I was watching the evening news last night here in Hampton Roads and there was an interesting weather term tossed out. Meteorological Summer, according to the weatherman, was about to come to a close at the end of August. We all know, or for those who don’t know, summer (on the average calendar) officially ends in late September. This year, summer officially ends on September 22nd. A lot of folks deem Labor Day Weekend to be the end of summer. So, I got to thinking…how does the baseball experience calendar of professional baseball, namely Minor and Major League Baseball, align with the meteorological seasonal lineup? Well, here’s a hint. It’s not even close…

The meteorological Winter months of December, January, and February are spot on. Freezing cold temperatures for most of us, snow, sleet, hazardous winds blowing white stuff all over the roads. For the outdoor recreation fans out there that like snow, skiing, snowboarding, and mountain tops – all the power to you. You wear layers upon layers, two pairs of gloves, extra socks, wool hats, snowpants – UGH, it is endless dressing for grocery shopping, let alone going for a walk with the dogs. For many, it’s a miserable, cold time of year weather wise with a lot of indoor time in front of the fire or heating element.

Counter that with the Baseball Experience Calendar for professional baseball players. Their winter months start roughly in late October and run until about late January/early February. Once their professional team is out of the postseason season and when their season ends, many take off for warmer weather south and west. With professionally (MLB) affiliated leagues in California, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico just to name a few players, fans, and coaches can head south or west and work on their game soaking in the sunshine of the Caribbean and Southern California. Sounds pretty good to me!!!

The meteorological Spring runs a 3 month span of March, April, and May. Fitting, since you have a gradual warmup nationally, flowers begin to bloom, there is still some chilly temperatures, less snow and more rain. Winter jackets are replaced with raincoats and shovels are replaced with umbrellas. Grass is starting to grow, don’t you just love that smell of fresh cut grass! Again, spot on for the type of weather that is typically referred to as Spring like.

For baseball, there is roughly 1 to 2 months of Spring, tops. It even has a name – Spring Training. It spans February and March. Pitchers and catchers, and up and coming, rehabilitating position players, can begin to report in February to their respective Spring Training complexes – Florida or Arizona based. Baseball games are played, fans attend games, local communities in Florida and Arizona get a huge economic boost, and everyone is psyched that the regular season is just around the corner.

Okay, let’s talk about the season we are in now, well for the next 24 hours or so. Meteorological summer, which spans the warmest months of the year for most of us – June, July, and August. Vacation plans are made, class reunions are attended, weddings are announced and celebrated and rejoiced, beaches are packed, kids are out of school, and playing hooky from work to play golf reaches epic heights. It is hot, it is humid, it is tropical, it is comfortable to walk around in shorts and a T-shirt. It is ice cream weather, it is my favorite time of year. Nothing beats summers by the beach with friends, family, dogs, and loved ones.

Here is where the baseball calendar goes a bit haywire. The Boys of Summer, as they often referred to as, aka professional baseball players start playing meaningful, regular season games in late March and do not finish until late September/early October. They play in the snow in March in Denver and Cleveland. They play in the freezing rain in April in Boston and New York. They play in the heat and humidity of June, July, and August in major cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. Games are not called because of heat and humidity. Fans show up and are advised of the weather conditions and should dress accordingly. Extreme weather like thunderstorms, driving rain, and snow will of course delay or suspend games. But, for nearly 7 months out of 12, Minor and Major League baseball games will be played. Take that meteorological summer lovers!!! You have 3 months, we have 7.

Ok, one more season to go. Meteorological fall spans those amazing months of September, October, and November. There is a crisp feeling in the air. You pad your daily coffee intake by a cup or two. Or perhaps an afternoon tea to take the chill out. Sweaters, sweatshirts, vests are taken out of storage and are adorned at soccer, football, and lacrosse games from high schools to local university fields. You visit a farmers market or two with your significant other, keeping one eye on her choice of scented candle and one eye on the Notre Dame football game vs USC. Halloween decorations go up, then down. Thanksgiving plans are made and the holiday season is just filled with happiness, joy, and checking flights to make sure your in-laws will fly out tomorrow am. What a joyous time of year.

Baseball’s Fall has one month – October. It commences at the end of the regular season, through a grueling single elimination round of playoffs, and culminates with the Fall Classic. If your favorite MLB team is playing in October, well guess what, you are one step closer to that coveted World Series Championship. Every game matters, heck every pitch matters in every contest in Fall. Baseball’s fall is one month of surprises, sudden heroes, amazing plays, close calls, home runs hit, home runs robbed, and in the end one last out to make 30 men jump up and down on the mound like 5 year olds. Baseball has one fall month and it packs a lifetime’s worth of excitement into those wonderful 30 days.

So, there you have it. Meteorological seasons actually make perfect sense and mirror the climate their seasons are mostly known for. Winter is cold. Spring is rainy. Summer is hot. Fall is sweatshirt weather. The baseball calendar is a bit more purpose based. Winter is Winter League baseball leagues in the Caribbean and California after the MILB and MLB regular seasons end, and your team does not make the postseason. Spring is, well, Spring Training in Arizona and Florida, so let’s get warmed up, stretched out, and hit the ground running for the upcoming regular season grind. Summer is 7 months of games, travel, trades, various weather conditions, and the best 7 months of the year, every year. Fall is one month, October, as teams vie for the coveted World Series Championship. As of tonight, we have one more day of meteorological summer and at least one month of baseball experience calendar. So, I declare, go out and enjoy it with a BBQ, trip to the beach, trip to the baseball park, and mostly let’s be safe and watch out for others!