Longest Games in World Series History

Game 3 of the 2025 World Series needed 18 innings to reach its conclusion, as the Dodgers managed to pull off a 6–5 win over the Blue Jays to take a 2–1 series lead. There were plenty of heroes in the marathon affair, including relief pitcher Will Klein, and of course, walk-off hero Freddie Freeman.
Freeman's solo shot in the bottom of the 18th inning sent Dodger Stadium into a frenzy and finally shut the door on what was one of the longest games in World Series history. It was an instant classic, and Freeman cemented his place in the history of the Fall Classic by becoming the first player ever to hit multiple walk-off home runs in the World Series.
So, just where does Monday night's game rank among the longest World Series games of all time?
Game 3 was one of the longest games in World Series history
Matchup | Year | Game Length | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | 2018 | 18 innings | Game 3 |
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | 2025 | 18 innings | Game 3 |
New York Mets vs. Kansas City Royals | 2015 | 14 innings | Game 1 |
Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros | 2005 | 14 innings | Game 3 |
Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Red Sox | 1916 | 14 innings | Game 2 |
New York Mets vs. New York Yankees | 2000 | 12 innings | Game 1 |
Only one other game in World Series history has needed 18 or more innings to conclude. Coincidentally, it also occurred during a Game 3 at Dodger Stadium and featured a walk-off home run, that time from Max Muncy. That game, which was in the 2018 World Series against the Red Sox, was won by L.A., 3–2.
Let's see how it compares to the longest games in terms of duration:
Matchup | Year | Game Length | Total Innings | Winner/Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Sox vs. Dodgers | 2018 | 7 hours, 20 minutes | 18 | Dodgers win 3–2 |
Blue Jays vs. Dodgers | 2025 | 6 hours, 39 minutes | 18 | Dodgers win 6–5 |
White Sox vs. Astros | 2005 | 5 hours, 41 minutes | 14 | White Sox win 7–5 |
Astros vs. Dodgers | 2017 | 5 hours, 17 minutes | 10 | Astros win 13–12 |
Royals vs. Mets | 2015 | 5 hours, 9 minutes | 14 | Royals win 5–4 |
Mets vs. Yankees | 2000 | 4 hours, 51 minutes | 12 | Yankees win 4–3 |
Strangely enough, the Dodgers have been involved in three of the longest World Series games in MLB history. Monday night's game was nothing short of a gauntlet. World Series and MLB records were smashed and each team's bullpen was running on fumes.
In the end, the Dodgers broke the heart of the Blue Jays and their fans thanks to Freeman's walk-off home run in the 18th inning. After two full games worth of baseball, the Dodgers took a 2–1 lead. And less than 24 hours after the end of that marathon of a ballgame, the teams will run another race in Tuesday's Game 4, with first pitch set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
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