After 14 years without, the "wettest ever" CWS in 1964 brought about the infield tarp

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The College World Series has been played in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1950, but the tarp wasn't introduced until after the 1964 season, according to the book The College World Series: A Baseball History 1947-2003 by W.C. Madden and Patrick J. Stewart.

In 1964, the first day of the tournament was completely rained out on Monday, June 8. Two games took place the next day on Tuesday.

Four games were then scheduled for Wednesday to get back on schedule, but the rain only allowed one to actually take place.

Again on Thursday, only one game was played.

Rain continued to completely wash-out games on Sunday, June 14 and Tuesday, June 16.

Madden and Stewart wrote about the 1964 College World Series:

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The Series was the wettest ever and one of the most delayed. Officials were so bothered by the conditions that a helicopter was brought in to dry the field at one point. Plus, games suspended by the action were picked up at the point they left off so that entire games wouldn't have to be replayed. Before then, officials would sometimes use gasoline to dry the field, but the fire department frowned on that practice.

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Finally, Minnesota won the Series on Thursday, June 18. The Gophers went 3-1 and defeated Missouri 5-1 in the title game.

"The rain helped us because it gave our pitching staff a rest," Minnesota first baseman Bill Davis said.

During its section on the 1965 College World Series, the book states:

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Omaha purchased a tarpaulin for the infield during the off-season to protect the field from the rain, which poured down like a waterfall the year before and delayed the Series for five days in all. NCAA officials didn't want a delayed Series to occur again.

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Arizona State captured the 1965 College World Series during the first year of the tarp.

Today, it's essential to keep the College World Series moving.

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