I live in Chicago. Last week, the Cubs were in Denver, and I’ve been hearing a lot about how the ball caries farther in the thin air of Coors park. Is there truely a noticeable difference in air density? How much further can the ball travel? So if Sammy hits a 400 foot HR in Chicago, that would be what in Denver?
I haven’t heard much about baseball in Denver, but I have heard that field goal kickers for football teams love playing at Mile High Stadium because they can kick the ball farther. There are pros and cons to a team traveling to Denver. On the pro side, balls seem to travel farther. On the con side, Mile High Stadium is named that for a reason. It’s a mile high!! The air is much thinner there than at lower altitudes. Athletes get winded much faster. It’s harder to catch your breath, etc… The Broncos (and other teams in Denver), however, are used to the thinner air, because they practice there. Denver is one place that home field advantage really means something…
Those with more knowledge about the scientific reasons for a ball going farther in less dense air can add more precise information, but I’ll tell you the standard assumption made for golfing in Denver: 10% farther than normal. I would think baseball would be similar, though I’m not sure how much the flight of a baseball is hindered by the atmospheric pressure compared to a golfball; my assumption is the effect is close to identical.
So, a shot to straightaway center in Wrigley (400 feet) would be a smash to 440 in Coor’s field, where it would clear the fence by 25 feet. And you wonder why they hit so many there.
Of course, this doesn’t take into account the effect of the air density on pitches, which won’t curve as much, either.
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