August 25, 1922. A date that sounds like ancient history, right? But if you were at Cubs Park that afternoon, you wouldn't have been watching a "stately" game of chess. You’d have been ducking for cover. This wasn't just a game; it was a localized weather event where the only forecast was flying leather.
When people ask what's the highest scoring baseball game in the history of the Major Leagues, the answer is a mind-numbing 49 runs.
Yes, 49. The Chicago Cubs beat the Philadelphia Phillies 26-23. To put that in perspective, that’s more points than your average NFL shootout. It’s a scoreline that looks like a typo in a newspaper, but it happened. And honestly? It almost didn't stop there.
The Day the Pitchers Disappeared
So, let's set the scene. It’s Chicago. It’s hot. The wind is probably howling out, because back then, Wrigley Field (then called Cubs Park) was already a hitter's paradise. But nobody—not the 7,000 fans in the stands or the guys in the dugouts—expected a 49-run explosion.
The Phillies actually started the game with a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Pretty normal, right? Then the Cubs decided they were tired of being polite. They dropped 10 runs in the bottom of the second. Ten.
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But they weren't done.
In the fourth inning, Chicago sent 19 batters to the plate and scored 14 runs. Imagine being a Phillies fan at that moment. You've just seen your team give up 24 runs in four innings. Most people would have headed for the exits and found the nearest tavern. At one point, the Cubs led 25-6. It was a blowout. It was a massacre.
And then, baseball happened.
The Phillies Refused to Quit
You have to give the 1922 Phillies credit for one thing: they were stubborn. They started chipping away. A few runs here, a few runs there. By the eighth inning, they put up an 8-run frame of their own. Suddenly, the score was 26-21.
Wait, what?
The Cubs, who had a nineteen-run lead, were suddenly sweating. In the ninth, the Phillies scored two more. They actually had the bases loaded with the winning run at the plate when the game finally ended. The final score settled at 26-23. The two teams combined for 51 hits. They walked 21 batters. They committed nine errors. It was basically a beer league softball game played by professionals.
What's the Highest Scoring Baseball Game Since the "Old Days"?
Modern baseball is different. We have relief specialists, 100-mph fastballs, and advanced scouting. You don't see 49 runs anymore. But we've come close to the "one-team" record.
On August 22, 2007, the Texas Rangers did something that felt impossible. They played the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of a doubleheader. The final score? Rangers 30, Orioles 3.
I remember watching the highlights of this. It was uncomfortable. The Rangers scored 10 runs in the eighth and another 6 in the ninth. They weren't even trying to run up the score; they were just hitting everything that moved. That 30-run mark is the "modern" (post-1900) record for most runs by a single team.
Interestingly, the all-time record for one team is 36. The Chicago Colts (who became the Cubs) beat the Louisville Colonels 36-7 back in 1897. Baseball in the 19th century was basically the Wild West.
Recent Fireworks You Might Remember
If you're looking for something from the 2020s, the Toronto Blue Jays decided to break the scoreboard in 2022. They traveled to Fenway Park and absolutely dismantled the Boston Red Sox 28-5.
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- The Highlight: An inside-the-park grand slam by Raimel Tapia because the Red Sox center fielder lost the ball in the twilight.
- The Damage: 28 runs on 29 hits.
- The Vibe: Pure, unadulterated chaos.
Then there was the 2020 game where the Atlanta Braves put up 29 runs against the Miami Marlins. Adam Duvall hit three homers in that game. It's funny how these things happen in clusters. One guy gets hot, the pitcher loses the strike zone, and suddenly the outfielders are just track stars chasing balls to the wall.
Why Do These High Scores Happen?
It’s usually a perfect storm of three things.
First, you need a "hitter's park." Places like the old Baker Bowl in Philadelphia or Coors Field in Denver. If the air is thin or the fences are short, pitchers are already starting with a disadvantage.
Second, the pitching has to be... well, bad. In the 1922 game, both starting pitchers were chased early. The bullpens were exhausted. Back then, managers didn't have a "Lefty Specialist" for the seventh inning. They just threw whoever was available out there and told them to keep throwing until their arm fell off.
Third, errors. You don't get to 49 runs with "clean" baseball. When a shortstop boots a routine grounder with the bases loaded, the floodgates open. In that 1922 Cubs-Phillies game, nearly half the runs were unearned.
The Absolute Craziest Score Ever (The Minor Leagues)
If we step outside the MLB for a second, the numbers get truly stupid. There is a record from June 8, 1869, that will never be broken. A team called the Buffalo Niagaras beat the Columbus Buckeyes.
The score was 209 to 10.
I'm not making that up. 209. They scored 58 runs in the eighth inning alone. Now, obviously, the rules were different, the equipment was essentially a rock wrapped in yarn, and the "pitcher" was basically a guy tossing meatballs for the hitters to smash. But still. Two hundred and nine. Imagine being the guy who had to write that box score.
How to Find These Record-Breaking Games
If you’re a stat nerd and want to track the next big blowout, keep an eye on a few specific scenarios.
- Watch the Weather: High heat and humidity make the ball fly.
- Check the Venue: If a game is at Coors Field or Great American Ball Park, the "Over" is always a safe bet.
- Look for Position Players Pitching: In the modern era, if a team is losing 12-2, they’ll often put a shortstop on the mound to save their bullpen. That’s when the 12-2 lead turns into a 25-2 lead real fast.
The 1922 record of 49 combined runs is likely safe forever. Pitchers are too good now, and managers are too quick to pull the plug when things go sideways. But honestly? Every time a game starts getting into the 15-10 range by the fifth inning, every baseball fan gets that little tingle of hope. We all want to see the scoreboard break.
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To see these historical stats for yourself, you can dig through the Baseball-Reference vaults or check out the SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) archives. They have the full box scores for that 1922 madness, including the fact that the Cubs' Hack Miller drove in six runs without even having a great season. Baseball is weird like that.
Next Steps for Stats Hunters
If you want to dive deeper into the weirdness of high-scoring baseball, start by looking up the "1979 Phillies-Cubs" game. It’s almost a mirror image of the 1922 game—same teams, same stadium, but this time the Phillies won 23-22 in 10 innings. It's widely considered the greatest slugfest of the modern era. After that, look up the "Rangers 30-run game" to see what a modern absolute blowout looks like on video. You can find the highlights on YouTube, and they are as surreal as you'd imagine.