Longest MLB Game by Innings
The longest MLB game by innings was a 33-inning contest between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings, played on April 18 and 19, 1981, at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The game stretched over eight hours and 25 minutes of playing time and ended with Pawtucket winning 3-2. It remains the longest professional baseball game in terms of innings in the modern era.
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Longest MLB Game by Time
The longest MLB game by elapsed time was a 25-inning affair between the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers on May 8, 1984, at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The game lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes, with the White Sox winning 7-6. The combination of extra innings, pitching changes, and repeated at-bats stretched the contest well beyond a typical game.
Other Notable Long MLB Games
Several other MLB games have tested the limits of endurance. A 26-inning game between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves on May 1, 1920, ended in a 1-1 tie after four hours and 50 minutes because of darkness. The longest game by time in the modern 9-inning era was the 2006 game between the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres, which took 7 hours and 32 minutes and ended 2-1 in 16 innings on September 11, 2006.
Why These Games Lasted So Long
Factors that contributed to these marathon contests include low-scoring affairs that extended into extra innings, frequent pitching changes as managers exhausted their bullpens, and replay reviews that added significant pauses. In the 1981 and 1984 games, tied scores and timely hitting in late innings kept both teams alive and prevented a quick resolution.
Longest Games in MLB History at a Glance
| Game | Date | Innings | Duration | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pawtucket vs. Rochester | April 18-19, 1981 | 33 | 8h 25m | Pawtucket 3, Rochester 2 |
| White Sox vs. Brewers | May 8, 1984 | 25 | 8h 6m | White Sox 7, Brewers 6 |
| Mets vs. Padres | September 11, 2006 | 16 | 7h 32m | Mets 2, Padres 1 |
| Robins vs. Braves | May 1, 1920 | 26 | 4h 50m | 1-1 tie |
Impact on Players and Rules
Marathon games test the stamina of pitchers, catchers, and position players, and they can reshape pennant races and postseason seeding. They have also prompted discussions about rules to speed up extra-inning play, such as placing a runner on second base to start each half-inning after the 10th, a rule adopted by MLB in 2020 and retained in subsequent seasons.