What is a rubber match (in baseball)?

Question

In the recent subway series New York Mets against the New York Yankees the last game on Sunday night was called a rubber match...What are they talking about, the pitcher's rubber on the mound? I can't get anyone who knows the answer...Many thanks!

Answer 1

The "rubber match" refers to the match that will decide who wins the series. In this case, the Mets and Yanks has split the first two, so the final game would be the rubber match.

This is from Dickson's Baseball Dictionary:

"The last and deciding game of a series when the previous games have been split; e.g., the seventh game of the World Series." This tie-breaking sense of "rubber" apparently originated in the pulse-pounding English game of "bowls," or lawn bowling."

I hope that helps.

Answer 2

If the two teams are tied after playing some games, the rubber match is the final game and will break the tire in that series. For example, in a three game series between the Braves and the Mets, if both have won one game, then the third game would be called the rubber game of the series. Whoever won that game would be credited with winning the series.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

It is the final game of a series when it is tied at 1 game each or 2 games each. The last game is called the rubber match when a series is tied.

Answer 4

RUBBER MATCH - "A 'rubber match' or 'rubber game' or simply 'rubber' in any sport means a deciding contest between two tied opponents. The term dates back to the late 16th century but no one seems certain of its etymology or in what sport it originated. The expression was not used in card games until the mid 18th century and the earliest recorded use of it appears to be a 1599 reference, cited in the 'Oxford English Dictionary,' to the game of bowls. The word 'rubber' in the term seems to derive from a word of unknown origin, not the resilient substance called 'rubber' or the verb 'to rub.'" From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson

Answer 5

Lets say it is a series of 3 games. The third one would be the rubber game. Its basically the final game in a series. I dont think they have to be tied but they usually are.

Answer 6

So much technical and dictionary descriptions out here today.DANG! Yes it is a tie-breaker but whenever I have heard the term 'rubber match" it is a competition between pitching.It is a pitcher's dual.

Answer 7

The Tie-Breaker Game.

Answer 8

a rubber match in any sport is simply a tie breaker game