How Long Are Baltimore Orioles Games?

Baseball may be thought of as one of the more complicated sports in America. However, the rules of the sport are generally quite simple and straightforward. Nonetheless, baseball, unlike other popular sports such as basketball, soccer, hockey, and football, has no set time limit.

This means that, theoretically, a baseball game could last as little as half an hour to as long as eight hours. However, generally, most baseball games start and end within a similar amount of time.

But if you are wondering just how long a Baltimore Orioles game is, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below, we will take a look at how long a Baltimore Orioles game is and what you can expect when you go to a Orioles game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Attending a Baltimore Orioles game? Find out what to wear to Oriole Park at Camden Yards!

Things to do Around Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Let’s be honest, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in the heart of Baltimore, has a plethora of options and things to do both before and after a Baltimore Orioles game.

And whether you’re getting to Orioles Park by foot, taxi, or the subway, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.

• Bromo Seltzer Tower – the Bromo Seltzer Tower has been a part of Baltimore’s skyline since 1911. The tower has provided a variety of artists, writers, jewelers, and architects a space within to create, exhibit, interact with, and sell to the public. Gallery spaces showcase local and regional artists through free exhibitions, receptions and other events such as music and spoken word performances. Definitely a great spot to stop by when visiting Baltimore to experience some of the city’s more historic buildings.

• Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum – what better place to visit in Baltimore as a baseball fan then the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum? Located at 216 Emory Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230, the museum is a short-distance from Orioles Park and features the birthplace of the late, great Babe Ruth and some personal mementos and items he amassed throughout his life.

• Inner Harbor – no visit to Baltimore is really complete without a trip to the Inner Harbor. Featuring majestic boardwalk views and a plethora of food, drink, and entertainment options, you’ll be able to lose countless hours before or after the Orioles game taking in the sights and eating some of the best foods in the state.

• American Visionary Art Museum – the American Visionary Art Museum is one of the best and most atypical museums in the country. Featuring displays of outsider art or raw art, the museum is jarring, poignant, fresh, and unashamedly true to itself. A must see and absolute gem of a museum, we always find time to make it to the American Visionary Art Museum whenever we’re in the Baltimore area.

How Many Innings Are in a Baseball Game?

Unlike basketball, football, soccer, or hockey, which are governed by individual time limits by quarter, half, or periods, baseball is divided into innings. And, in order for an inning to be completed, there must be six total outs with each team being afforded three outs before the end of an inning half.

The completion of an inning is determined when six total outs have been completed against both teams combined.

However, there are a few different ways a team can accrue an out against the opposing team.

• A batter strikes out, wherein they attempt to hit the ball but are unable to, in three separate chances
• The batter flies out, wherein they strike the ball but it is caught before landing on the field
• The batter is tagged out, wherein they are touched by an opponent who has the ball in hand and while they are not safely standing on a base

In terms of innings played, it is dependent on the level of play and individual league to determine the total number of innings. However, below’s table, speaks to the general number of innings you can expect per baseball game.

League Level	Number of Innings	Average Time
MLB	9	3 hours
Minor League	9	3 hours
College Baseball Games	9 or 7	3 hours
High School Baseball Games	7	2 hours
Youth Baseball Games	5 or 6	1-1.5 hours

Why do Baseball Games Take So Long?

While there is no official time limit in a baseball or MLB game, the MLB has steps in recent years to shorten the overall length of their games. In addition, the MLB has instituted rules to quicken the pace of the game, including MLB Rule 8.04, which states:

“When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call ‘Ball.’ The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire.”

However, many umpires do not enforce this rule and allow pitchers to take as much time as they need between pitches.

Below, we’ve listed a few additional reasons why MLB games take so long.

• Time between pitches – perhaps the greatest reason why MLB games take so long is that pitchers take, on average, 40-seconds between pitches. And with 146 pitches thrown per game, these seconds can add up quickly

• Errors in baseball – when an error occurs, that is when a fielder misplays the ball, it adds more time to the one play and delays the completion of the game.

• Umpire reviews – similarly, the MLB utilizes instant replay reviews to allow for league officials to review certain types of plays in order to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the umpires on the field. These reviews take several minutes and take away from the time spent on the game.

• Pitcher warmups – in addition, when taking their position at the beginning of an inning or when relieving another pitcher, pitchers are permitted to throw as many warmup pitches as they want within the countdown parameters set forth by Major League Baseball.

• Commercials – similarly, the MLB and its network broadcasters have begun to implement more commercial breaks between innings. These commercial breaks add several minutes to the game between innings and lengthen the overall time that a game is played.

How Long Are Orioles Games?

While baseball technically has no time limit, each team tends to play at their own pace and style. And for the Baltimore Orioles, the average game length ranges from 2.5 hours to over 4 hours. However, looking at the average, most Orioles games take just over 3-hours to complete.

In referencing the above mentioned average game length for the Baltimore Orioles, and utilizing data for the 2021 MLB season, we can see that the average length of a Orioles game was 3-hours 6-minutes and 5-seconds.