How Long Are Chicago White Sox 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 Chicago White Sox game is, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below, we will take a look at how long a White Sox game is and what you can expect when you go to a White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Attending a Chicago White Sox game? Find out what to wear to Guaranteed Rate Field!

Things to do Around Guaranteed Rate Field

Let’s be honest, in the heart of the Chicago, there are a plethora of options and things to do both before and after a White Sox game.  Whether you’re getting to Guaranteed Rate Field by foot, taxi, or the subway, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.

• The Art Institute of Chicago – the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago’s Grant Park and was founded in 1879.  It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world and is recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity amongst visitors.  And with nearly 300,000 permanent works, the museum receives over 1.5 million visitors per year.

• Millennium Park – Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago.  Operated by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the park is a prominent civic center near the city’s Lake Michigan shoreline and covers nearly 24.5-acres.

• Fox in a Box Chicago – if you’re looking to do some fun, family-friendly activities before heading over to the game, we highly recommend the Fox in a Box Chicago.  A premium escape room experience, you’ll be placed in a room and are given 60 minutes to find clues, solve a series of puzzles, and make your escape.

• Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken – while Chicago may be famous for their deep-dish pizza, Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken is definitely worth a visit.  The outside of the building features a collage of graffiti art, with the interior being simple and roomy.  Featuring some of the best spicy chicken sandwiches, Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken is an ideal spot for some late-night food after the game.

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 White Sox Games?

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

In referencing the above mentioned average game length for the Chicago White Sox, and utilizing data for the 2021 MLB season, we can see that the average length of a White Sox game was 3-hours 11-minutes and 26-seconds.