Can Baseball End in a Tie? The Definitive Answer and More!
The short answer is: yes, baseball games can end in a tie, but it’s extremely rare, especially in Major League Baseball (MLB). While the goal of every game is to determine a winner, and MLB implements extra innings to prevent ties, certain circumstances, primarily related to suspended games, can result in a final score being recorded as a tie. Let’s delve into the specifics of why ties are unusual, what leads to them, and how they’re handled.
Why Ties Are Uncommon in MLB
Baseball is designed to avoid ties. After nine innings, if the score is level, the game enters extra innings. The teams continue playing until one team has scored more runs than the other at the end of an inning. This process theoretically has no limit, meaning a game could, in principle, go on indefinitely. The longest MLB game on record, between the Brooklyn Robins (now the Los Angeles Dodgers) and the Boston Braves in 1920, lasted 26 innings! While such marathon contests are rare, they highlight baseball’s inherent tie-breaking mechanism.
The Suspended Game Exception: When Ties Occur
The primary reason ties occur is due to suspended games. A game might be suspended for various reasons, most commonly due to inclement weather, such as heavy rain or darkness. Here’s the crucial part: if a game is suspended when the score is tied and that game is never resumed, it officially ends in a tie.
Several conditions must be met for a suspended game to be declared a tie:
- The game must be suspended: Play is halted due to unforeseen circumstances.
- The score must be tied at the time of suspension: One team isn’t leading.
- The game must not be resumed: This is the key factor. If the league decides the game is not important enough to make up (often later in the season when playoff berths are already decided), the tie stands.
Before 1972 tied games were disregarded for the purposes of calculation.
Modern MLB Rules and the Decreasing Likelihood of Ties
Modern MLB scheduling and rule changes have significantly reduced the chances of ties. Increased emphasis is placed on completing games, even if it means playing doubleheaders or scheduling makeup games later in the season. The implementation of the “international tiebreaker rule” in the minor leagues and, temporarily, in MLB, has also impacted the frequency of extra-inning games and potential ties. This rule places a runner on second base at the start of each extra inning, aiming to accelerate scoring and shorten games. While it may not make the game end in a tie, it helps resolve tied games much faster.
The Impact of Ties
Even though rare, ties do have an impact, albeit a minor one. Historically (before 1972), ties were disregarded from winning percentage calculations. Now, they count as half a win and half a loss for both teams. In extremely tight playoff races, even a single half-game can make a difference, although this is very uncommon.
FAQs About Ties in Baseball
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide further clarity on the subject of ties in baseball:
1. What happens if an MLB game is tied after 9 innings?
The game goes into extra innings. Play continues until one team leads after the completion of an inning.
2. Is there a limit to the number of extra innings in baseball?
No, there is no limit to the number of extra innings that can be played.
3. What is the longest MLB game ever played?
The longest MLB game lasted 26 innings, played between the Brooklyn Robins and the Boston Braves on May 1, 1920.
4. What is the “international tiebreaker rule” in baseball?
The international tiebreaker rule places a runner on second base at the start of each extra inning to encourage faster scoring. This is commonly used in the minor leagues, international competitions and has been temporarily used in MLB.
5. Do ties affect a team’s standings?
Yes, ties are counted as half a win and half a loss, affecting a team’s winning percentage.
6. Why are ties so rare in modern MLB?
Because MLB goes into extra innings. Teams continue playing until one team wins at the end of an inning. They can also be made up by scheduling doubleheaders.
7. Can rain cause a tie in baseball?
Yes, if a game is suspended due to rain and cannot be completed later, it can result in a tie if the score was tied when the game was halted.
8. What happens if a playoff game is tied?
Playoff games follow the same extra-inning rules as regular season games; they continue until a winner is determined. There will not be a game 163 to break a tie.
9. How were ties handled in baseball historically?
Prior to 1972, tied games were disregarded for the purposes of calculating winning percentage.
10. Is it possible for a game to be called a tie due to darkness?
Yes, it is possible in rare circumstances. Umpires can declare the game over if it starts raining hard at the end of the seventh inning.
11. Does a tie count as a win or loss for betting purposes?
Generally, a tie in a baseball game results in a push or no action for moneyline bets. The wagered amount is typically refunded.
12. If two teams are tied in the standings at the end of the season, how is the tie broken?
The first tiebreaker is the head-to-head record between the two teams. If the head-to-head record is tied, other tiebreakers, such as divisional record or record against common opponents, are used.
13. What is the longest 9-inning 1-0 game in MLB history?
The longest 1-0 win by the Rays took 3 hours and 28 minutes, the longest 9-inning, 1-0 game in MLB history according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
14. Does MLB use international tie breaker?
Major League Baseball’s embrace of the international tiebreaker is only guaranteed for this season.
15. Do umpires get paid more for extra innings?
Researchers find that during extra innings, baseball umpires make calls in a way that tends to end games sooner. This seems to be because umpires aren’t given additional money to work extra innings.
In Conclusion
While technically possible, ties in MLB are a rarity, primarily occurring due to suspended games that are never resumed. The league’s commitment to completing games, along with extra innings and potential rule changes like the international tiebreaker, makes ties an increasingly infrequent outcome. The fascinating strategy and mathematics behind baseball decisions can even be linked to learning in various educational settings, as demonstrated by the research at the Games Learning Society through GamesLearningSociety.org.
Baseball, in essence, is a game designed for a winner. But, as with any sport, unforeseen circumstances can sometimes lead to an unexpected and statistically insignificant tie.