August 26, 1988 - That Was One Hot Ball Game!

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

Playing baseball in extreme heat is a recipe for potential health issues, but that's exactly what the Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers did on Aug. 26, 1988.

August 26, 1988

On Aug. 26, 1988, the Toronto Blue Jays took on the Texas Rangers amid intense heat, the hottest temperature ever experienced during a Major League Baseball game.

The summertime is synonymous with baseball, and as such, the searing heat that is often felt during those months also goes along with the sport.

An interesting fact is that the three hottest Major League Baseball (MLB) games occurred when the Texas Rangers were hosting. That is a recipe for not just potential health issues, but also restricting games to nighttime starts to avoid the heat.

The worst of those games happened on Aug. 26, 1988, when the Toronto Blue Jays came to Arlington, Texas for a night game. At the 7:39 p.m. (local time) opening pitch, the temperature was 43°C (109°F).


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On today’s podcast, Chris Mei recalls the temperatures, conditions and stadium atmosphere during the Aug. 26, 1988 game, the hottest ever daytime high during an MLB game.

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