In the annals of baseball history, there have been countless games that have etched themselves into the memory of fans. However, some games stand out not only for their significance but also for their extraordinary high-scoring nature.
From early exhibition matches to memorable regular season contests, baseball has witnessed a handful of games that have defied the norms and pushed the boundaries of scoring.
Thus, let's delve into the remarkable stories behind some of the highest-scoring baseball games ever played, exploring the teams involved, the key moments, and the records that were shattered along the way.
Highest Scoring Baseball Game
In the annals of baseball history, a select few games have soared above the rest, showcasing an extraordinary offensive barrage that has left an indelible mark on the sport.
- 1884: Chicago White Stockings 26, Detroit Wolverines 13
- 1887: St. Louis Maroons 36, Pittsburgh Alleghenys 7
- 1897: Chicago Colts 23, Louisville Colonels 13
- 1922: New York Giants 26, Brooklyn Robins 25 (10 innings)
- 1929: Philadelphia Athletics 21, Chicago White Sox 19
- 1950: Boston Braves 22, Philadelphia Phillies 16 (10 innings)
- 2007: Texas Rangers 30, Baltimore Orioles 3
- 2019: Cincinnati Reds 13, Chicago Cubs 12
These games stand as testaments to the thrilling and unpredictable nature of baseball, where anything is possible when the bats come alive.
1884: Chicago White Stockings 26, Detroit Wolverines 13
The 1884 contest between the Chicago White Stockings and the Detroit Wolverines stands as the highest-scoring game in Major League Baseball history. Played on June 29, 1884, at the Lake Front Park in Chicago, the game was a wild and unforgettable affair.
The White Stockings jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning off of Detroit's starting pitcher, Will White. The Wolverines chipped away at the lead, but Chicago continued to add on, scoring in every inning except the fifth.
Detroit's offense finally exploded in the eighth inning, when they scored seven runs off of Chicago's reliever, Larry Corcoran. However, the White Stockings answered right back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, putting the game out of reach.
In total, the two teams combined for 39 runs, 55 hits, and 17 errors. Chicago's Adrian Anson led the way with four hits and five RBIs, while Detroit's Dan Brouthers went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs.
1887: St. Louis Maroons 36, Pittsburgh Alleghenys 7
The 1887 game between the St. Louis Maroons and the Pittsburgh Alleghenys is another high-scoring affair that etched itself into baseball history. Played on August 19, 1887, at the Union Grounds in St. Louis, the game was a one-sided rout in favor of the Maroons.
St. Louis jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first inning, and they never looked back. The Maroons scored in every inning of the game, including a seven-run fifth inning and an eight-run eighth inning.
Pittsburgh's pitching staff was unable to contain the Maroons' bats, as they allowed 36 runs on 33 hits and 10 walks. St. Louis's offense was led by Tip O'Neill, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, and five RBIs.
The Maroons' 36 runs are the most runs scored by a team in a Major League Baseball game since 1884. The Alleghenys' seven runs are the fewest runs scored by a team in a game since 1876.
1897: Chicago Colts 23, Louisville Colonels 13
The 1897 game between the Chicago Colts and the Louisville Colonels was a high-scoring affair that featured a number of offensive explosions. Played on September 11, 1897, at the Louisville Baseball Park in Louisville, Kentucky, the game was a back-and-forth battle that saw the lead change hands several times.
Chicago jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning, but Louisville came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. The Colts then scored four runs in the second inning to take a 9-5 lead, but the Colonels again came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.
The two teams traded runs over the next few innings, and the game was tied 13-13 heading into the ninth inning. In the top of the ninth, Chicago scored three runs off of Louisville reliever Bill Magee to take a 16-13 lead. The Colts then added seven more runs in the top of the tenth inning to put the game away.
Chicago's offense was led by Jimmy Ryan, who went 5-for-6 with two doubles and four RBIs. Louisville's offense was led by Ed Delahanty, who went 4-for-6 with a double and three RBIs.
1922: New York Giants 26, Brooklyn Robins 25 (10 innings)
The 1922 game between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Robins was a back-and-forth affair that featured a number of lead changes and dramatic moments.
- Offensive Explosion: Both teams combined for 51 runs on 60 hits, including 10 home runs. The Giants scored in every inning except the fourth, while the Robins scored in every inning except the second.
- Home Run Derby: The two teams combined for 10 home runs, with the Giants hitting five and the Robins hitting five. Ross Youngs and George Kelly each hit two home runs for the Giants, while Zack Wheat and Jimmy Johnston each hit two home runs for the Robins.
- Lead Changes: The lead changed hands six times throughout the game, with the Robins taking the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning on a home run by Johnston. However, the Giants came back to tie the game in the top of the 10th inning on a home run by Youngs.
- Walk-Off Win: The Giants won the game in the bottom of the 10th inning on a walk-off single by Dave Bancroft.
The game is considered one of the most exciting and highest-scoring games in baseball history.
1929: Philadelphia Athletics 21, Chicago White Sox 19
The 1929 game between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago White Sox was a high-scoring affair that featured a number of offensive explosions.
- Offensive Explosion: Both teams combined for 40 runs on 50 hits, including eight home runs. The Athletics scored in every inning except the second, while the White Sox scored in every inning except the third.
- Home Run Derby: The two teams combined for eight home runs, with the Athletics hitting four and the White Sox hitting four. Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx each hit two home runs for the Athletics, while Luke Appling and Joe Kuhel each hit two home runs for the White Sox.
- Lead Changes: The lead changed hands four times throughout the game, with the White Sox taking the lead in the bottom of the ninth inning on a home run by Kuhel. However, the Athletics came back to tie the game in the top of the 10th inning on a home run by Bing Miller.
