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Cubs Play One of Coldest Games in Wrigley Field History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alvin Garcia | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 10:17 AM ET

Monday night’s Cubs-Rangers matchup at Wrigley Field was one for the history books, and not just because of the final score . When Justin Steele took the mound for the first pitch, the temperature clocked in at a brutal 34 degrees, tying it for the fourth-coldest game ever played at Wrigley, according to Baseball Reference. It was the chilliest game at the Friendly Confines in 14 years.

Despite the cold, thousands of fans bundled up and filled the stands, embracing the biting wind and frosty air to cheer on their team. The last time it was this cold for a Cubs home game was April 2011, when Chicago faced the Padres under similar conditions. But even that doesn’t touch the record set in 1997, when the Cubs opened a game against the Florida Marlins in a frigid 29 degrees — part of a 14-game losing streak that season.

This latest cold snap was more than a weather stat. Monday’s game started four degrees colder than the NHL’s Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley in 2009, a comparison that puts into perspective just how brutal the conditions were.

Other notoriously cold games at Wrigley include an April 2003 game against the Expos (32 degrees) and an April 1989 matchup with the Pirates (33 degrees). But perhaps the all-time coldest Cubs game came in October 1981, though it wasn’t at Wrigley. That one was played in Philadelphia at Veteran’s Stadium with a first-pitch temperature of just 28 degrees.

With Chicago’s unpredictable spring weather, it’s no surprise that Wrigley has seen its fair share of arctic nights. Still, Monday’s game proved once again that Cubs fans are among the most loyal in baseball, ready to show up, layer up, and back their team, no matter what the thermometer says.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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