In 1910 average MLB player was 5'9" and 170 lbs., in 2010 was 6'1" and 205 lbs, Scientific American

4/30/12, Scientific American: "Several baseball bean-counters have crunched the height and weight listings between now and a century ago. In 1910, the average major league hitter was 5 feet, 9 inches and 170 pounds, according to the roster listings of the day. In 2010, those numbers grew to 6 feet, 1 inch and 205 pounds. Ballplayers have grown steadily bigger and stronger. Diet, training and playing conditions have improved, bats and balls are precision-manufactured, the pitcher's mound has been raised and lowered, the strike zone shrunk and widened. Before we even get to the steroids, there are enough variables to manufacture legitimate doubt about climate change and homeruns."

• commenter #6 to article:

"In 1950 there were only 16 baseball teams and half were within 200 miles of NYC. There were no teams out west, no teams in the south, at high altitudes or in domes. Very few games were played at night when temperatures are much cooler (day-night temperature change is far greater than the average temperature change anomaly over the last century). The season now goes later in the fall. Ball players are taller, and stronger. The pitching game is different. Most stadiums are in urban areas so we have to account for the urban heat island effect. And wind speed and direction as a function of day night games adds even more complexity."...

• 4/30/12, "Is Global Warming Causing More Home Runs in Baseball?," Scientific American, Peter Dykstra and Daily Climate. via Tom Nelson

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