The Longest Shutout Game in History

47 years ago to the day, the Houston Astros tested the loyalty of even the most hardcore baseball fan by playing 23 straight scoreless innings in a single game against the New York Mets. If you stayed for the entire duration of that game, you deserve a medal.

The game would go 0-0 for 23 innings. Unlike the American League, the National League did not have a curfew. Games were not suspended unless it was a weather related issue. Since the Astros played at the Astrodome at the time, that was not the case.

The game started at 7:31 P.M. & would not end six hours & six minutes later. The Mets starter was Tom Seaver and he would pitch ten scoreless innings before handing off the pitching duties to seven Met relievers. The Astros started Don Wilson who pitched nine scoreless before the bullpen finished the final 15 innings with four relievers.

The game finally ended when Mets shortstop let a grounder, hit by Astros third-basemen Bob Aspromonte, go through his legs to allow the winning run to score in the bottom the 24th. The home team Astros would get the 1-0 win.

It remains the longest shutout game in history & tied for third longest in innings played.