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
Nice write up, Bear! What a game! There will NEVER EVER be one like that.
So, finally deadline day is here. Will the Dodgers make a trade for Soto or not ?
The more I read and hear the more I think they will. With SD getting Hader and making a push for Soto plus getting back Tatis jr. they would be a hard out in the playoffs.
Just hoping we can hold on to Miller and Cartaya and not include Lux.
Good win yesterday. Heaney giving 4 solid innings on his way back. Bullpen with the exception of that homer off Martin was exceptionally. Even Bickford.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The way Soto has been hitting this season, it doesn’t scare me, and Hader, well, he’s not the same as other seasons, I think his ERA is higher than Kimbrel, only if they are winning it might be difficult to have to face him in the 9 inning…
SD is not the one to worry about!
I’m more concerned about Muncy, Bellinger, Taylor, Kershaw, Kimbrel, Roberts and the rest of the DODGERS team.
I expect the Dodgers to acquire Soto, but I don’t think it’s necessary. I also expect one of Miller or Cartaya to be included in the deal and possibly Outman going out as well. Don’t think the Nats will want to take on CT3’s contract so he’s not an option to be included, but I can see a cost-controlled player like Lux to be included in the deal. I think the deal might look something like this:
Miller, Outman, Knack, Vargas, Bruns or Grove and Lux for Soto. Like I said, I don’t want to see it, but if Soto helps win a WS all will be forgotten about the talent we gave up to get him.
To name just a few in the last several years the Astros’ got Verlander, the Cubs got Chapman, the Royals got Cueto and Zobrist, the Giants got Peavy and Pence on their drive to the WS. All had to give up some good talent to get the veteran who put them over the top and if the Dodgers hoist a WS trophy this November and have Soto for at least two more years it will be worth it.
T-minus 10 hours and counting.
Dodgers Interested In Pablo Lopez
By Mark Polishuk | August 1, 2022 at 8:40pm CDT
Reports from earlier this week suggested the Marlins were “no longer dismissing calls” (in the words of Barry Jackson and Craig Mish of the Miami Herald) about Pablo Lopez’s availability, and thus it isn’t surprising that the aggressive Dodgers have reached out. Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports that Lopez is among the many players the Dodgers have discussed as tomorrow’s trade deadline looms.
The Twins and Cardinals have also been linked to Lopez in trade rumors, and given Lopez’s value as both an immediate rotation boost and a longer-term answer, it’s probably safe to guess that just about every contender has checked in with Miami general manager Kim Ng. Of course, since Lopez is controlled via arbitration through the 2024 season, he has a ton of value to the Marlins as well, particularly since Miami has enough talent on the roster that they’re surely aiming for a return to contention in 2023.
That means that if the Marlins did move Lopez, it would very likely be for players who are ready to contribute in the big leagues right away, as opposed to just intriguing prospects. Since the asking price for Lopez is sure to be huge, not many teams could necessarily meet the Marlins’ demands….but the Dodgers could certainly be one of those clubs, given their deep farm system.
Wow, great memory…thanks OB.
Only 3 hours and 50 minutes for 26 innings. Many games today are that long in only 9 innings. Amazing.
Did I miss something? How many innings did each starting pitcher pitch? It appears one was pitching in the 16th inning…
TM
I’m having trouble trying to say that name in my head. I can only come up with Oysh-gerr and I’ve never heard that one before. I’m sure I got it wrong.
What a game. Thanks Bear. Outman starting to remind me of Bellingers call up. Just too good to send back. How fun would it be to be a fly on AF’s wall today. What he’s willing to give up and what Washington wants. I think it would take Lux, Cartaya, Miller, Pages plus 2 more in the 10-20 range. I think that’s too rich for AF’s blood.
I’m a little apprehensive and nervous about a Soto trade. I don’t want to give up too much. And by too much, I mean Lux, Miller, Cartaya. and possibly May. I would also hate to give up a package like Miller, Cartaya, Busch and Vargas.
Heaney is still really dirty relying basically on two pitches, unless you count that single changeup he threw last night. It’s amazing to watch. The fastball wasn’t all that fast, just one over 94 MPH. The slider is absolutely deadly.
What a weird game for the bullpen. 5 innings, one hit and one run on a Chris Martin homer, 1 K courtesy of Caleb Ferguson, no walks.
Who needs Soto when you’ve got The Caveman!?!? A single, a double and a walk with two more runs scored. He got pretty lucky with the double, hell it hit Yaz’s glove, right in the palm. Just 78 MPH off the bat. Makes up for Belli who hits the ball harder in 3 AB’s and has nothing to show for it.
What happened to Logan Webb? He’s really overrated. Like most of the Giants last year, they cumulatively had a miracle season last year by having just about everyone punch over their weight. Maybe Farhan isn’t the genius everyone thought he was. Maybe Kapler isn’t the genius everyone thought he was. They should be packing bags and posting the “For Sale” sign right about now as they dropped under 500 and their top prospects are at the lower levels of the minors. They won’t have anything going on for at least a few more years.
So far, the Yankees are winning the trade deadline. They needed Montas as Severino is now out for most likely the end of the year having been transferred to the 60 day IL. They also added a couple of bullpen arms and a good contact bat in Benintendi to solidify their outfield.
