GITNUX REPORT 2024

Fastest MLB Games: From 51-Minute Epics to Sub-2-Hour Showdowns

From 51 minutes to 3 hours: Exploring the extremes of MLB game lengths through history.

Author: Jannik Lindner

First published: 7/17/2024

Statistic 1

The average length of an MLB game in 2021 was 3 hours and 10 minutes.

Statistic 2

The 2014 MLB season saw an average game time of 3 hours and 8 minutes.

Statistic 3

The average time of an MLB doubleheader in 2021 was 5 hours and 32 minutes.

Statistic 4

The average length of an MLB game has increased by 10 minutes since 2015.

Statistic 5

The average length of an MLB game in the 1970s was 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Statistic 6

The average length of an MLB game in the 1950s was 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Statistic 7

The average length of an MLB game in the 1930s was 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Statistic 8

The average length of an MLB game in the 1960s was 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Statistic 9

The average length of an MLB game in the 1940s was 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Statistic 10

The fastest nine-inning MLB game was completed in 1 hour and 29 minutes.

Statistic 11

The fastest perfect game in MLB history was pitched by Sandy Koufax in 1965 in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.

Statistic 12

The longest MLB game in history lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes and took place in 1984.

Statistic 13

The longest game in MLB history lasted 26 innings and took 8 hours and 6 minutes to complete.

Statistic 14

The fastest tripleheader in MLB history took a total of 5 hours and 44 minutes to complete.

Statistic 15

The shortest MLB game on record lasted just 51 minutes.

Statistic 16

The quickest MLB game in history was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants in 1919.

Statistic 17

In 1884, an MLB game ended in 51 minutes due to a number of quick outs.

Statistic 18

The New York Mets and the Montreal Expos played a 1 hour and 59-minute game in 1981.

Statistic 19

The Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers completed a game in just 1 hour and 54 minutes in 1989.

Statistic 20

The fastest doubleheader in MLB history was completed in a total time of 3 hours and 44 minutes.

Statistic 21

The shortest MLB game in the modern era took place in 1919 and lasted just 51 minutes.

Statistic 22

The quickest MLB game in 2021 lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes.

Statistic 23

The fastest game in MLB history lasted just 51 minutes and was played in 1919.

Statistic 24

The quickest nine-inning game in MLB history was completed in 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Statistic 25

The shortest MLB game in history was completed in just 51 minutes.

Statistic 26

The Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies once played a game that lasted only 57 minutes.

Statistic 27

The shortest MLB game in the modern era lasted just 51 minutes and was played between the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Eagles in 1919.

Statistic 28

The fastest MLB game in the 2000s was completed in 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Statistic 29

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees played a 2-hour game in 1967.

Statistic 30

The shortest MLB game in the past decade was played in 2011 and lasted 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Statistic 31

In 1971, a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros finished in just 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Statistic 32

The Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Yankees played a 1 hour and 28-minute game in 1926.

Statistic 33

The quickest game in the 1990s was completed in 1 hour and 54 minutes.

Statistic 34

The Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees played a 1 hour and 35-minute game in 1971.

Statistic 35

The shortest MLB game in the past 20 years was played in 2004 and lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes.

Statistic 36

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers played a 1 hour and 29-minute game in 1966.

Statistic 37

The shortest MLB game in the past 50 years was played in 1970 and lasted 1 hour and 57 minutes.

Statistic 38

The fastest game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox took 1 hour and 54 minutes in 1967.

Statistic 39

The Colorado Rockies and the Montreal Expos played a 1 hour and 40-minute game in 2006.

Statistic 40

The quickest game in the 1980s was completed in 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Share:FacebookLinkedIn
Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges

Summary

  • The shortest MLB game on record lasted just 51 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game in 2021 was 3 hours and 10 minutes.
  • The fastest nine-inning MLB game was completed in 1 hour and 29 minutes.
  • The 2014 MLB season saw an average game time of 3 hours and 8 minutes.
  • The quickest MLB game in history was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants in 1919.
  • In 1884, an MLB game ended in 51 minutes due to a number of quick outs.
  • The fastest perfect game in MLB history was pitched by Sandy Koufax in 1965 in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.
  • The New York Mets and the Montreal Expos played a 1 hour and 59-minute game in 1981.
  • The Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers completed a game in just 1 hour and 54 minutes in 1989.
  • The fastest doubleheader in MLB history was completed in a total time of 3 hours and 44 minutes.
  • The shortest MLB game in the modern era took place in 1919 and lasted just 51 minutes.
  • The quickest MLB game in 2021 lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes.
  • The average time of an MLB doubleheader in 2021 was 5 hours and 32 minutes.
  • The fastest game in MLB history lasted just 51 minutes and was played in 1919.
  • The longest MLB game in history lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes and took place in 1984.

Buckle up, baseball fans, because were diving into the realm of MLB games like never before. From lightning-fast matchups that wrapped up in the time it takes to grab a ballpark hot dog to marathon events that tested the endurance of players and spectators alike, weve got the stats to satisfy your curiosity. Think 51-minute sprints, 8-hour marathons, and everything in between – this is one game where the clock is always ticking, but the excitement never stops. So grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks, because were about to hit a home run with the fastest MLB games on record.

Average length of MLB games

  • The average length of an MLB game in 2021 was 3 hours and 10 minutes.
  • The 2014 MLB season saw an average game time of 3 hours and 8 minutes.
  • The average time of an MLB doubleheader in 2021 was 5 hours and 32 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game has increased by 10 minutes since 2015.

Interpretation

It appears that baseball games are not just battles on the field but also against the clock. With the average MLB game creeping over the 3-hour mark, fans may find themselves torn between their love for the sport and their increasing desire for a bathroom break. And let's not forget the endurance test that is the doubleheader, where even the players might need an extra inning or two for a breather. As the games continue to lengthen, one thing is certain - baseball truly teaches us the value of patience, both on and off the field.

