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Baseball · Interesting Facts

Chapter 2: Records & Statistics

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 28 October 2026 · markdown

Odd and striking numbers: the longest games, four-homer games, cycles, no-hitter oddities, speed on the bases, iron men, tape-measure homers, grand slams, big days at the plate and records of a bygone game.

2.21The Longest Games

Games that went on and on, and one that was over in 51 minutes.

Test 1The longest gamesTake a test

  1. Brooklyn and Boston played it on May 1, 1920.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  2. Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger each went all 26 innings.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  3. It was suspended overnight and finished the next day.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  4. He is now in the Hall of Fame.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  5. It was suspended at 4 a.m. and finished two months later.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  6. Ripken played for Rochester and Boggs for Pawtucket.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  7. The Giants beat the Phillies 6-1 in New York.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  8. 1920, 1981, 1984, then 2018.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  9. 33, 26, 25, then 18.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · recall

  10. Darkness stopped it; there were no lights.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project · applied

2.22Four Homers in a Game

The rare club of four-homer games.

Test 1Four homers in a gameTake a test

  1. Two of his homers came in the same inning.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  2. He nearly hit a fifth, caught at the wall.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  3. He tied a single-game record from 1924.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  4. Both played for the Cardinals.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  5. He also had a double and a single.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  6. Cleveland fans adored him.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  7. He was on deck when the game ended.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  8. 1894, 1932, 1961, then 1993.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  9. 19, 12, then 4.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  10. He drove in ten runs that night.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau · applied

2.23Hitting for the Cycle

A single, a double, a triple and a homer in one game.

Test 1Hitting for the cycleTake a test

  1. Most cycles wait on the triple, not the homer.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  2. It is even rarer than a normal cycle.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  3. He did it twice for Texas and once for Seattle.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  4. He won the National League MVP that season.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  5. No one had done it twice in a season since 1931.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  6. He did it for Houston and then for Boston.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  7. He finished it with a home run in the ninth.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  8. Each hit goes one base further than the last.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  9. 1979, 2012, September 2018, then October 2018.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  10. Cycles are about as rare as no-hitters.

    Source: MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau · applied

2.24No-Hitter Oddities

Lost no-hitters, first-start no-hitters and brothers who both threw one.

Test 1No-hitter odditiesTake a test

  1. He was the first to lose a nine-inning no-hitter.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  2. Pitching for the Yankees, he lost 4-0 on errors.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  3. He won only three games in the majors.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  4. Roy Oswalt started and left injured.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  5. Two of his five wins were no-hitters.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  6. Bob pitched for St. Louis and Ken for Houston.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  7. He won only one more game in the majors.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  8. 1892, 1953, 1964, then 2003.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  9. 1978, 1979, then 1983.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · recall

  10. Jim Abbott pitched it in the Bronx.

    Source: MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project · applied

2.25Speed on the Bases

Steals, a designated runner and a runaway tarp.

Test 1Speed on the basesTake a test

  1. He was named National League MVP.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  2. Cobb's mark had stood for 47 years.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  3. He stole over 100 in each of his first three seasons.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  4. He was a world-class sprinter who never batted or fielded.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  5. He stole home eight times in 1912.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  6. He came within one of the season record.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  7. He later stole 56 for the Reds as a rookie.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  8. 1915, 1962, 1985, then 2012.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  9. A long windup gives the runner his chance.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · recall

  10. The injury kept him out of the World Series.

    Source: MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012) · applied

2.26Iron Men

Long runs of games, before and beyond the famous streaks.

Test 1Iron menTake a test

  1. The shortstop played for Boston and New York.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  2. He was playing for San Diego when it ended.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  3. The Cubs outfielder was called 'Sweet Swingin' Billy'.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  4. He did not miss a single inning for over five seasons.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  5. Japanese fans called him 'Iron Man'.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  6. He once went 115 games without striking out.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  7. He was an All-Star at five different positions.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  8. 1925, 1939, 1983, then 1998.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  9. 2,215, 1,207, then 1,117.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · recall

  10. He had played 1,768 straight games in Japan and New York.

    Source: MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui · applied

2.27Tape-Measure Home Runs

The longest home runs and where they landed.