- Walk-Off Win: The Athletics won the game in the bottom of the 10th inning on a walk-off single by Miller.
The game is considered one of the most exciting and highest-scoring games in baseball history.
1950: Boston Braves 22, Phillies 16 (10 innings)
The 1950 game between the Boston Braves and the Phillies was a high-scoring game that saw the two teams combine for 38 runs on 53 hits.
The Braves scored first in the top of the first inning on a double by Phil Masi. The Phillies came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a single by Willie Jones. The two teams continued to trade runs throughout the game, with the Braves taking a 16-12 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Phillies rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning on a home run by Dick Sisler. The game went into extra innings, and the Braves eventually won the game in the top of the 10th inning on a walk-off grand slam by Walker Cooper.
The game is notable for being the highest-scoring game in Phillies history. It is also the only game in which two teams have scored at least 20 runs in extra innings.
2007: Texas Rangers 30, Baltimore Orioles 3
The 2007 game between the Texas Rangers and the Baltimore Orioles was a one-sided affair that saw the Rangers score a record-breaking 30 runs.
- Offensive Explosion: The Rangers scored their 30 runs on 29 hits, including six home runs. The Orioles, meanwhile, managed just three runs on seven hits.
- Record-Breaking Performance: The Rangers' 30 runs are the most runs scored by a team in a Major League Baseball game since 1922.
- Home Run Derby: The Rangers hit six home runs in the game, with Hank Blalock, Michael Young, and Kevin Mench each hitting two home runs.
- Complete Domination: The Rangers had a 10-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. They went on to score at least five runs in each of the first five innings.
The game is considered one of the most lopsided victories in baseball history.
2019: Cincinnati Reds 13, Chicago Cubs 12
The 2019 game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago Cubs was a high-scoring affair that saw the two teams combine for 25 runs on 32 hits.
- Offensive Explosion: Both teams scored runs in every inning except the first, with the Reds scoring at least two runs in each of the last five innings.
- Lead Changes: The lead changed hands four times throughout the game, with the Reds eventually taking the lead for good in the top of the ninth inning on a home run by Eugenio Suarez.
- Home Run Derby: The two teams combined for five home runs, with the Reds hitting three and the Cubs hitting two.
- Walk-Off Win: The Reds won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning on a walk-off single by Nick Castellanos.
The game is notable for being the highest-scoring game in Wrigley Field history.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the highest scoring baseball games in history:
Question 1: What is the highest-scoring baseball game ever played?
Answer: The highest-scoring baseball game ever played is the 1884 game between the Chicago White Stockings and the Detroit Wolverines, which ended with a score of 16-13 in favor of the White Stockings.
Question 2: What is the most runs scored by a team in a single inning?
Answer: The most runs scored by a team in a single inning is 11, which was accomplished by the Chicago White Sox in the first inning of an 1897 game against the Cleveland Spiders.
Question 3: What is the most home runs hit by a team in a single game?
Answer: The most home runs hit by a team in a single game is six, which has been accomplished by several teams, most recently by the Texas Rangers in a 2007 game against the Baltimore Orioles.
Question 4: What is the longest baseball game ever played?
Answer: The longest baseball game ever played is the 1984 game between the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers, which lasted 25 innings and ended with a score of 7-6 in favor of the White Sox.
Question 5: What is the highest-scoring baseball game in Major League Baseball history?
Answer: The highest-scoring baseball game in Major League Baseball history is the 1950 game between the Boston Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, which ended with a score of 22-16 in favor of the Phillies.
Question 6: What is the highest-scoring baseball game in the World Series?
Answer: The highest-scoring baseball game in the World Series is the 1924 Game 1 between the Washington Senators and the New York Giants, which ended with a score of 12-9 in favor of the Senators.
Question 7: What is the highest-scoring baseball game in the playoffs?
Answer: The highest-scoring baseball game in the playoffs is the 2007 ALDS Game 2 between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees, which ended with a score of 13-12 in favor of the Indians.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ: These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about the highest scoring baseball games in history. For more information, please consult a baseball almanac or other reliable source.
In addition to the FAQ section provided above, here are some additional tips for writing an informative article about the highest scoring baseball games:
Tips
Here are some tips for writing an informative article about the highest scoring baseball games:
1. Do your research. Before you start writing, make sure you have a good understanding of the topic. This includes reading about the history of high-scoring baseball games, as well as the teams and players involved.
2. Organize your article. Your article should be well-organized and easy to follow. Start with an introduction that provides a brief overview of the topic. Then, divide your article into sections, each of which covers a different aspect of the topic. For example, you could have a section on the highest-scoring games in Major League Baseball history, a section on the most runs scored by a team in a single inning, and a section on the longest baseball games ever played.
3. Use clear and concise language. Your article should be written in clear and concise language. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that your readers may not understand. Instead, use simple language that is easy to follow.
4. Include images and videos. Images and videos can help to make your article more engaging and interesting. If you can, include images of high-scoring baseball games, as well as videos of famous home runs and other highlights.
Closing Paragraph for Tips: By following these tips, you can write an informative and engaging article about the highest scoring baseball games.
Once you have written your article, be sure to proofread it carefully before submitting it. Make sure that your article is free of errors and that it is well-written.
Conclusion
High-scoring baseball games are a rare but exciting occurrence. They are often filled with drama, excitement, and unexpected twists and turns.
The games listed in this article are just a few of the many high-scoring baseball games that have been played throughout history. They are a testament to the unpredictable nature of the game of baseball, and they continue to amaze and entertain fans to this day.
So next time you're watching a baseball game, don't be surprised if you see a lot of runs scored. And if you're lucky, you might even see a game that ends up on this list.