"A 129-minute hockey game is the equivalent of a 19-inning baseball game, the likes of which cause oohing and ahing for decades if it happens in the postseason. That is, it would cause oohing ahing. The longest postseason game in baseball history went 18 innings."
--King Kaufman
Think quick and tell me everything you know about that 18-inning game. I immediately recognized it, though I didn't watch it (I suspect few people did). Without looking up the details, as I recall this game involved two teams that played each other in several post-season series over a 10-year span. It had two particular heroes, of whom one is now a national disgrace and the other a utility infielder in Arizona.
So would you say the longest game in post-season baseball history achieved anything close to "oohing and ahing for decades," as opposed to being a mostly forgotten curiosity three years later?
Posted by Matt Bruce at May 6, 2008 02:36 AMI watched at least the last 60% of the 18-inning game, mostly because once it got past a certain point, you couldn't not turn it off. It was a good game (though I forgot that Ausmus's HR wasn't the winner, but merely the OT forcer). It is hardly ever mentioned now.
And this: The longest game in NFL history lasted 82 minutes, 40 seconds. Double overtime. Football fans still genuflect to it 36 years later.
Really??? I would bet 90% of fans could tell you one thing about the game (including the notable date on which it occurred). I doubt any neutral observer has it in his Top 10 games of all time.
Posted by: Kubi at May 6, 2008 11:30 AMAnd if Kubi hadn't mentioned "notable date on which it occurred," I might have incorrectly claimed that the longest game in NFL history was that Colts-Giants "Greatest Game." (Notable date does give it away if you're familiar with the actual longest game, but I doubt more than 5% of neutral fans are.)
Posted by: me at May 6, 2008 11:54 AMI was with Hyph playing poker at his in-law's apartment in East Boston. When the game was over, there was a definite "Shit, they're still playing?" moment.
We stayed to watch the end, which didn't happen until soon after.
Posted by: Cooch at May 7, 2008 08:39 AM