The Padres traded away yet another starting pitcher that was once one of their top prospects. Prospect rankings seemed to over exaggerate the Padres stacked farm system from a few years ago.
The Braves and Astros were busy overnight. The Braves added Robbie Grossman from the Tigers for some outfield depth as well as Jake Odorizzi from the Astros for the other Will Smith. The Astros nabbed Christian Vazquez from the Bo-Sox.
The Pirates sold high on Jose Quintana shipping him to the Cardinals who desperately need starting pitching.
So far I don’t see any of the players who have been traded as game changers with the exception of Montas and Christian Vazquez the others have bad to mediocre numbers including Chris Martin the new Dodgers.
This one looks like it will be the worst and most boring trade deadline in numbers, quality and importance that I remember
By three o’clock your time, at least those of you in L.A., all will be revealed. ESPN has a trade deadline show, and pretty sure MLB.TV does too. Not going to worry about things over which I have no control aka trades. Well Will Smith will only get to face Will Smith again this year if the Dodgers meet the Astros in the World Series. Smith dealt to Houston for Odorizzi. Cardinals traded for Quintana. Their staff is really beat up. I wonder how the Rangers are feeling about all the money they spent so they could be 10 games under .500 after 102 games. Looks like the Angels will move Syndergaard before the deadline. He is owed about 7.5 mil for the rest of the year.
Hearing Morejon, Wood, Susana, Hassell III, Abrams & Merrill for Soto, Bell & Finnegan.
As per Hector Gomez.
That’s a ludicrous offer. I just learned Susana is a 6’-6” 18 year old up to 101 mph.
That’s a lot of baseball.
Did anyone stay until the end?
Great win for the Dodgers last night. Not only did Outman get on base every time up, but he made a really good catch in left.
So the Dodgers have a two prong approach today, according to Jack Harris of the LA Times. Juan Soto, obviously, and Miami right hander Pablo Lopez. They are also interested in Marlins reliever Anthony Bass.
Harris also points out there has been growing optimism in the Dodgers organization the last few days regarding acquiring Soto.
It’s funny, but I have mixed reactions to the potential trade. The prospect cost will be really high.I won’t be disappointed if the Dodgers don’t make a big deal.
Maybe I value the prospects too high.
No question Soto would make the Dodgers better for the remainder of this year and the next two. It would also keep him from going to San Diego and Brandon Gomes said the organization can do a big deal and still have a strong system.
Good write-up today, Bear.
Bob Nightengale reports
James Outman is the first Dodger to reach base 7 or more times in his first 2 games since Casey Stengel in 1912.
I think Lux should be asking for his battling order changed back to 9th.
The Pablo Lopez thing is fascinating to me. He’s legit, and he’s getting better.
On our team, he’d be a 4, which is absurd for his talent. I would give up Bobby Miller for him (though I’d rather trade Pepoit and others before Miller). Bobby Miller’s ceiling is probably that equal to Pablo Lopez, so I’ll take the sure thing now.
Twins get closer Lopez from the Orioles according to ESPN.
The Baltimore Orioles are contending for a wild-card spot this season but that hasn’t stopped them from acting like sellers at the trade deadline. A day after trading Trey Mancini to the Houston Astros, the Orioles are finalizing a trade to send closer Jorge Lopez to the Minnesota Twins, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The Orioles will receive four minor league pitchers: left-hander Cade Povich, right-handed reliever Yennier Cano, right-hander Juan Nunez and left-hander Juan Rojas, sources tell ESPN.
Lopez has 19 saves and is 4-6 with a 1.68 ERA. He has 54 strikeouts in 48⅓ innings pitched.
Nice return for the Orioles
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morosi reporting the Nats are in the process of calling up some minor league players to the major league level…a precursor to the Soto trade.
Padres, Dodgers or Cardinals?
Acording with MLB Trade Rumors, Padres are going ahead of Dodgers, raigh now
Morosi says deal is done. Soto is a Padre
It’s done. Soto and Bell ARE going to San Diego
The Padres and Nationals are in agreement on a deal that sends Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to San Diego, Morosi reports. San Diego will send back rookie shortstop C.J. Abrams, top outfield prospect Robert Hassell III, right-hander Jarlin Susana and top outfield prospect James Wood, according to Morosi.
Very nice article Old Bear. I’ve read about that game a few times over the years and it still amazes me. I don’t remember how many pitches were thrown, but it was in the hundreds. Maybe you have that info in your research notes. One thing you didn’t mention was that Boston had Sunday off because at that time the law didn’t allow MLB to be played on Sundays. While Brooklyn was riding trains and playing an extra inning game on Sunday, Boston was just relaxing. Man, what a rough weekend for the Dodgers (Robins).
Dodgers would will go to Pablo López?
Dogers needs Cody, Muncy and JT to wake up, now more than ever
This imho is the best thing that Soto is not a Dodger. Not worth the high cost. AF certainly drove the price to the moon for the Padre’s!
This is going to be one intense NL playoffs come October, wow!
LA, SD, NYM, ATL, StL. Wow
I’m glad we didn’t mortgage the farm for Soto. The NL West will continue to go through LA even with the acquisition of Soto. Their big three of Machado, Tatis and Soto are good but I’ll take our big three of TT, Mookie and Freddie any day and twice on Sunday.