The Catbird Seat

Almanac Edition · every June 4 at once · from the makers of Tearing Up the Pea Patch

JUNE 4 · 1,322 GAMES ON THE RECORD · 1873–2025

On this date in 1971, Oakland beat the Washington Senators 5–3 in 21 innings. It took 5 hours and 19 minutes.

The Committee has looked at all 1,322 major-league games played on June 4, from 1873 to 2025, and this is the one that does not behave.

Also on this date

1911-06-04	The Boston Braves at Cincinnati	3–26	8.5
1988-06-04	The Yankees at Baltimore	6–7	13.8	346 min
1911-06-04	The Boston Braves at Cincinnati	3–26	8.5	by 23
1948-06-04	Detroit at the Yankees	4–7	8.5	64,261 paid

Unfair afternoons — won while out-hit

2002-06-04	Seattle at Oakland	2–3	9.7	hits 14-5
1946-06-04	The New York Giants at the Cubs	2–3	8.5	hits 15-7
1986-06-04	The Dodgers at Philadelphia	7–8	8.5	hits 15-7

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

1874-06-04	NY2 at PH2	0–2	9.0	000000000 / 200000000
1894-06-04	St. Louis at Philadelphia	3–2		000101001 / 200000000
1898-06-04	St. Louis at BLN	0–7	8.5	000000000 / 21000220x

By the decades

1870s 9 · 1880s 60 · 1890s 53 · 1900s 59 · 1910s 68 · 1920s 58 · 1930s 83 · 1940s 76 · 1950s 78 · 1960s 92 · 1970s 118 · 1980s 116 · 1990s 118 · 2000s 132 · 2010s 127 · 2020s 75

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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)