What is the Lowest Scoring MLB Game?
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a hugely popular sport in the United States, with millions of fans watching every game. It is home to some of the most exciting and competitive matchups in all of sports. But what is the lowest scoring game in MLB history?
The answer to this question is a bit complicated. While it is impossible to definitively determine the lowest scoring game ever, there are several contenders that can be considered. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable instances of low-scoring games in MLB history.
1908: Cubs vs. Giants
The first game of the 1908 National League season between the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants is widely regarded as one of the lowest scoring games in MLB history. The game was played on April 15th and ended in a 0-0 tie after 12 innings. The game was notable for its lack of offensive production with only nine hits for the entire game.
1968: Mets vs. Astros
Another noteworthy instance of a low-scoring game took place in 1968 between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. The game was played on April 22nd and ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Mets. The game was an 11-inning affair and featured only six hits.
1989: Mariners vs. Athletics
The lowest-scoring game of the modern era is widely considered to be a matchup between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics on April 16, 1989. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings and featured only six hits.
Lowest Scoring Games by Decade
We can also break down the lowest scoring games by decade. Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy instances:
- 1910s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves in 1916. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after nine innings.
- 1920s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds in 1924. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 10 innings.
- 1930s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1934. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 1940s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 1950s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in 1951. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after nine innings.
- 1960s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the New York Mets and the Houston Astros in 1968. The game ended with a score of 1-0 after 11 innings.
- 1970s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1975. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 1980s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics in 1989. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 1990s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals in 1999. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 2000s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics in 2002. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
- 2010s: The lowest scoring game of the decade was a matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres in 2013. The game ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings.
Lowest Scoring Games by Team
The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals have had the most low-scoring games in MLB history, with each team having six games that ended with a score of 0-0. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and New York Mets each have had five such games.
Notable Low-Scoring Games
While the lowest scoring game of all-time is impossible to definitively determine, there are some particularly noteworthy instances of low-scoring games in MLB history.
One such example is a matchup between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965. The game ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Giants, and it was an 18-inning affair. This is the longest scoreless game in MLB history, and it featured only sixteen hits.
Another notable game is a matchup between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins in 1967. The game ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Tigers, and it was an 11-inning affair. The game featured only six hits, making it one of the lowest scoring games of the modern era.
Lowest Scoring Games in Postseason History
The lowest scoring game in postseason history is widely considered to be a matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets in the 1988 National League Championship Series. The game was an 11-inning affair and ended with a score of 2-0 in favor of the Dodgers. The game featured only seven hits.
Lowest Scoring Game in World Series History
The lowest scoring game in World Series history is a matchup between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950. The game was an 11-inning affair and ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of the Yankees. The game featured only six hits.
Conclusion
There is no definitive answer as to which MLB game is the lowest scoring of all-time, as there are several contenders for the title. However, some of the most notable examples include the 1908 Cubs-Giants game, the 1968 Mets-Astros game, and the 1989 Mariners-Athletics game. Each of these games ended with a score of 0-0 after 11 innings and featured only six hits.
The lowest scoring game in postseason history is widely considered to be the 1988 Dodgers-Mets NLCS matchup, while the lowest scoring game in World Series history is the 1950 Yankees-Phillies matchup.
No matter which game you consider to be the lowest scoring of all-time, there’s no denying the fact that these matchups were very low scoring affairs. It’s impossible to definitively determine which game is the lowest scoring of all-time, but these are some of the most noteworthy examples.