Most games are in about the 2.5 to 3 hour range. Of course if there are extra innings, rain delays or a lot of relief pitchers, the games can be much longer. That said, feel free to see a game in the afternoon and schedule a play at night.
The almost 18-minute average included balls in play, runner advancement attempts on stolen bases, wild pitches, pitches (balls, strikes, fouls and balls hit into play), trotting batters (on home runs, walks and hit-by-pitches), pickoff throws and even one fake-pickoff throw. This may be generous.
For MLB games, the middle of the inning is two minutes and 25 seconds long for locally-televised games, or two minutes and 45 seconds long for nationally-televised games.
Sensing that an official ruling was necessary as more and more baseball teams were formed, the Knickerbockers decided to form a committee in 1856 to tackle the issue. The desire for more competitive defense won out, and nine innings – and nine men – became the standard for good.
A full baseball game is typically scheduled for nine innings, while softball games consist of seven innings; although this may be shortened due to weather or extended if the score is tied at the end of the scheduled innings.
However, based on the average duration of MLB games, we can conclude innings last a bit over 20 minutes on average. In the 2021 regular season, the average length of an MLB game was 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 7 seconds. Dividing this by 9, we get the duration of about 21.1 minutes for each inning.
A typical nine-inning game takes three hours or so to complete. Since there is no clock like NHL games, there is a rhythm in baseball about moves and counter moves.
This is the longest game in MLB history in terms of time. It took eight hours and six minutes – and it had to be completed over two days. The game began on May 8. With 14,754 fans in attendance at Comiskey Park, the two teams played 17 innings before the game was suspended at 1 a.m. with the score tied, 3-3.
Get to the ballpark early. Most parks open at least 90 minutes before first pitch. “You can always get in 90 minutes early, and I would recommend being there even before that and lining up so you can hurry inside,” Hample said. “Sometimes you’ll find a baseball in the seats.
According to the all-knowing Google, the 1910 matchup between the Atlanta Crackers and Mobile Sea Gulls is the first choice that pops up when you search fastest baseball game ever. It was 32 minutes long.
Depending on the MLB stadium, you should arrive 1½ hours before the game because that’s when the gates will open on all days of the week. On weekends, some stadiums open 2 – 2½ hours before the game, so to catch batting practice, you should arrive then.
3 hours, 28 mins 29 minsThe length of MLB games, by inning
Inning | Average Time | Average Time Added |
---|---|---|
Inning | Average Time | Average Time Added |
9 innings* | 2 hours, 59 mins | - |
10 innings | 3 hours, 28 mins | 29 mins |
11 innings | 3 hours, 49 mins | 50 mins |
In an average nine-inning baseball game, there are 17 between-inning commercial breaks. That means eight-and-a-half minutes will be shaved off of game lengths. That is a lot in commercial break time — likely somewhere between 20 and 30 separate commercial breaks.
Instead of a halftime, both the players and the baseball fans get to enjoy a break in the game during the seventh-inning stretch.
Every inning in baseball has six out broken down with three for the visiting team and three for the home team. The next inning starts when all six outs occur between both sides during a baseball game.
The term inning in baseball comes from the Old English innung — the gerund form of innian “to get within, put or bring in” — and was originally used in the sense of “a team’s turn in a game” in 1738.
At the time, only every third “unfair pitch” was called a ball, meaning that a batter could only walk after nine pitches out of the strike zone. As time went on, the rule was dropped to eight balls, then seven, and so-on until four balls were settled on by the league in 1889.
The Knickerbocker Rules. 1ST. Members must strictly observe the time agreed upon for exercise, and be punctual in their attendance. 2ND.
There is a Maximum of 110 pitches per game or in any one day; If a pitcher reaches the 110 pitch limit while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until one of the following occurs. o The batter reaches base, o That batter is retired, or o The third out is recorded to complete that half-inning or game.
A game is considered a regulation game – also known as an “official game” – once the visiting team has made 15 outs (five innings) and the home team is leading, or once the home team has made 15 outs regardless of score.
Baseball games start at weird times for two main reasons: Allow time for pregame festivities such as national anthems and a ceremonial first pitch. Allow television broadcast time for game introductions and a commercial break prior to first pitch.