On May 8, 1984, the Brewers and White Sox started what seemed like an ordinary game. Eight hours and six minutes later it was the early morning hours of May 9, and Harold Baines hit a walkoff home run to give the White Sox a 7-6, 25 inning victory. It was the longest game in American League history in terms of both innings and time.
Here's the box score, if you're never seen it. Some numbers that jump out at me:
- The Brewers scored two runs in the ninth and three runs in the 21st to take the lead, but allowed the White Sox to tie the game on both occasions.
- Cecil Cooper became the only Brewer ever to accumulate eleven official at bats in a game. He had two hits and scored a run.
- Despite covering 24.1 innings, the Brewers used just six pitchers. Don Sutton (7), Tom Tellman (3.1), Rick Waits (3.2) and Chuck Porter (7.1) combined to cover 21.1 of them.
Later the same day, Prince Fielder was born. He turns 27 today.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, we'd also like to wish a happy birthday today to:
- 1984-85 Brewer Doug Loman, who turns 53.
- 1976-77 Brewer Dan Thomas, who would have turned 60.
- Milwaukee native Gus Krock, who would have turned 145. Krock played three major league seasons between 1888-90 with the Chicago White Stockings and two other teams.