All you can really say is “Uff Da.”
With 32 degrees staring Twins fans in the face for today’s home opener at Target Field, we thought we’d scan the baseball history book (in this case, baseballreference.com) to check on the game day temperature for all of Minnesota’s home openers since major league baseball has been played here.
No need chronicling the Metrodome years. It may have been crappy outside, but it was always pleasant under the dome.
So here goes, year-by-year, Met Stadium first, followed by Target Field.
April 21, 1961: Washington @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 63 degrees (overcast).
April 14, 1962: Los Angeles @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 33 degrees.
April 9, 1963: Cleveland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 49 degrees.
April 22, 1964: Washington @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, Unknown.
April 12, 1965: New York @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 44 degrees (wet, overcast).
April 12, 1966: Kansas City @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 52 degrees.
April 14, 1967: Detroit @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, Unknown.
April 17, 1968: Washington @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 62 degrees.
April 18, 1969: California @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 59 degrees.
April 11, 1970: Oakland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 49 degrees.
April 6, 1971: Milwaukee @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 53 degrees.
April 23, 1972: Oakland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 44 degrees (rain).
April 13, 1973: Oakland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 51 degrees.
April 9, 1974: Chicago @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 53 degrees (sunny).
April 15, 1975: California @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 48 degrees.
April 13, 1976: Chicago @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 75 degrees (sunny).
April 15, 1977: Oakland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 77 degrees.
April 14, 1978: Seattle @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 50 degrees (sunny).
April 17, 1979: California @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 63 degrees.
April 22, 1980: California @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 89 degrees.
April 9, 1981: Oakland @ Minnesota — Met Stadium, 65 degrees.
April 12, 2010: Boston @ Minnesota — Target Field, 65 degrees.
April 8, 2011: Oakland @ Minnesota — Target Field, 53 degrees.
April 9, 2012: Los Angeles @ Minnesota — Target Field, 45 degrees.
Conclusions? Thanks for two “unknown” readings in ’64 and ’67 baseballreference.com — get with the program!
33 in 1962 could be eclipsed today.
Also: 89 degrees at Met Stadium in 1980? That explains Dave Goltz getting shelled after four innings.
And: 65 degrees for the last opener in 1981 and the first opener at Target Field in 2010? Global warming: ‘Yer out!
