Baseball is a sport that weaves tales of excitement, strategy, and suspense. As fans, we often find ourselves on the edge of our seats, eagerly anticipating the unexpected twists and turns that make each game a unique experience. It’s a sport where the outcome is never a foregone conclusion, and the journey through nine innings is a rollercoaster of emotions.
In this world of crackling bats, immaculate pitches, and sensational catches, we delve into a fascinating aspect of the game–the weird and crazy scoreboards that will surprise even the most fervent fans.
If interested in learning how to keep score in baseball, read: ‘How to Keep Score in Baseball‘.
These scoreboards, much like the sport itself, tell stories of peculiar moments, transforming the act of keeping score into an art canvas where surprises await at every turn.
Even the numbers on the scoreboard play their part in the grand theater of America’s beloved pastime. Let’s explore nine of these that I found oddly interesting, and am happy to share with fellow fans.
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1.
Most Runs Scored by One Team (Modern Era)
Texas Ranger vs Baltimore Orioles 3
[Aug. 22, 2007]
The modern-day record for most runs scored in a game by one team belongs to the Texas Rangers. This is actually the only time after 1900 that a team has scored a total of at least 30 runs.
2.
Matt Cain Perfect Game
Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants
[June 13, 2012]
Matt Cain was brilliant for the San Francisco Giants. I found this scoreboard interesting because his team scored five times, and the numbers are either one two or three. Also, Cain got great offensive support from his team, with 15 hits, and it looks so cool beside the 10, the number of runs the team scored.
3.
Most Runs Scored by One Team in One Inning (Modern Era)
Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
[June 18, 1953]
Have you ever seen such a large number for one inning on a scoreboard? This is the first time I’ve seen such a high score. The 17 is the record-breaking number accomplished by the Detroit tigers in the middle of the 1953 season in a game against the Boston Red Sox. They all occurred in the 7th inning.
4.
Done Drysdale Pitches in Most Lopsided Shutout Ever
[June 28th, 1969]
In the next-to-last pitching performance of his career, Don drives there shut out the Chicago cubs, his only shut out that here. In that game, the Dodgers scored an impressive 19 runs.
5.
Andy Hawkins No-Hits White Sox Yet Loses
[July 1, 1990]
One of the weirdest scoreboards you’ll ever see. The pitcher has a no-hitter, but loses the game. How often do you see a scoreboard where by the end of the game, the runs column is four, the hit column is zero, and that team has won?
6.
Milwaukee Brewers score in Every Inning vs. Atlanta Braves
[August 12, 2016]
18 scoring in every inning is a rarity. As a matter of fact, such an event has occurred much less frequently than a perfect game, and we know how rare those are. In a game in 2016, the Milwaukee Brewers score and every run they came up to bat against the Atlanta Braves. [This occurred for eight innings, as the Brewers were the home team.
7.
Longest World Series Ever in Time & Innings
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Boston Red Sox
[October 26, 2018]
46 players, including 18 pitchers, were used in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red sox. It was one for the ages and featured many thrilling moments. The scoreboard is sure a nice piece of eye candy.
8.
Most Total Runs Scored in a Game (Modern Era)
Chicago Cubs 26, Philadelphia Phillies 23
[Aug. 25, 1922]
The 2023 season witnessed an extraordinary match between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field In that game, a total of 49 runs were scored. Looking at the scoreboard you’ll hardly believe that such a game occurred.
9.
Colorado Rockies Score in Every Inning vs Chicago Cubs
[May 5, 1999]
In a game against the Cubs at Wrigley, Colorado Rockies scored in every inning they came up to bat. Unlike the Milwaukee Brewers, who did so for eight innings, the Rockies came up to bat nine times, as they were the visiting team. What’s amazing about this scoreboard is that the Rockies scored either one or two during each of the innings. The first four innings are ones and the last three are twos. Thr fifth, sixth, and seventh innings make up the numeric palindrome 121 (i.e. the number reads the same forwards and backwards). Also, in each of the first four innings, one run was scored; the last three innings, two runs each. It sort of [if the hit column of 18 is removed] looks like a Fibonacci sequence.
