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Baltimore Orioles History: Epic 1954 Game Sets Two AL Records

By Kristen Bentley

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: A general view of a cap and glove belonging to a Baltimore Orioles player sitting on the steps of the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 10, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 10: A general view of a cap and glove belonging to a Baltimore Orioles player sitting on the steps of the dugout against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park on August 10, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles had their first season in 1954, finishing the season with disappointing, but appropriate 54 wins.

As the Baltimore Orioles were establishing themselves in their new home in the American League, they had a tough win on June 23, 1954 that set a pair of records: time and players used.

On this day in 1954, the Orioles faced the Red Sox in front of over 24,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. The night game went into extra innings and ended up lasting nearly five hours. At 4:58, it set the record for the longest game in the AL.

Current Records

The current record for the longest single game in MLB history is in the AL and was played on May 8, 1964. The 25-inning game between the White Sox and Brewers lasted 8:06.

This wasn’t the only record the Orioles and Red Sox set in the AL that night. The combined teams used 42 players. The record has been broken a handful of times, and the current one belongs to a 2019 game between the Giants and Rockies on September 24. The two teams combined to use 57 players, with a combined 25 pitchers. This only could have happened with the September call-ups that allows teams to have a full 40-man roster. That game went 16 innings and the Rockies won 8-5 thanks to a three-run home run by Charlie Blackmon.

More from Orioles History

Back to 1954

In 1954, MLB teams used the 25-man roster on the field, with a 40-man roster holding reserves in the minor leagues. So, in this game, there were 25 men in the dugout for each team. By the time the game was over in the 17th inning, only 8 men remained on the bench. Fortunately for the O’s, the team had the June 24 off and played at home on the 25th, so everyone had an opportunity to rest.

It is unusual to see so many players used in a game back then, as complete games were common for pitchers. Making pitching changes for a specific batter-pitcher match up was uncommon. And, the DH did not exist in 1954. The Orioles used five pitchers, with only Lou Kretlow pitching less than one inning. Kretlow pitched in the eighth after the starter, Joe Coleman, gave up a home run and a walk. Kretlow lasted one out after a strikeout and a walk. The Orioles were up 4-2 to begin the game, and the manager Jimmy Dykes clearly wanted the win.

The Red Sox used six pitchers, and their starter Frank Sullivan didn’t even get an out in the first before being yanked after giving up two earned runs.

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The Orioles won that game 8-7 after the team loaded the bases and first-baseman Dick Kryhoski hit a fielder’s choice that scored Jim Brideweser who hit a pinch-hit single to lead off the bottom of the 17th.

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