Greatest non-tiebreaker regular season games ever

[Uncle Charlie]

For obvious reasons when people discuss the greatest games in baseball history, those that come up are usually postseason games. Usually when regular season games are mentioned they are tiebreakers like Giants-Dodgers in '51 or Yanks-Sox in '78. What do you think are the greatest games ever that didn't fall into either category?

[bob]

Id suggest Dodgers v Cubs sept 9 1965.
Koufax's perfect game, Hendley only allowed a single hit and an unearned run.
The best pitching duel ever.

[ol' aches and pains]

Id suggest Dodgers v Cubs sept 9 1965.
Koufax's perfect game, Hendley only allowed a single hit and an unearned run.
The best pitching duel ever.

If we're talking pitching duels-The closest thing to a complete, double no-hitter in the majors was on May 2, 1917, when Cincinnati's Fred Toney and Chicago's Hippo Vaughn each pitched nine hitless innings. The Reds won, 1-0, in the the 10th with two hits off Vaughn, while Toney finished without allowing a hit.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

Id suggest Dodgers v Cubs sept 9 1965.
Koufax's perfect game, Hendley only allowed a single hit and an unearned run.
The best pitching duel ever.

That is debatable

The Cubs were a poor team and the Dodgers, while pennant winners, were a very poor offensive team

plus there have been a zillion 1-0 games that ended after 9 innings

How about a game between two Hall OF Famers (Marichal and Spahn) that went scoreless in to the 16th inning, before a third Hall Of Famer (Mays) won it with a home run 1-0

[9RoyHobbsRF]

you can also get those wild games like the Phillies Cubs 23-22 game (1979?)

[bob]

you can also get those wild games like the Phillies Cubs 23-22 game (1979?)
The cubs beat the phillies 26-23 in 1922. 49 runs in a 9 inning game!
Look at the box score, that must have been the most crazy game to be at.
Retrosheet game log (http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1922/B08250CHN1922.htm)
Phillies were 26-9 down at the top of the 8th, i can imagine cubs fans would have been having seizures as the phillies closed in.

[ipitch]

The cubs beat the phillies 26-23 in 1922. 49 runs in a 9 inning game!
Look at the box score, that must have been the most crazy game to be at.
Retrosheet game log (http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1922/B08250CHN1922.htm)
Phillies were 26-9 down at the top of the 8th, i can imagine cubs fans would have been having seizures as the phillies closed in.

49 runs, 51 hits, 9 errors, 21 walks....Time of Game: 3:01. :laugh

A game like that in 2009 would last 5+ hours.

[RuthMayBond]

Addie Joss' perfect game 10/2/1908 to win 1-0 and practically clinch the pennant, Mike Scott's no-hitter 9/25/1986 to clinch the division, and the 5/1/1920 twenty-six inning tie have to be up there

[Squeeze Play]

September 30, 1951: In a must-win game, the Dodgers come from 8-5 down vs. Phillies tie the game in the 8th. Robinson saves the game in 12th with his catch of Waitkus's drive, then hits a HR off Roberts in the 14th to win and force the playoff with the Giants.

Incredible. And unforgettable.

[Patriot]

The Joss/Walsh duel was certainly impressive, but it didn't practically clinch the pennant (whcih CLE didn't even end up winning). They were 1/2 game back of DET after the events of that day, which is where they wound up in the end.

While not necessarily an amazing game on its own merits, given the circumstances I would nominate another 1908 game, the Cubs/Giants on October 8, the replay of the Merkle game and a de facto playoff.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

That is debatable

The Cubs were a poor team and the Dodgers, while pennant winners, were a very poor offensive team

plus there have been a zillion 1-0 games that ended after 9 innings

How about a game between two Hall OF Famers (Marichal and Spahn) that went scoreless in to the 16th inning, before a third Hall Of Famer (Mays) won it with a home run 1-0

This is the one regular season game I would like to travel back in time to see. In this game you had Juan Marichal, Warren Spahn, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Orlando Cepeda all playing. Wow.

