What was the longest 0 0 baseball game?

What was the Longest 0-0 Baseball Game?

On June 25, 1920, the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Robins (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) played what would become the longest shutout game in Major League Baseball history. The contest, which ended with the Cardinals winning 0-0 in the 24th inning, lasted 6 hours and 6 minutes. This scoreless game would go on to hold the record for the longest time without a run scored until 1951.

The 1920 Cardinals-Robins Game

The 1920 Cardinals-Robins game was a rare occurrence in baseball history, where two teams played without scoring a single run in an entire game. This unusual game was played during a period of intense heat in St. Louis, Missouri, with temperatures soaring to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The game, which was played at Robison Field (now Busch Memorial Stadium), lasted from 2:00 pm to 8:06 pm, with neither team able to score despite a combined 23 strikeouts.

Notable Innings

Some notable innings during the game included the 10th inning, where the Cardinals’ pitcher, Art Reinhart, faced 12 batters, walking five and striking out three. The game continued into the 22nd inning, with neither team able to score despite several scoring opportunities. It was not until the bottom of the 24th inning that the Cardinals’ Bob Aspromonte finally ended the game with a ground ball through the legs of Mets shortstop Al Weis.

Comparison to Modern Extra-Inning Rules

Prior to 2020, MLB did not have specific rules governing extra innings, which often led to extremely long games like the one between the Cardinals and Robins. In 2020, MLB introduced a rule to place a runner on second base to start the inning in extra innings, starting with the 11th inning. This new rule aims to reduce the duration of extra-inning games and ensure that fans are not subjected to the prolonged delays that occurred during the 1920 Cardinals-Robins game.

Other Long 0-0 Games

Although the 1920 Cardinals-Robins game is the longest shutout game in MLB history, other games have come close. The 1989 Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos game, which lasted 22 innings, is often considered the closest to setting a new record. More recently, the 2022 St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs game ended in a 15-15 tie after 10 innings, with no game winner due to Major League Baseball’s new automatic tiebreaker rule.

Concluding Thoughts

The longest 0-0 game in baseball history, played between the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Robins in 1920, serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and occasional anomalies that can occur in the game. While new rules have been introduced to reduce the duration of extra-inning games, the allure of a long, competitive contest remains a staple of the sport.