World Series Games in Recent History in Which Weather Played an Important Role

Paul Dorian

Overview

The World Series begins on Friday night, October 25^th, in Los Angeles, California between the LA Dodgers and the New York Yankees. The weather will likely not be much of a factor for Games 1 and 2 with dry and warm conditions expected in southern California and daytime highs not far from 80 degrees. The World Series could end as late as November 2nd this year if all seven games are required to determine a champion.  With the extra playoff round added a few years ago, a November finish to the baseball season is going to be more common and the weather can certainly be impactful. In fact, the weather has had a big impact on several World Series games in recent history ranging from biting cold-to-extreme heat and with respect to snow and rain as well.

The hottest day of the month of October in Los Angeles during 2017 turned out to be Tuesday, the 24^th which is when the 2017 World Series got underway. The high temperature on that afternoon was 105 degrees and the game time temperature of 103 degrees was the hottest of any World Series game in recent history.

Notable examples of World Series games in recent history in which weather played an important role

1. 2017 Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers

The hottest World Series game of recent history took place in Los Angeles, California on October 24^th in 2017. In that World Series, Game 1 between the Houston Astros and LA Dodgers featured a game-time temperature of 103 degrees. That first game was won by the Dodgers by the score of 3-1 with all runs knocked in by the three home runs that were hit by both teams.  Houston went on to win the 2017 World Series in seven games, but no other game was as hot as Game 1 which featured triple-digit heat. In fact, by the time the Series returned to Los Angeles for games 6 and 7, game time temperatures were in the much more comfortable upper 60’s.

Weather maps are shown here from the night of October 28th in 2008 which was the day after the rained-shortened World Series game in Philly and the day before it resumed.  On this “in-between” day, very cold air surged into the Philly metro region on the backside of a strong coastal storm and several inches of early season snow accumulated in some suburban locations. Maps courtesy 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 game in recent history with respect to overall weather conditions was Game 5 of the 2008 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays. That game began on October 27^th in 2008 with a starting time temperature of 47 degrees and rain was falling. The rain intensified as the game progressed and was ultimately suspended in the 6th inning – the only World Series game ever to be suspended. The game could not be resumed on the next day as a powerful early season nor’easter continued to pound away on the Philadelphia metro region with a cold, steady rain and even several inches of snow fell in nearby Bucks County. Finally, two days after the game began, Game 5 resumed on a cold night in Philly with first-pitch temperatures at 44 degrees along with a gusty northwest wind on the back side of a departing coastal storm and the Phillies went on to clinch their second World Series title ever. 

Weather maps are shown here from the night of October 22^nd in 1997 which featured Game 4 of the World Series played in Cleveland, Ohio. An unusually strong upper-level trough of low pressure was positioned just to the north of the Great Lakes (upper, left) and contributed to very cold conditions for Game 4 with snow flurries throughout the contest. Maps courtesy 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

In perhaps the coldest World Series games ever – and the records are sketchy pre-1970’s as Major League Baseball did not track weather records – one of the most memorable contests was Game 4 of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland, Ohio between the Indians (now Guardians) and the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. The first two games of that World Series were played in Miami, Florida where temperatures were in the high 80’s. The games then shifted to Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and 5 and the weather was dramatically different than in Florida.  Indeed, the first-pitch temperature for Game 4 on October 22^nd, 1997, which was won by Cleveland was 35 degrees and a wind chill in the teens. In fact, snow flurries were falling at the onset of Game 4 and continued throughout the contest and ice patches formed in some areas on the infield. The Florida Marlins eventually won the 1997 World Series with an extra-inning Game 7 victory played in balmy Miami, Florida (game time temperature of 80 degrees).

Weather maps are shown here from the evening of October 10^th, 1979 which was the day the World Series began in Baltimore, Maryland between the Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Low pressure along the Mid-Atlantic coastline not only generated some rainfall for Game 1, but it funneled in very chilly air from the north as well and the combination of the cold and wet conditions played a role in the overall sloppy performance. Maps courtesy 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 was the first game of the 1979 World Series in Baltimore, Maryland between the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. This game took place on October 10th, 1979, with first-pitch temperatures right around the 40-degree mark along with a steady, chilly rainfall which no doubt factored into the six total errors, three committed by each team. In fact, Game 1 which was won by Baltimore was originally scheduled for Tuesday, October 9th, but was postponed due to a wintry mix of rain and snow. Back in those days, the World Series began earlier in the month of October compared to today, but that didn’t prevent very cold weather from impacting the beginning of this Fall Classic. The Pirates ended up winning the 1979 World Series in 7 games by winning three games in a row after trailing in the series three games to one.

One final note, the last time the Dodgers and Yankees faced off in the World Series was at the end of the “strike-interrupted” season of 1981. The Dodgers won the Fall Classic that year – 4 games to 2 – with Fernando Valenzuela, Ron Cey, Steve Yeager, and Pedro Guerrero leading the way and Tommy Lasorda at the helm.

Meteorologist Paul Dorian
Arcfield
arcfieldweather.com

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