My work here on The Rainout Blog has slowed considerably over the last couple of years – it’s almost come to a screeching halt – but during that time I have written a few weather-related pieces for the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). In some of those stories, weather plays a significant role on the game, such as the time when lightning struck Indians’ pitcher Ray Caldwell as he was standing on the mound ready to throw his next pitch. In other stories, weather plays a minor role, like the time in 1912 when both of the game’s umpires were forced to leave the contest because of injuries, one of which was caused by wet grass from rain the previous day.
Below is a list of those articles, most of which have been for SABR’s Games Project.
- April 6, 2015: ‘I thought we had a roof’: Marlins all wet after Opening Day rain delay gaffe
- September 11, 1999: ‘It’s Lima time, baby’: Astros ace wins 20th game of season
- August 13, 1975: Orioles’ Jim Palmer outlasts rain, Royals for 18th victory
- July 20, 1969: Yankees win an ordinary game on an ordinary day on Planet Earth
- June 15, 1969: ‘One big wet blanket’ for Seattle’s Pilots on Bat Day at Yankee Stadium
- June 16, 1941: DiMaggio ties Yankee record with 29-game hitting streak
- July 23, 1936: Saved by the radio: Red Sox win in Cleveland rain
- May 16, 1932: Reds’ Lucas and rainstorm soak McGraw’s Giants
- August 11, 1929: Babe Ruth hits 500th career home run
- April 18, 1929: Babe Ruth celebrates ‘honeymoon’ with a home run
- April 18, 1929: Rain delays Opening Day; Robins grounded in Boston hotel
- July 5, 1924: Babe Ruth hits the wall, and the wall wins
- June 10, 1920: ‘Sweet sandwiches, how it hailed’: Yankees win wild, wet game in Detroit
- August 24, 1919: Ray Caldwell struck by lightning, sparks Indians to win
- August 20, 1912: Umpires Brick and Brennan leave game bashed and bruised