Twenty-Nine Innings at Al Lang Stadium

On June 14, 1966, Al Lang Stadium hosted one of the most remarkable games in professional baseball history. The Florida State League matchup between the St. Petersburg Cardinals and the Miami Marlins stretched an astonishing 29 innings, setting a record for the longest continuously played game in organized baseball.

The game began at 7:30 p.m. before a crowd of 740 fans. After nine innings, the score remained tied. Both teams scored in the 11th inning, then pitchers and defenders took over. For the next 17 innings, neither team crossed home plate.

As the game pushed past midnight, fans settled in for a marathon few could have imagined. After 25 innings, umpires announced the contest would not continue beyond 30 innings, prompting the remaining spectators to boo and chant, “We want more.” By the final inning, only about 150 fans remained, joined by curious late-night visitors drawn by the stadium lights.

The game finally ended at 2:29 a.m. when St. Petersburg’s Mike Herbert scored the winning run in the 29th inning. Adding to the story, the Cardinals were managed by future Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson (pictured), years before his World Series success with Cincinnati and Detroit.