The Cold (or Hot) Spring of 1971

Apparently it was cold (or hot) in Scottsdale, Arizona in the spring of 1971.  I don't have any meteorological data to back up that claim.  I have baseball cards, specifically, the 1972 Topps set, featuring pictures from spring training, 1971.

Look at all the guys wearing jackets under their uniform.

 

We've got pitchers...

  

...and catchers;

  

infielders...

and outfielders.

Even the manager was cold!

The other possibility for all the jackets is that it was hot.  Yes hot, because back in the day these rubber jackets were worn to sweat off a few pounds.  The Cubs were aging and maybe they put on a few extra pounds over the winter and wanted to shed them. Hot day plus jacket equals weight loss.

Hot or cold, you don't see the jackets any more.

This 1974 card of Jack Aker was the last Cub shown wearing a jacket under his uniform.