The longest game in MLB history was 26 innings between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves on May 1, 1920. It’s the standard answer for “longest” by innings, even though the longest game by time is a different record.

Quick scoop

  • Longest by innings: 26 innings, Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Braves.
  • Longest by time: the 1981 Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings game lasted 33 innings and is widely noted as the longest professional baseball game by duration.

Why it gets confusing

People often mix up most innings with longest clock time. MLB’s record book and many baseball summaries separate those two categories, so the 1920 game is the MLB innings record while the 1981 minor-league game is the famous time marathon.

Current context

Even recent marathon games, like the 18-inning World Series games in 2025, were nowhere near the all-time MLB innings record. Those games were long by postseason standards, but still far short of 26 innings.

TL;DR

MLB’s longest game by innings is 26 innings: Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Braves in 1920.