The Biggest Blowouts in MLB History

It’s entertaining to watch a team be steamrolled every now and then.

Granted, the team being routed might enjoy it a little less. But an offensive showcase is certainly attention-grabbing, especially in a time where games are shorter than ever.

In June 2023, the Angels blazed through the Rockies in a 25-1 win, the largest margin of victory in over 15 years. And in this hitter-friendly era, we’ll probably be seeing more offensive explosions like these – but likely not to the tune of total lopsided wins.

We previously broke down baseball’s highest scoring games, but now let’s look back at the biggest blowouts in Major League Baseball history. 

It may come as a shock that it’s not always teams with historically terrible seasons, like the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, or Philadelphia Phillies, on the losing end. 

Biggest Blowouts in MLB History Texas Rangers 30, Baltimore Orioles 3 (Aug. 22, 2007)

The Rangers hold the record for biggest regular-season blowout in MLB history, routing the Orioles by a 24-run margin of victory. Ironically, Baltimore led by three after the third inning. But Texas began its run in a five-run fourth, where nine-spot Ramon Vasquez knocked out his first of two homers. The team added nine more in the sixth, courtesy of a grand slam, and followed up with a whopping 10 in the eighth – including yet another grand slam and Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s second knock of the game. And with the Rangers up 24-3 in the top of the ninth, Vazquez knocked out a three-run shot, ultimately bringing the team’s home run tally to six. Adding insult to injury for the O’s, they were forced to face Texas the same day in the second leg of a doubleheader – which they also lost.

(Among games with a 15+ run differential) Boston Red Sox 29, St. Louis Browns 4 (Jun. 8, 1950)

After scoring 20 runs against the Browns, the Red Sox left them shaking their heads once again by tallying up 29 the next day. Legendary left fielder Ted Williams notched two homers, as did first baseman Walt Dropo. And Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr went long three times from the eight spot, knocking in eight RBIs. Limiting the Browns to four runs, Chuck Stobbs pitched a complete game and helped the Red Sox set the record for most decisive MLB win for over 50 years.

Los Angeles Angels 25, Colorado Rockies 1 (Jun. 24, 2023)

In a 13-run third inning, the Angels smacked four home runs, including three no-out solo shots from Mike Trout, Brandon Drury and Matt Thaiss. Los Angeles followed up with eight more in the fourth, helped by nine-spot David Fletcher’s three-run shot, and added on a pair of runs more in the sixth and eighth. The Rockies managed to sneak in a run in the eighth, but it made a negligible dent in their 24-run deficit.

Cleveland 27, Boston Red Sox 3 (Jul. 7, 1923)

A few decades before dominating the Browns, the Red Sox found themselves on the opposite side of history. And they played some sloppy ball that game. Down 8-0 in the fourth, Lefty O’Doul entered – prior to his tenure as a remarkable hitter – and gave up 16 runs and eight walks in just three innings. Despite the run total, not a single long ball was hit in the game. Cleveland Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Joe Sewell had a handful of hits apiece, with the team managing to tally 24 against the struggling Red Sox pitching staff. And like Baltimore, Boston’s historical loss came during the first game of a doubleheader – in a series that Cleveland swept.

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