26 Innings of Baseball: Nobody Won.
May 1, 1920. In the city of Boston, the police were uneasy in the murky morning mist. Between intermittent showers, they stood with shoulders hunched against the chilly air as they trudged out in extra details, alert to the morning headlines, “Guard against Bolshevik uprisings…
May 1, 1920. In the city of Boston, the police were uneasy in the murky morning mist. Between intermittent showers, they stood with shoulders hunched against the chilly air as they trudged out in extra details, alert to the morning headlines, “Guard against Bolshevik uprisings here. As it turned out, the only battle that day took place at the local ball field as the Bostons, and the Brooklyns battled for 26 innings and ended up tied. It still stands as the longest game in major league history.
On the mound, that day for Uncle Robbie’s Brooklyn team was Leon Cadore. The 28-year-old Cadore was in his 4th full season in the big leagues. He would post a 15-14 mark that year, helping Brooklyn win the NL pennant. His mound opponent was Joe Oeschger. Always described as jovial, Oeschger was in the beginning of what for him, was a resurgent season. He had finished 4-4 in 1919, playing for three teams, the Phils, Giants, and then Boston. He and Cadore had met 10 days earlier, and Cadore outlasted him, 1-0 in 11 innings. Brooklyn was led by their star outfielder, Zack Wheat. Manager George Stalling’s team was not nearly that talented. They would finish in 7th place in the NL that year with a 60-92-1 record.
It was drizzling when the umpire, Bill McCormick, yelled, “Play ball”. Ivy Olsen, the Robins leadoff hitter, stepped into the box. But the rain stopped abruptly after the first inning, and the crowd settled in to watch the game. Three more scoreless innings would pass. In the fifth inning, Brooklyn’s catcher, Ernie Krueger, worked a walk. Cadore then bounced one back to Oeschger, but he had the ball pop out of his hand, and his only play was to first. Krueger then scored when Olsen singled over Rabbit Maranville’s head.
In the sixth, Boston’s right fielder, Wally Cruise, tripled off of the fence in right-center field. Holke then hit a ball over third base that looked like a hit, but Wheat came flying in and made a shoestring catch and almost doubled Cruise off at third. But then Tony Boeckel lined a single to center, scoring Cruise. The score was tied 1-1.
It was cold and damp, and there was the wind blowing in from the Charles River just beyond center field. It cut down balls that could have been hits, into harmless outs. The crowd huddled together in the cold as the double string of zeros continued to grow. Both of the pitchers were very careful since they knew one mistake could cost them the win.
The harder the players tried to get hits, the easier it was for the pitchers to get them out. In the ninth, however, Boston loaded the bases with two outs. Maranville was on third. Charley Pick hit a hard grounder that Olsen pounced on; he tried to tag Ray Powell but missed, then he threw to first just in time to get Pick. Meanwhile, Maranville crossed the plate, but umpire Eugene Hart ruled that Powell had run out of the baseline, so the run was invalid.
The zeros kept piling up until in the 17th inning, when a New York Times reporter noticed that the zeros were extending beyond the scoreboard. Brooklyn finally got to Oeschger in the 17th and had the bases loaded with one out. Wheat was on third. Elliott hit a grounder back to the pitcher, who threw to C Hank Gowdy for the force. Gowdy’s throw to first went wild, and Holke barely knocked it down. Ed Konetchy tried to score from second. Holke threw to Gowdy, who threw himself across the plate, meeting Konetchy’s spikes with his bare hand.
The zeros kept piling up. When they hit the 23rd inning, they broke the NL record. When they hit 25, they broke the Major League record. When the 26th inning was done, Umpire Bill McCormick surveyed the darkening skies. Ivy Olsen, guessing his intent, ran up to him and spoke, ” Wait one more inning! I want to tell my grandchildren I played the equivalent of three nine-inning games in one day.” “Not without a miner’s lamp.” snapped McCormick. He raised his hands, calling the game because of darkness.
The line score read Brooklyn 1-9-2 Boston 1-15-2. Only two Brooklyn hitters had more than one hit, Wheat, and 3B, Jimmie Johnston. They had no extra-base hits. Boston had a couple of doubles and a triple. The entire game took 3 hours and 50 minutes and was played before 4500 intrepid fans. The Robins left Boston the next day on a train. They then lost a 13-inning game to the Phillies that afternoon. Monday, they were back in Boston, where they lost in 19 innings. In 58 hours, they lost two and had a tie. The game would be finished later in the season, with the Braves getting the win. But Brooklyn went to the World Series, so that had to be some consolation. Oeschger would continue his resurgence the next season, winning 20 games. But he never won in double figures after 1921. He finished his career with Brooklyn in 1925, going 1-2 for a career mark of 82-116. Leon Cadore pitched until 1924, finishing his career with the Giants. He won 13 in 1922 but also never reached double figures again. He finished with a career 68-72 record.