Average length of MLB games across different eras

  • The average length of an MLB game in the 1970s was 2 hours and 30 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game in the 1950s was 2 hours and 25 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game in the 1930s was 2 hours and 20 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game in the 1960s was 2 hours and 29 minutes.
  • The average length of an MLB game in the 1940s was 2 hours and 26 minutes.

Interpretation

In analyzing the evolution of MLB game lengths over the decades, one can't help but marvel at the incredible consistency displayed by the boys of summer. It appears that baseball, much like a fine wine, has aged gracefully with only minimal fluctuations in its runtime. This data paints a picture of a sport that has managed to maintain its rhythm and tempo throughout the years, proving that some things truly do stand the test of time. So, whether it's the swinging '60s or the roaring '20s, one thing remains constant – baseball's ability to simultaneously captivate and abide by a strict time schedule.

Fastest MLB games

  • The fastest nine-inning MLB game was completed in 1 hour and 29 minutes.
  • The fastest perfect game in MLB history was pitched by Sandy Koufax in 1965 in just 1 hour and 43 minutes.

Interpretation

In the world of baseball, where games can often drag on longer than a congressional hearing, the speed demons of the MLB stand out like track stars in a field of sedentary sloths. A nine-inning game zipped by in a mere 1 hour and 29 minutes, leaving fans barely enough time to gulp down a hot dog and check their text messages. Not to be outdone, Sandy Koufax once threw a perfect game so swiftly in 1965 that he made the Flash look like he was standing still, taking just 1 hour and 43 minutes to etch his name in the annals of baseball history. These lightning-fast feats remind us that in the game of baseball, speed isn't just about stealing bases—it's about stealing time itself.

Longest MLB games

  • The longest MLB game in history lasted 8 hours and 6 minutes and took place in 1984.
  • The longest game in MLB history lasted 26 innings and took 8 hours and 6 minutes to complete.
  • The fastest tripleheader in MLB history took a total of 5 hours and 44 minutes to complete.

Interpretation

In the ever-evolving realm of MLB history, where time seems both fleeting and endless, we are reminded that baseball is a game of extremes. From the marathon 26-inning epic that lasted as long as some work shifts back in 1984, to the lightning-paced tripleheader that flew by in under six hours, the juxtaposition is nothing short of poetic. It's a reminder that in the grand tapestry of America's pastime, time is but a mere construct, bending to the will of the players who dance between innings.

Shortest MLB games

  • The shortest MLB game on record lasted just 51 minutes.
  • The quickest MLB game in history was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants in 1919.
  • In 1884, an MLB game ended in 51 minutes due to a number of quick outs.
  • The New York Mets and the Montreal Expos played a 1 hour and 59-minute game in 1981.
  • The Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers completed a game in just 1 hour and 54 minutes in 1989.
  • The fastest doubleheader in MLB history was completed in a total time of 3 hours and 44 minutes.
  • The shortest MLB game in the modern era took place in 1919 and lasted just 51 minutes.
  • The quickest MLB game in 2021 lasted 2 hours and 47 minutes.
  • The fastest game in MLB history lasted just 51 minutes and was played in 1919.
  • The quickest nine-inning game in MLB history was completed in 1 hour and 52 minutes.
  • The shortest MLB game in history was completed in just 51 minutes.
  • The Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies once played a game that lasted only 57 minutes.
  • The shortest MLB game in the modern era lasted just 51 minutes and was played between the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Eagles in 1919.
  • The fastest MLB game in the 2000s was completed in 1 hour and 55 minutes.
  • The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees played a 2-hour game in 1967.
  • The shortest MLB game in the past decade was played in 2011 and lasted 1 hour and 41 minutes.
  • In 1971, a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Houston Astros finished in just 1 hour and 35 minutes.
  • The Philadelphia Athletics and the New York Yankees played a 1 hour and 28-minute game in 1926.
  • The quickest game in the 1990s was completed in 1 hour and 54 minutes.
  • The Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees played a 1 hour and 35-minute game in 1971.
  • The shortest MLB game in the past 20 years was played in 2004 and lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes.
  • The St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers played a 1 hour and 29-minute game in 1966.
  • The shortest MLB game in the past 50 years was played in 1970 and lasted 1 hour and 57 minutes.
  • The fastest game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox took 1 hour and 54 minutes in 1967.
  • The Colorado Rockies and the Montreal Expos played a 1 hour and 40-minute game in 2006.

Interpretation

In the ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball, where games are often a battle of endurance, these records of lightning-fast matchups serve as a whimsical reminder of baseball's potential for brevity amidst its usual marathon pace. From 51-minute sprints to sub-two-hour showdowns, these historical snippets offer a glimpse into a time when baseball moved at a brisker clip, before analytics and commercial breaks extended the game's duration. So, next time you settle in for what feels like an endless extra-inning affair, raise a toast to those speedy contests of yore, where players wasted no time in getting in, getting out, and going home.

The quickest game in the 1980s was completed in 1 hour and 41 minutes falls under the category of Fastest MLB games

  • The quickest game in the 1980s was completed in 1 hour and 41 minutes.

Interpretation

In an era where even deciding on a lunch spot can take more time than a baseball game, the fact that a Major League Baseball game in the 1980s was completed in a brisk 1 hour and 41 minutes is a remarkable testament to the efficiency and focus of the players involved. Were they sprinting around the bases? Did the pitchers throw nothing but strikes? Whatever the secret formula was for that lightning-fast game, it serves as a tantalizing reminder that, just like a perfectly executed double-play, sometimes speed and precision can leave us all in awe.

References