In which World Series games in recent history has weather played a big role — are you surprised?

The hottest day in October in Los Angeles in 2017 is Tuesday the 24th^th That was when the 2017 World Series began. The highest temperature that afternoon was 105 degrees, and the temperature during the game was 103 degrees, the hottest in the World Series in recent years.

Famous World Series examples in recent history of weather playing a big role

1. 2017 Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The most popular World Series game in recent history takes place on October 24 in Los Angeles, California^th In 2017, Game 1 between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers in that World Series was 103 degrees. The Dodgers won Game 1 by a score of 3-1, with both teams hitting three home runs and scoring all the runs. Houston won the 2017 World Series in seven games, but no other game was as intense as Game 1, which had triple-digit heat. In fact, by the time the series returned to Los Angeles for Games 6 and 7, game temperatures had reached a much more comfortable 60-plus degrees.

Shown here is a weather map from the evening of October 28, 2008, the day after the rain-shortened World Series in Philadelphia and the day before the game resumed. During this “in-between” day, very cold air poured into the Philadelphia metropolitan area under the influence of a severe coastal storm, dumping several inches of snow in some suburban areas. Map provided by Penn State eWall (surface – upper right, 500 mb – upper left, 700 mb – lower left, 850 mb – lower right).

2. 2008 Philadelphia Phillies vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Perhaps the most memorable World Series in recent history in terms of overall weather conditions was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. That game starts on October 27^th In 2008, it started with 47 degrees and rain. As the game went on, the rain increased, eventually halting the game in the sixth inning—the only game ever to be halted in the World Series. Play could not resume the next day as a strong early-season nor'easter continued to batter the Philadelphia metro area, bringing persistent wintry rain and even several inches of snow to nearby Bucks County. Finally, two days after the start of the game, Game 5 resumed on a cold night in Philadelphia. The temperature in the first game was as high as 44 degrees, with a gusty northwest wind on the back of the departing coastal storm, and the Phillies finally won the game. Two-game World Series champion.

Shown here is a weather map for the night of October 22^ND In 1997, Game 4 of the World Series was played in Cleveland, Ohio. An unusually strong upper-level trough located north of the Great Lakes (above, left) resulted in very cold weather for Game 4, with snow showers throughout the game. Map provided by Penn State eWall (surface – upper right, 500 mb – upper left, 700 mb – lower left, 850 mb – lower right).

3. 1997 Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins

Perhaps the coldest World Series ever played — records before the 1970s are sketchy because Major League Baseball didn’t track weather records — one of the most memorable was Game 1 of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland, Ohio Four games between the Indians (now the Guardians) and the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. The first two games of the World Series were played in Miami, Florida, where temperatures reached over 80 degrees. The game then moved to Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and 5 and the weather was very different from Florida. In fact, the first temperature of Game 4 on October 22^NDIn 1997, when Cleveland won, the temperature was 35 degrees and the wind chill was ten degrees. In fact, snow started falling early in Game 4 and continued throughout the game, with ice forming in some areas of the infield. The Florida Marlins won the 1997 World Series by winning Game 7 in overtime in warm Miami, Florida (it was 80 degrees at the time of the game).

Shown here is a weather map for the evening of October 10^thThe 1979 World Series began in Baltimore, Maryland, between the Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Low pressure along the mid-Atlantic coastline not only brought some rain for the first race, but also brought in very cold air from the north, and the combination of cold and wet conditions played a role in an overall poor performance. Map provided by Penn State eWall (surface – upper right, 500 mb – upper left, 700 mb – lower left, 850 mb – lower right).

4. 1979 Baltimore Orioles vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The second coldest game in recent history is Game 1 of the 1979 World Series in Baltimore, Maryland, between the Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game was played on October 10, 1979, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees in the first period, along with persistent cold rain, which undoubtedly contributed to a total of six turnovers, three by each team. In fact, the first game of Baltimore's win was originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 9, but was postponed due to winter rain and snow. Back then, the World Series started earlier in October than it does today, but that didn't stop very cold weather from affecting the start of the Fall Classic. In 1979, the Pirates won three straight games from a three-to-one series deficit to win the championship in seven games.

As a final note, the Dodgers and Yankees last faced off in the World Series at the end of the 1981 “strike-interrupted” season. The Fall Classic features Ron Cey, Steve Yeager and Pedro Guerrero, with Tommy Lasorda at the helm.

Meteorologist Paul Dorrian
Uckfield
arcfieldweather.com

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