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Rain delay theater: What happens if it rains during the All-Star Game?

Patrick Roth | proth@wtop.com

July 17, 2018, 10:01 AM

The National Weather Service said the chance for isolated severe thunderstorms is greatest along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but rain is very possible in the D.C. area during the afternoon and early this evening. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
The National Weather Service said the chance for isolated severe thunderstorms is greatest along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but rain is very possible in the D.C. area during the afternoon and early this evening. That could mean there are some delays for the All-Star Game. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Courtesy National Weather Service
First the bad news: Thunderstorms are possible after 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The good news: They should be gone by the start of the All-Star Game. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Rain chances start to fall starting around 8 p.m., but the All-Star Game might be delayed slightly. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
There’s also the chance the game could start on time but face a delay because of rain. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Rains pour down on RFK Stadium on July 22, 1969 in Washington, forcing postponement of the All-Star game. (AP photo)
Rain was also a problem the last time D.C. hosted the All-Star Game in 1969. The game was supposed to be a night game on Tuesday, July 22, 1969, but had to be postponed because, well, the field looked like that.  (AP photo)
AP photo
“I don’t think we’re going to get this one in …” MLB had to postpone the ’69 All-Star Game at RFK Stadium and play it the next day on Wednesday, July 23. This was the first, and so far only time that the All-Star Game has been postponed because of rain. The postponement also meant the game was played during the day rather than at night, baseball-reference.com said that was the last time the All-Star Game was played during the day. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent shares his umbrella with friends, Tuesday, July 10, 1990 as a light rain fell at Chicago's Wrigley Field threatening the start of the 61st annual All-Star Game. (AP Photo/John Swart)
The last time there was a rain delay at an All-Star Game was in 1990 when Wrigley Field hosted the 61st annual All-Star Game. There was a delay that was a bit longer than an hour, but the game was eventually played and completed. It didn’t keep away then Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent seen here sharing his umbrella with friends. (AP Photo/John Swart)
AP Photo/John Swart
While grounds keepers spread dry dirt on Muddy Field in Shibe Park, on July 8, 1952 in Philadelphia, officiating umpires at all star game gather to decide on continuing or calling the game. The game was held up by continuous rain after five innings. (AP Photo)
Rain has also led to two All-Star Games being called during the game. The 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park in Philadelphia only lasted five innings before the game was called due to rain. It is the shortest All-Star Game ever played and was the first one to be called because of rain. In 1961, the All-Star Game at Fenway Park ended in a 1-1 tie after nine innings because of rain. In the photo above, ground keepers work to try and improve the field conditions in Shibe Park, on July 8, 1952 in Philadelphia, while umpires debated continuing or calling the game. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
(1/15)
The National Weather Service said the chance for isolated severe thunderstorms is greatest along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but rain is very possible in the D.C. area during the afternoon and early this evening. (Courtesy National Weather Service)
Rains pour down on RFK Stadium on July 22, 1969 in Washington, forcing postponement of the All-Star game. (AP photo)
Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent shares his umbrella with friends, Tuesday, July 10, 1990 as a light rain fell at Chicago's Wrigley Field threatening the start of the 61st annual All-Star Game. (AP Photo/John Swart)
While grounds keepers spread dry dirt on Muddy Field in Shibe Park, on July 8, 1952 in Philadelphia, officiating umpires at all star game gather to decide on continuing or calling the game. The game was held up by continuous rain after five innings. (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON — As D.C. gets ready to host its first MLB All-Star Game since 1969, a lot of people will have their eyes on the skies. Rain is in the forecast.

Storm Team 4 meteorologist Chuck Bell said there is an 80 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

That could, at the very least, threaten to push back the start of the All-Star Game.

The National Weather Service said the chance for isolated severe thunderstorms is greatest along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but rain is very possible in the D.C. area during the afternoon and early this evening. (Courtesy National Weather Service)

Of course a rain delay, or even a rainout, is not that uncommon in baseball.

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There’s a whole set of rules that have been around for a long time about what happens when a game is delayed, suspended or canceled. Before the game starts, the home team decides whether a game starts on time or is delayed.

After the game starts, it’s all up to the umpires, although MLB rules encourage the umpires to do everything they can to try and make sure the game is completed.

Of course, the All-Star Game isn’t just any other baseball game. It’s one of the biggest events of the season and a chance for MLB to showcase the very best players in the game.

But MLB is still subject to the whims of mother nature.

When D.C. last hosted the All-Star Game in 1969, it was supposed to be a night game played on Tuesday, July 22, 1969.

But there was one problem: It rained. A lot.

Rains pour down on RFK Stadium on July 22, 1969 in Washington, forcing postponement of the All-Star game. (AP photo)

There was so much rain that it started pouring off the field into the dugouts and made the steps down to the dugout look like a small waterfall.

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From Cronin to Ripken to Harper: Fun facts about the All-Star Game and DC

How many times has D.C. hosted the All-Star Game? Who was the first Oriole to appear in an All-Star Game? Has a National ever hit a homer in the Midsummer Classic? As D.C. gets ready to host the All-Star Game, here are some fun facts.
The game had to be postponed, the first and last time an All-Star Game was postponed because of rain. The game was played during the next day and baseball-reference.com said this was the last time the All-Star Game was played during the day rather than prime-time.

Rain has also shortened some All-Star Games.

When the Philadelphia Phillies hosted the All-Star Game in 1952 at old Shibe Park, the game had to be called after just five innings because of rain.

The second All-Star Game of the 1961 season (From 1959 to 1962, two All-Star Games were played each season) at Fenway Park in Boston ended in a 1-1 tie after nine innings because of rain.

More recently, the 1990 All-Star Game at Wrigley Field saw a rain delay that was a little bit longer than one hour, but the game was still played.

The good news for MLB and baseball fans everywhere is that even with the threat of rain, it doesn’t look like it will have that much of an impact on the game.

“The weather will be much improved by the start of the All-Star Game,” Storm Team 4 meteorologist Sheena Parveen said. “We can’t rule out a lingering shower by 8 p.m., but it wouldn’t be anything substantial.”

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