The Catbird Seat

Almanac Edition · every May 18 at once · from the makers of Tearing Up the Pea Patch

MAY 18 · 1,271 GAMES ON THE RECORD · 1871–2025

On this date in 1872, PH1 beat CL1 31–7.

The Committee has looked at all 1,271 major-league games played on May 18, from 1871 to 2025, and this is the one that does not behave.

Also on this date

1872-05-18	CL1 at PH1	7–31	9.0
2016-05-18	The Cubs at Milwaukee	2–1	13.0	300 min
1872-05-18	CL1 at PH1	7–31	9.0	by 24
1997-05-18	Baltimore at Seattle	8–7	9.0	57,432 paid

Unfair afternoons — won while out-hit

1972-05-18	Houston at the Dodgers	4–3	11.0	hits 4-15
1925-05-18	St. Louis at Philadelphia	10–9	11.0	hits 15-22
2008-05-18	Toronto at Philadelphia	6–5	9.0	hits 6-13

The Mirror Game — a line score this date shares with another day

1901-05-18	The Cubs at Philadelphia	0–4	8.5	000000000 / 00030010x
1903-05-18	Pittsburgh at the New York Giants	3–2	9.0	020010000 / 001100000
1905-05-18	The Philadelphia Athletics at the White Sox	3–0	9.0	010010010 / 000000000

By the decades

1870s 13 · 1880s 48 · 1890s 44 · 1900s 60 · 1910s 73 · 1920s 63 · 1930s 76 · 1940s 67 · 1950s 77 · 1960s 79 · 1970s 99 · 1980s 114 · 1990s 125 · 2000s 129 · 2010s 140 · 2020s 64

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THE CATBIRD SEAT is set by the Committee on Playing Rules of Tearing Up the Pea Patch, a Macguffin Co. game, Commissioner F. McCoy presiding. Almanac editions are compiled from the record by the Committee’s engine and read by no one before you; a surprising fact in them is a lead, not a verdict. The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at www.retrosheet.org. Wire service (RSS)