[Iron Jaw]

April 15, 1968 - Astros 1 Mets 0.........24 innings in the Houston Astrodome. Won in the bottom of the 24th when Norm Miller singled, advanced to second on a balk and third on a grounder. Bobby Aspromonte finally hit a grounder and Miller scored.

Both teams had 11 hits in 79 at-bats for the game (robust .139 average). Ron Swoboda and Tommy Agee each went 0-10.

Tom Seaver threw a 10 inning, 2-hit shutout. But was relieved after 10 by Ron Taylor........perhaps they should have kept Seaver in for batting purposes. He was 1 for 3 and had a walk. The Mets used 8 pitchers. Danny Frisella pitched 5 shutout innings.

Don Wilson of the Astros pitched a 9 inning, 5-hit shutout. Lee Thomas pinch hit for him in the bottom of the 9th. The Astros used only 5 pitchers. Jim Ray threw 7 shutout innings in relief.

Wade Blasingame picked up the win for Houston. Les Rohr took the loss for the Mets.

Perhaps in the category of biggest "yawner" in history. :crazy

Unless you really love great pitching and very little hitting. Of the combined 22 hits in 158 at bats, only two were extra base. Met third sacker Ed Charles had a double, as did Astro catcher Hal King. There were 35 strikeouts and 12 walks. Four baserunners made it to 3b in 24 innings.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

April 15, 1968 - Astros 1 Mets 0.........24 innings in the Houston Astrodome. Won in the bottom of the 24th when Norm Miller singled, advanced to second on a balk and third on a grounder. Bobby Aspromonte finally hit a grounder and Miller scored.

Both teams had 11 hits in 79 at-bats for the game (robust .139 average). Ron Swoboda and Tommy Agee each went 0-10.

Tom Seaver threw a 10 inning, 2-hit shutout. But was relieved after 10 by Ron Taylor........perhaps they should have kept Seaver in for batting purposes. He was 1 for 3 and had a walk. The Mets used 8 pitchers. Danny Frisella pitched 5 shutout innings.

Don Wilson of the Astros pitched a 9 inning, 5-hit shutout. Lee Thomas pinch hit for him in the bottom of the 9th. The Astros used only 5 pitchers. Jim Ray threw 7 shutout innings in relief.

Wade Blasingame picked up the win for Houston. Les Rohr took the loss for the Mets.

Perhaps in the category of biggest "yawner" in history. :crazy

Unless you really love great pitching and very little hitting. Of the combined 22 hits in 158 at bats, only two were extra base. Met third sacker Ed Charles had a double, as did Astro catcher Hal King. There were 35 strikeouts and 12 walks. Four baserunners made it to 3b in 24 innings.

definitely a YAWNER

I was fortunate to see one all-star game

1987 in Oakland

it was 0-0 after 12 innings
YAWN

[Iron Jaw]

definitely a YAWNER

I was fortunate to see one all-star game

1987 in Oakland

it was 0-0 after 12 innings
YAWN

But, in the all-star game, one moment can liven the crowd. Such as when Tony Perez hit that 15th inning home run in the 1967 game off Catfish Hunter, who pitched the last five full innings (you don't see that in the all-star game anymore). It was, a 1-1 yawner earlier in the game, though both runs were via the home run. Richie Allen hit one for the NL, while one of my favorites, Brooks Robinson blasted one for the AL to tie the score.

Actually, the game a year later, 1968, was won by the NL 1-0. And the lone run by Willie Mays was unearned. Which was quite fitting for 1968. Mays singled, then advanced to second on a bad pickoff throw by Luis Tiant. Tiant then threw a wild pitch and sent Mays to third with no outs. Tiant walked Curt Flood (who he threw the wild pitch to). Willie McCovey grounded into a double play, that Mays scored on. The lone score came in the first inning. This game was also played in the Astrodome.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

But, in the all-star game, one moment can liven the crowd. Such as when Tony Perez hit that 15th inning home run in the 1967 game off Catfish Hunter, who pitched the last five full innings (you don't see that in the all-star game anymore). It was, a 1-1 yawner earlier in the game, though both runs were via the home run. Richie Allen hit one for the NL, while one of my favorites, Brooks Robinson blasted one for the AL to tie the score.

