston (1920)
On a spring afternoon at Braves Field, the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves stepped onto the diamond with no idea they were about to write an unbreakable record. Pitchers Leon Cadore for Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger for Boston did something modern fans find impossible to fathom: they both pitched all 26 innings.
Cadore threw 319 pitches, while Oeschger threw an estimated 316. The game was called due to darkness after four hours and fifty minutes of play, locked in a 1–1 deadlock that stood as official. Neither bullpen was tapped because managers simply let their starters absorb every single out. By the time darkness forced the umpires to halt play, fielders could barely track fly balls.
Key Takeaways from the 1920 Matchup
- Complete Game Endurance: Both starting pitchers went the distance, a feat that will never happen again in professional baseball.
- Offensive Frustration: Despite playing nearly three full games worth of baseball, the two teams combined for just 23 total hits.
- The Darkness Rule: Natural light ultimately saved the players from pushing toward a 30th inning.
The Longest Game by Clock Time in MLB History
When evaluating length by elapsed hours rather than innings, a 1984 American League contest stands alone. On May 8 and 9, 1984, the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers played a 25-inning game that lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes.
The game began on a Tuesday night at Comiskey Park and stretched so late that it ran past local curfew rules before being suspended and finished the following day. Harold Boscain hit a walk-off home run in the 25th inning off Brewers pitcher Mike Arrowsmith, giving Chicago a 7–6 victory. Relief pitchers worked nearly the entire game, and position players dropped from exhaustion.
The 33-Inning Minor League Epic
No discussion of baseball length is complete without mentioning the minor league masterpiece between Pawtucket and Rochester in 1981. Played at McCoy Stadium, the game began on April 18 and was suspended at 4:07 a.m. after 32 innings.
Future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Wade Boggs both played in the game. Temperatures dropped below freezing, forcing players to burn broken bats and stadium wooden benches in the clubhouse just to stay warm. When the game finally resumed months later on June 23, 1981, it took just one inning for Pawtucket to score and win 3–2. In total, the game consumed 8 hours and 25 minutes of playing time.
Postseason Endurance Marathons
Postseason baseball brings an entirely different level of tension to extra innings. Without the safety net of regular-season rules, teams must play until a winner emerges.
The longest postseason game in MLB history by both time and innings took place during Game 3 of the 2018 World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 3–2 in an 18-inning battle that lasted 7 hours and 20 minutes. Max Muncy ended the marathon with a dramatic walk-off home run in the bottom of the 18th, sending weary fans home well past midnight.
Other notable postseason marathons include:
- 2005 NLDS Game 4: Houston Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves in 18 innings behind a walk-off homer by Chris Burke.
- 2014 NLDS Game 2: San Francisco Giants outlasted the Washington Nationals in 18 innings over 6 hours and 23 minutes.
- 2025 World Series Game 3: Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Toronto Blue Jays 6–5 in 18 innings after a leadoff walk-off home run by Freddie Freeman.
You can review complete historical game logs and box scores directly through Baseball Reference or explore official milestone archives at MLB History.
Why Modern Baseball Won't See These Lengths Again
If you're wondering whether these records are in danger, the answer is no. Major League Baseball introduced the extra-inning ghost runner rule (placing a runner on second base to start each half-inning beginning in the 10th) during the regular season. This structural shift drastically reduced the frequency of deep extra-inning games.
Managers utilize their entire rosters quickly under modern bullpen strategies, making multi-inning relief appearances rare. While postseason games still play standard extra innings without automatic runners, front offices prioritize fresh arms, preventing pitchers from throwing 300+ pitches like Cadore and Oeschger did a century ago.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the longest 9-inning game in MLB history?
The longest regular 9-inning game in MLB history occurred on August 18, 2006, when the New York Yankees played the Boston Red Sox. The game lasted 4 hours and 45 minutes, featuring heavy offense and lengthy pitching changes before the Yankees won 14–11.
Has an MLB game ever ended in a tie?
Yes, ties happened frequently in early baseball history due to darkness, weather, or curfew rules. The 26-inning game between Brooklyn and Boston in 1920 is the most famous example. Today, regular-season games cannot end in ties; suspended games are resumed and played to completion.
Who threw the most pitches in a single professional game?
Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger share the professional record for workload, throwing an estimated 319 and 316 pitches respectively during their 26-inning complete-game duel in 1920.
How does the extra-inning ghost runner rule affect records?
The runner-on-second rule introduced in recent years forces scoring to happen much faster in extra frames. This rule practically eliminates the possibility of reaching 15, 20, or 25 innings during a regular-season contest, preserving historical marathons as permanent anomalies.
