Doubleheader (baseball) facts for kids

In baseball, a doubleheader is when two games are played by the same two teams on the same day. Think of it like getting two games for the price of one! This usually happens because an earlier game had to be stopped or moved due to bad weather, like heavy rain or snow.

Why Doubleheaders Happen

Doubleheaders are often scheduled to make up for a game that was postponed. If a game can't be played on its original date because of things like heavy rain, snow, or even a power outage, it needs to be rescheduled. Playing two games on the same day is a way to catch up on the schedule quickly, especially when teams don't have many free days left.

Making Up Games

The most common reason for a doubleheader is a "makeup game." Imagine a game is supposed to be played on a Tuesday, but a big storm hits and the field becomes unplayable. Instead of finding a whole new day later in the season, the league might decide to play two games on a future date, like a Saturday or Sunday, when both teams are already scheduled to be in the same city.

Scheduling Reasons

Sometimes, doubleheaders are planned in advance, though this is less common today. In the past, teams might schedule them to save on travel costs or to attract more fans with a full day of baseball. Today, with busy schedules and television broadcasts, most doubleheaders are only played when absolutely necessary.

How Doubleheaders Work

When a doubleheader is played, the two games are usually played back-to-back. There's a short break between the first game and the second, often about 30 to 45 minutes. This break gives the players a chance to rest and the field crew time to prepare the stadium for the next game.

One Ticket, Two Games

For most doubleheaders, especially those scheduled to make up a postponed game, fans can watch both games with just one ticket. This is often called a "traditional doubleheader." It's a great deal for fans who love baseball, as they get to see twice the action!

Day-Night Doubleheaders

Sometimes, you might hear about a "day-night doubleheader." This is a bit different. It means two games are played on the same day by the same teams, but there's a longer break in between, and fans usually need a separate ticket for each game. These are less common and are often planned for specific reasons, like a special event or if a team needs to play two games quickly before traveling.

Doubleheaders Today

Doubleheaders are not as common as they used to be in the early days of baseball. Modern baseball schedules are very tight, with teams traveling a lot and games often being broadcast on television. Playing two games in one day can be very tiring for players, and it can also affect TV schedules. However, they are still an important part of the game, especially when bad weather forces changes to the schedule.

Images for kids

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  Advertisement for a baseball doubleheader played on July 28, 1925. The Chicago White Sox defeated the Washington Senators in both games.

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  Newspaper account in the Austin American-Statesman of the tripleheader played on October 2, 1920

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  Boxscore of the home-and-home doubleheader contest on September 7, 1903, as published in the New-York Tribune