MLB World Series: 11 longest games in history

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MLB, unlike other sports, does not have a clock counting down the time of the game. Instead, baseball can last several hours and go deep into extra innings.

The World Series has been played since 1903 (except for 1994, when it was canceled due to a strike).

And there have been plenty of games that have featured extra innings, from the early 20th century to the present.

Let’s take a look at the 11 longest games in World Series history:

11. Reds-Red Sox, 1975

Wikimedia Commons

Game 6 of the 1975 World Series between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox lasted 12 innings. The Red Sox scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, helping to force extra innings. In the bottom of the 12th, the Red Sox ran away from the Reds to force Game 7. But Cincinnati won the World Series in Game 7. The running time of the game was 4 hours and 1 minute.

10. Yankees-Marlins, 2003

GettyMarlins walked the Yankees in Game 4 in 12 innings.

The Florida Marlins played the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series. In Game 4, the Yankees scored twice in the top of the ninth inning to force extra innings. The game went into extra innings and in the bottom of the 12th inning, Álex González hit a walk-off home run for the Marlins. Game 4 ended up lasting 4 hours and 3 minutes.

9. Braves Twins, 1991

GettyThe Braves played the Twins in the 1991 World Series.

During the 1991 World Series, the Atlanta Braves took on the Minnesota Twins. In Game 3, the Braves walked the Twins in 12 innings. The match started at 8:38 am local time and lasted 4 hours and 4 minutes. Atlanta won the first game of the series with the walk-off and then won three straight games, but lost Games 6 and 7 and lost the World Series.

8. Mets-Athletic, 1973

GettyOakland honors 1973 World Series winning team.

The Oakland Athletics took on the New York Mets in 1973. In Game 2, the Mets went on the road and tied the series with a 10-7 victory in overtime. New York scored 4 runs in the 12th and that was the difference. The match lasted 4:13.

7. Diamondbacks-Yankees, 2001

GettyChuck Knoblauch scores the winning run in Game 5 of the World Series.

During the 2001 World Series, the Yankees took on the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Game 5, the Yankees took a 3-2 series lead when New York walked Arizona in 12 innings. The Yankees scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to force an extra run, then scored the winning run in the 12th. The match ultimately lasted 4:15.

6. Royals-Mets, 2015

GettyThe Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets by a score of 7 to 2 to win the World Series.

The Kansas City Royals defeated the Mets in 12 innings in Game 5 to win the World Series. Kansas City trailed 2-0 entering the top of the ninth and the Royals came alongside. In the 12th inning, Kansas City scored 5 runs to secure the win as the Royals won the World Series in five games. The match lasted 4:15.

5. Yankees-Mets, 2001

GettyJose Vizcaino of the New York Yankees is swarmed by teammates after his game-winning single in the 12th inning.

The Yankees played the Mets in the 2000 World Series. In Game 1, the Yankees defeated the Mets in 12 innings. The Yankees tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the ninth, then Jose Vizcaino walked in the bottom of the 12th. The match lasted 4:51.

4. Boston-Brooklyn, 1916

Wikimedia CommonsThe Red Sox 1916 World Series winning roster.

In terms of running time, Game 2 of the 1916 World Series was not one of the longest. But in terms of number of innings it was. The 1916 World Series pitted the Red Sox against the Brooklyn Robins. After the third inning, the game was tied at one and there was no more run until the bottom of the 14th inning when Boston walked a batter. The game lasted only 2:32, despite being 14 innings.

3. Royals-Mets, 2015

GettyKansas City Royals celebrate after Game 1 victory.

The 2015 World Series featured two of the longest games in World Series history. In Game 1, the Royals tied the game at four in the bottom of the ninth with an Alex Gordon home run. In extra innings, the game lasted 14 innings, after which Eric Hosmer hit a sacrifice fly to bring in the winning run. The match lasted 5:09.

2. White Sox-Astros, 2005

GettyManager Ozzie Guillen hugs pitcher Mark Buehrle after winning Game 3 of the World Series.

During the 2005 World Series, the Houston Astros took on the Chicago White Sox. In Game 3, the White Sox trailed 4-0 after four innings, but in the top of the fifth inning, Chicago scored five runs. Houston tied the score in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the White Sox scored twice in the top of the 14th to win the game. The game lasted 5:41 as Chicago defeated Houston.

1. Dodgers-Red Sox, 2018

GettyMax Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by his teammates after his walk-off home run in the eighteenth inning.

Game 3 of the 2018 World Series is the longest World Series game in MLB history, easily breaking the record. The Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Red Sox in the World Series. Boston led 2-0 in the series and in Game 3, the Red Sox tied the score at 1 in the top of the eighth inning. Both teams scored a run in the 13th, and in the bottom of the 18th, Max Muncy hit a walk-off home run. The match lasted 7:20.

Cole Shelton covers the NHL for Heavy.com. Since 2016, he has covered professional and college sports, including bylines at BJ Penn, USA Today, SB Nation, Rotowire, Canadian Baseball Network and more. More about Cole Shelton