Doubleheader

The doubleheader is the set of two games of one team during a single day. These games may contemplate between the same two teams or the series with one home team. Their aim may be various: fun, educational purposes. The Chicago White Sox held 44 doubleheaders in the 1943 season.

There are a couple of doubleheader formats. The twi-night classic form supposes one game late afternoon, then a 20-minute break with the next game. At least one game is open to the spectators. However, the teams offer to attend both games with a single ticket. The fans can enjoy the cheerleading program between the games. It has the disadvantage – the second game risks interrupting due to weather or darkness issues. Most games start at 4.00 pm. The statistic shows attendance only after the second game.

Most camps in summer provide the classic format. Its principles remain the twi-night format. The exemption is that one game is held in the early afternoon (9 am) and the next game is about 2-3 pm. It had one severe minus. Any rain stopped the game and ruined the schedule. The umpires called the second games because the sun came down. Now, most locations have artificial light, so the only hint is the bad weather.

Day-night games are that playing in the early afternoon and late evening. This format is inconvenient for the viewers. They need to buy separate tickets to attend both games but are comfortable for teams if one of the games extends to the extra innings. These games have limits according to the CBA requirements.

Tripleheaders are quite rare in baseball history. Three games between two teams on the same day are exhaustive, so the current version of the Collective Bargaining Agreement prohibits it. The exemptions include the long break in season (like Covid-19) if one of the games continues after suspension or any other extreme occasion.

Sometimes the doubleheaders use the shorter length of the game – seven innings instead of nine. The reasons for that decision are different, but the primary is the reduction of the strain on the pitchers. Most statistics in these shortened games are counted as in standard games except the no-hitter rule which needs nine innings for calculation.