26 innings of baseball. The longest MLB game ever in terms of innings played. There have been games time-wise in the modern era that are much longer. In 1974, the Cardinals and Mets played 25 innings, with the Cards getting the win. In 1984, the White Sox and Brewers also played 25, with the Sox prevailing. That game took 8 hours and 6 minutes. The Cards-Mets tiff took seven hours 23 minutes. The longest 9-inning game timewise was a Yankee win at Boston in 2006, which took four hours 45 minutes. NL record is four hours 30 minutes by the D-Backs and Rockies in 2016 and the Phils and Pirates in 2018.
Both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the L.A. version have 22-inning wins. Brooklyn beat the Pirates 6-5 in Brooklyn in 1917, and LA beat Montreal 1-0 in Montreal in 1989.
Keith Law’s Top 60
See what I have been telling you?
- Bobby Miller has #1 potential
- Gavin Stone – I told you so.
- Look how much Vargas jumped.
- Don’t count Pages out
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Discussion (265)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dodgers are going to show the Padres why investing in your system is how you win. Vargas will rake. His father is one of the most famous e baseball players who ever played in Cuba. He’s a real Dodger. Wait till you all see his smile when he hits his first one out. He’s was born to play in LA.
Cartaya will be next year. Intangibles are a thing. I might be wrong. Don’t think I am.
Hold me accountable. By the playoffs in 2023, people will be talking about the charismatic young stars on the Dodgers who are kicking ass and taking names. Not the Padres.
Well he didn’t screw it up in 20 using Julio and Gonzalez. Look what Soto has already done for the Pads lineup tonight! Really we’re gonna start Barnes and Alberto tonight over Vargas! Throw him in the fire like Outman!
I’m just happy we didn’t get Soto. For what San Diego traded, this is what I deduct The Nats wanted:
DMay, GLux, Cartaya, one of Miller/Pepiot and one of Busch, Vargas and CBellinger/MMuncy for $$$ offsetting.
About Gallo, he was gotten primarily for defensive purposes.
In Two weeks, we have to accommodate CTaylor, BGraterol and DMay. I expect ERios to stay in AAA unless there is an injury.
Where are we going Mark? Will Vargas play 3rd base and Muncy sits? Can’t believe they bring him up to sit.
I will address all of this tomorrow as I have an epic post that will likely piss many of you off as you play with your checkers!
Some of you will never understand it until it is so evident that you must admit it, and then you will leave…
Almost makes me think nobody wants to trade with us. Yesterday my wife asked why any team would want the Dodgers to get better and I had no answer.
DODGERS SELECT MIGUEL VARGAS
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Vargas, 22, hit .291 with 24 doubles, 15 homers and 72 RBI in 94 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He represented the Dodgers in the 2022 Futures Game after hitting .292/.379/.498 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 59 RBI across 364 plate appearances. The Cuban native has been with the Dodgers five minor league seasons, and he has hit a combined .310 (480-for-1548) with 47 homers and 255 RBI in 391 career minor league games. The Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year in 2021, slashed .319/.380/.526 with 23 homers and 76 RBI in 120 games between High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa in 2021. He was originally signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on September 7, 2017.
And though our top prospects are solid, do not see a perennial all star or superstar in the bunch. I am not blown away by even Cartaya as I don’t see him being able to stay a catcher.
Soto and Bell would have allowed us to rival the 1927 Yankees and chase the all time wins record of 116!
Swing and miss gentlemen
Some bizarre stuff here.
Hard to imagine that the old “change of scenery” will quickly cure Gallo. One analyst said he will likely platoon with Trayce Thompson in left…. but doesn’t Trayce have reverse splits? Gallo has hit 11 of his 12 HRs against righties, but his BA this year is still under .200. I presume his arrival prompted Lamb getting dealt to Mariners. Gallo has a better OF glove than Lamb, but I don’t really see an upgrade here.
Dodgers may live to regret trading White, but with various pitchers coming back he probably didn’t figure into plans this year. The two young prospects they get seem promising–probably better than Beeter.
When Chris Taylor and Edwin Rios are activated, it seems likely that Outman will head back to OKC.
Sure, it’s a small sample size, but there is precedent for prospects coming up and staying hot, like Seager did.
Instead we get to hope that Gallo makes a comeback.
9:45 PM ET
Dodgers (69-33)
Giants (51-52)
SP Tyler Anderson L
11-1 2.61 ERA 110.1IP 91K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
3B H. Alberto R
LF T. Thompson R
2B Gavin Lux L
C A. Barnes R
CF C. Bellinger L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
62° Wind 9 mph Out
Had we got Soto the division would have been automatic for three years and likely longer, and it wound have Just cost prospects. First huge mistake of Friedman era,
Miguel Vargas called up.
