Extreme heat can pose a danger to baseball players and fans. It’s also changing the physics of the game.

Chicago Tribune via Yahoo Sports ^ | July 25, 2025 | Kalen Lumpkins and Adriana Pérez

[Salman]

...

Extreme summer heat during baseball season is not only making games uncomfortably hot and sweaty for fans in the stands — it’s also posing a danger to the health of players and changing the physics of the sport.

Since 1970, human-made climate change has driven up average summer temperatures in Chicago by 2 degrees, according to the climate science nonprofit Climate Central. That lines up with an average increase of 2.8 degrees across 26 Major League Baseball home cities in the United States — except Los Angeles. The home of the Angels and Dodgers has had no measurable change in baseball season temperatures since 1970.

...

[Salman]

See what you Republicans did to baseball? { snicker }

It's front page news according to the Chicago Trib, but I have tagged it editorial because it is.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

So this is why the White Sox are in the basement this year.

[ClearCase_guy]

Since 1970, human-made climate change has driven up average summer temperatures in Chicago by 2 degrees

Step 1) Establish the guilty party: humans
Step 2) Figure out what they did. This time it's ... uhhhh ... it's ... oh, I know! We increased the temperature in Chicago by 2 degrees1 That's it!

[zeebee]

Since 1970, human-made climate change

Stopped reading right there

[BrexitBen]

Two women at the Chicago Tribune in desperate need of a story.

Sigh.

[Da Coyote]

Ah, today’s silly science bull Obamastuff.

[SecondAmendment]

No one can argue that human activity has raised the average summer temperatures in Chicago, or any other major city for that matter.

There is overwhelming scientific proof that concrete and asphalt absorb sunlight and re-radiate it as heat.

This is why airports should never be used for official meteorological measurements, since their temperature is artificially high due to the runways.

[shelterguy]

“””””We increased the temperature in Chicago by 2 degrees1 That’s it! “”””

I’ll play baseball if it is 90 degrees. But if it is 92 degrees then no way, Jose.

[DeplorablePaul]

More home runs when it’s hot? My experience has been that a golf ball doesn’t go as far in hot humid air. I lose at least a club distance.

[LouAvul]

not only making games uncomfortably hot and sweaty for fans in the stands — it’s also posing a danger to the health of players

Former little leaguer here. We played in what is known as "hot weather." Back then it was called "summer."

It follows Spring and has followed that pattern all my life. (Who writes this drivel? Are they stupid?)

[silent majority rising]

human-made climate change has driven up average summer temperatures in Chicago by 2 degrees? Stupid comment and it is editorial.

[7thson]

So did I.

[Jolla]

Yet they were wearing wool uniforms all year back in the day.

[woodbutcher1963]

Yes, the Red Sox have a much better ball park with all the modern conveniences available during its construction in 1912.

Not to mention the Wrigley family that also built the most modern facility just a couple years after Fenway.
Of course,then shortly after the Wrigley's spent so much cash building their spring training facility on the Santa Catalina Island in Los Angeles county. After all they owned the whole island.

[SaveFerris]

Calculate the Velocity V, Trajectory T where Gravity G, of course, is a constant. It's simple Physics.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Since 1970, human-made climate change has driven up average summer temperatures in Chicago by 2 degrees..."

So, even if this is true, Chicago teams are playing in conditions that are probably still cooler than those dealt with by the 1970s Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, etc.

And if true, just think how much money (and carbon!) northern teams can save by not having to go to FL, AZ, etc. for spring training!

[gundog]

Cotton uniforms....

[1Old Pro]

Chicago teams are playing in conditions that are probably still cooler than those dealt with by the 1970s Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, etc.

And back then starting pitchers could go 9 innings. Now 5 innings is a good outing.

[traderrob6]

Appears like the “fans” and “players” survived quite well in 1934 and thats without air conditioning coming to the games, going from the games and when they got home.