Test 1Tape-measure home runsTake a test

  1. Its distance was given as 565 feet.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  2. Red Patterson paced it out after the game.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  3. The home run was measured at 502 feet.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  4. He did it again in 1973.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  5. It was one of the longest homers ever seen there.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  6. No one ever hit a fair ball out of the old stadium.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  7. Tracking systems now measure every homer.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  8. 1946, 1953, 1963, then 1969.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  9. 565, 502, then about 400 feet.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · recall

  10. He hit it as a pinch-hitter for the American League.

    Source: SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium · applied

2.28Grand Slams

Bases-loaded home runs with a twist.

Test 1Grand slamsTake a test

  1. In bridge it means winning every trick.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  2. He drove in eight runs in that inning.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  3. His manager left him in.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  4. Team-mates mobbed him before he reached second.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  5. He never hit another in his career.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  6. He drove in nine runs as a pitcher.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  7. In the same game a team-mate turned an unassisted triple play.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  8. 1920, 1966, 1987, then 1999.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  9. Only the winning run counted.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  10. The Braves had moved to Atlanta that season.

    Source: MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau · applied

2.29Big Days at the Plate

Seven hits, thirty runs and a seventeen-run inning.

Test 1Big days at the plateTake a test

  1. He had two hits in two different innings.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  2. It is one of the biggest shutouts in history.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  3. They won 30-3.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  4. They scored all thirty after that.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  5. The Cubs won 26-23.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  6. One Red Sox player got three hits in that inning.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  7. Catcher Ernie Whitt hit three of them.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  8. 1922, 1953, 1975, then 2007.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  9. 49, 30, then 22.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · recall

  10. No one has had more hits in one inning.

    Source: MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987) · applied

2.30Records of a Bygone Game

Numbers from early baseball that will never be matched.

Test 1Records of a bygone gameTake a test

  1. Wilson's 36 triples are still the season record.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  2. He played most of his career in Detroit.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  3. He was never relieved in all that time.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  4. He also pitched 680 innings that year.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  5. Pitchers then threw from much closer.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  6. Doubles records are far less famous than homer records.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  7. Early pitchers started almost every other day.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  8. 1879, 1886, 1912, then 1931.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  9. 513, 309, then 187.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · recall

  10. Pittsburgh played at Forbes Field from 1909 to 1970.

    Source: SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau · applied

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the National Baseball Hall of Fame, MLB and its clubs, the WBSC, SABR's BioProject, the Library of Congress, Guinness World Records, makers' and leagues' own histories and named reputable media.

  • MLB.com, 'Longest games in MLB history'; International League records on the 33-inning game (1981); SABR Games Project10
  • MLB.com, 'Every four-homer game in MLB history'; SABR Games Project; Elias Sports Bureau10
  • MLB.com, 'Players who hit for the cycle'; SABR cycles research; Elias Sports Bureau10
  • MLB.com no-hitter lists and the 1991 Committee for Statistical Accuracy; SABR Games Project10
  • MLB.com stolen base records; SABR BioProject (Maury Wills, Vince Coleman, Herb Washington, Rod Carew); MiLB.com on Billy Hamilton (2012)10
  • MLB.com consecutive-games records; SABR BioProject (Everett Scott, Steve Garvey, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell); NPB records on Sachio Kinugasa and Hideki Matsui10
  • SABR, 'Mickey Mantle's 565-foot home run' and Fenway Park's red seat; MLB.com All-Star Game history (1971); Los Angeles Dodgers on home runs out of Dodger Stadium10
  • MLB.com grand slam records; SABR Games Project (Tatís 1999, Cloninger 1966, Ventura 1999 NLCS); Elias Sports Bureau10
  • MLB.com single-game records; SABR Games Project (Stennett 1975, Cubs-Phillies 1922, Red Sox 1953, Rangers 2007, Blue Jays 1987)10
  • SABR BioProject and SABR records research (Chief Wilson, Jack Taylor, Will White, Matt Kilroy, Earl Webb, Sam Crawford); Elias Sports Bureau10