Actually, the game a year later, 1968, was won by the NL 1-0. And the lone run by Willie Mays was unearned. Which was quite fitting for 1968. Mays singled, then advanced to second on a bad pickoff throw by Luis Tiant. Tiant then threw a wild pitch and sent Mays to third with no outs. Tiant walked Curt Flood (who he threw the wild pitch to). Willie McCovey grounded into a double play, that Mays scored on. The lone score came in the first inning. This game was also played in the Astrodome.

and trivia buffs will note Tom Seaver pitched to Mickey Mantle

[ol' aches and pains]

But, in the all-star game, one moment can liven the crowd. Such as when Tony Perez hit that 15th inning home run in the 1967 game off Catfish Hunter, who pitched the last five full innings (you don't see that in the all-star game anymore). It was, a 1-1 yawner earlier in the game, though both runs were via the home run. Richie Allen hit one for the NL, while one of my favorites, Brooks Robinson blasted one for the AL to tie the score.

Actually, the game a year later, 1968, was won by the NL 1-0. And the lone run by Willie Mays was unearned. Which was quite fitting for 1968. Mays singled, then advanced to second on a bad pickoff throw by Luis Tiant. Tiant then threw a wild pitch and sent Mays to third with no outs. Tiant walked Curt Flood (who he threw the wild pitch to). Willie McCovey grounded into a double play, that Mays scored on. The lone score came in the first inning. This game was also played in the Astrodome.

I read years ago, can't remember where, that in that 1967 ASG, Mickey Mantle pinch hit for somebody in the early innings, went directly to the clubhouse, got dressed, went out and hailed a taxi, and was on a plane home before the game ended.

[9RoyHobbsRF]

I read years ago, can't remember where, that in that 1967 ASG, Mickey Mantle pinch hit for somebody in the early innings, went directly to the clubhouse, got dressed, went out and hailed a taxi, and was on a plane home before the game ended.

he probably stopped at a bar first

[Victory Faust]

Id suggest Dodgers v Cubs sept 9 1965.
Koufax's perfect game, Hendley only allowed a single hit and an unearned run.
The best pitching duel ever.


I disagree. IMO, the best pitching duel ever was Walsh vs. Joss in 1908.

[RuthMayBond]

I disagree. IMO, the best pitching duel ever was Walsh vs. Joss in 1908.
Toney-Vaugh(a?)n wasn't bad either

[EdTarbusz]

he probably stopped at a bar first

I read that Mantle walked into his local bar after getting back to Dallas and the game was still going on because it went into extre innings.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

49 runs, 51 hits, 9 errors, 21 walks....Time of Game: 3:01. :laugh

A game like that in 2009 would last 5+ hours.

At the least, thats what caught my eye 3:01.
There were two game longer than that played on Thursday.
3:04----------total runs scored 9.
3:03----------total runs scored 5.

[Iron Jaw]

One of my favorite games was played on July 4, 1979. Only, it wasn't a Major League game. It was an American Association game, AAA, between the Denver Bears and Omaha Royals at Mile High Stadium in Denver - capacity crowd on hand for fireworks night.

The Bears were pounded most of the game. In the bottom of the 9th with 2-outs, the Bears were trailing 14-7. Suddenly, hit after hit after hit, and various changes of Royal pitching to try to stop the rally. With two runners on base and the score narrowed to 14-13, Jim Cox stepped up to the plate. Jim was an average hitter with a touch of power (10 HR type). Randy Bass, the top slugger in the league sat out the game nursing an injury. The Bear manager elected to send him to the on-deck circle as a pinch hitter. Well, he wasn't needed. Cox launched the third pitch into the leftfield seats for a walk-off, three run shot of Royal pitcher Jerry Cram, giving the Bears a 16-14 victory. The fans in the stadium were going crazy over that finish.

The fireworks later that night were tame compared to the fireworks that took place in the bottom of the 9th.

Photo of Jim Cox....