“Congrats on Gallo, we got a 2x AS outfielder too. You might have heard of him”.
LOL
Maybe Arte is smarter than us all. Maybe he realizes Angel fans will continue to show up as long as there is a marketable star.
I remember the conniption Dodger fans on that other blog had when AF traded away Puig and got “nothing” in return. Actually, the Reds got fleeced, but people understand stars.
Vargas is being activated for tonight’s game.
No word yet on whose place he takes but probably JT to the IL?
I didn’t think the Dodgers needed to make a big move. Not surprised that AF didn’t want to match what the costs were on many of these trades.
That said, the Gallo trade did bother me on one sense; the optics. The few Padre fans I know are going to be intolerable. Already got a text from one… “Congrats on Gallo, we got a 2x AS outfielder too. You might have heard of him”.
Dodgers are still better. But I feel for Angel fans. When the Angels should be trading Ohtani for an entire minor league system they instead traded their very talented 24 YO outfielder with years of team control for a good AA catcher. After they just drafted a catcher in the 1st round who will likely be in AA next year. I’m so glad I’m not an Angel fan. AF plays chess. Arte Moreno plays shoots and ladders.
Molly Knight sums it up nicely for me:
They must be super confident in Dustin May’s return, and maybe even Buehler. I have concerns about Heaney’s durability and Gonsolin regressing but nobody asked me. Could have used relief too.
Are the Dodgers cash strapped….I ask sarcastically.? Trading Lamb and getting Gallo’s .158 AVG and $4 million in payroll = trading Lamb for $$$.
No real upgrades to the BP concerns me and my only takeaway is the Dodger braintrust and medical team must be thoroughly and absolutely convinced Treinen, May, Duffy, Kahnle, V-Gone and Graterol are all or in part returning soon and will make a strong roster even better. I only care that we win the WS, I could care less about winning the trade deadline, but at the same time I am underwhelmed with the acquisition of just Martin and Gallo.
Yea I agree MT, Muncy to the woodpile immediately, Gallo has a month, Vargas up now, Stone now, Outman remains
Looks like AF is just trying to make room for some players coming back. The two kids from Toronto only played in A ball or less.
Merrifield traded and Braves got closer Rafael Iglesias from the Angels for two players. Angels traded Syndergaard to the Phillies.
DODGERS ACQUIRE NICK FRASSO & MOISES BRITO
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired minor league pitchers Nick Frasso and Moises Brito from Toronto in exchange for right-handed pitcher Mitch White and minor league infielder Alex De Jesus.
Frasso, 23, was 0-0 with 0.74 ERA (3 ER/36.2 IP) and 57 strikeouts in 10 games between Single-A Dunedin and High-A Vancouver. He began the season with Dunedin, appearing in seven games, striking out 42 in 25.2 innings and allowing two runs. Since his promotion to High-A Vancouver, he has posted a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts. He has been with the Blue Jays for two seasons since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 First Year Player Draft out of Loyola Marymount and he is combined 0-0 with a 0.65 ERA (3 ER/41.2 IP) and 65 strikeouts in 13 minor league games.
Brito, 20, is 2-4 with a 1.86 ERA (6 ER/29.0 IP) and 32 strikeouts in 12 games (two starts) for the Dominican Summer League Blue Jays. The left-handed pitcher is in his first season with the Blue Jays organization after signing as an international free agent on June 2, 2022.
White, 27, made 15 appearances (10 starts) for the Dodgers, going 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA (23 ER/56.0 IP) and 47 strikeouts for the Dodgers this season. In three years with the Dodgers, he is a combined 3-5 with a 3.58 ERA (42 ER/105.2 IP) and 98 strikeouts in 38 games. He was originally selected in the second round of the 2016 First Year Player Draft out of Santa Clara University.
De Jesus, 20, was batting .272 with 11 homers and 48 RBI combined between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes. He clubbed seven homers and recorded 22 RBI with Rancho before being promoted on May 31, 2022. In 50 games with Great Lakes, he was batting .282 with four homers and 26 RBI. He has been with the Dodgers four seasons, batting a combined .273 (247-for-906) with 26 homers and 155 RBI. He was signed as an international free agent by the Dodgers out of Santo Domino, Dominican Republic on July 3, 2018.
Now there are spots that could be filled internally on the major league roster. How about bringing up Stone or Vargas?
We are are currently carrying 3 of the 10 worst hitters in baseball, how can we win it all by doing that??
Has any of this made sense to any of the checkers players ?
Strangest deadline in recent memory? What is Friedman doing?