Baseball is a sport with a long history of superstition. From the Curse of the Bambino to some players' refusal to wash their clothes or bodies after a win, superstition is present in all parts of baseball. Many baseball players — batters, pitchers, and fielders alike — perform elaborate, repetitive routines prior to pitches and at bats due to superstition.[1] The desire to keep a number they have been successful with is strong in baseball. In fact, anything that happens prior to something good or bad in baseball can give birth to a new superstition.
Some of the more common superstitions include purposely stepping on or avoiding stepping on the foul line when taking the field, and not talking about a no-hitter or perfect game while it is in progress — a superstition that also holds for fans and announcers. Others include routines such as eating only chicken before a game like Wade Boggs, pitcher Justin Verlander eating three crunchy taco supremes (no tomato), a cheesy gordita crunch and a Mexican Pizza (no tomato) from Taco Bell, before every start,[2] and drawing in the dirt in the batter's box before an at bat. Justin Morneau, the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player winner, wears number 33 to honour his idol, ex-NHL goaltender Patrick Roy.[3] His ritual before every Twins' home game entails stopping by the same Jimmy John's Gourmet Subs — located on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota — and ordering the same sandwich from the menu: Turkey Tom with no sprouts. Afterwards, he drinks a Slurpee from a Slurpee machine in the Twins' clubhouse made of one-half Mountain Dew, one-half red or orange flavor.[3] In 2013, Bryce Harper said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he eats waffles and takes seven showers before games.[4]
Certain players go as far as observing superstitions off the field. This includes early 20th-century second baseman Amby McConnell; whenever he was in the middle of a batting slump, he would scavenge the streets and pick up any pin he found, believing this was a sign he would break out of the slump.[5]
^Gmelch, George (1978). "Baseball Magic". Human Nature. 1 (8): 32-40.
^Kaduk, Kevin (April 2012). "Revised version of "Justin Verlander proves he's not a liar, downs famous Taco Bell order before opening day start" by Kevin Kaduk, Thu, Apr 5, 2012 1:18 PM EDT". Yahoo! Sports.
^ abOlney, Buster (January 3, 2007). "After changing lifestyle, Morneau rose to prominence". ESPN The Magazine. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
^Sports, Scott Boeck, USA TODAY. "Leggo my Eggo! Bryce Harper showers seven times a day". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 21, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^"Amby McConnell's Hobby". The Pittsburgh Press. August 5, 1911. p. 8. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
External linksedit
The Joy of Sox Movie, a documentary about Red Sox Nation, Red Sox Fans, Red Sox ballplayers, spirituality and superstition
November 28, 2023
baseball, superstition, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, oct. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Baseball superstition news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Baseball is a sport with a long history of superstition From the Curse of the Bambino to some players refusal to wash their clothes or bodies after a win superstition is present in all parts of baseball Many baseball players batters pitchers and fielders alike perform elaborate repetitive routines prior to pitches and at bats due to superstition 1 The desire to keep a number they have been successful with is strong in baseball In fact anything that happens prior to something good or bad in baseball can give birth to a new superstition Some of the more common superstitions include purposely stepping on or avoiding stepping on the foul line when taking the field and not talking about a no hitter or perfect game while it is in progress a superstition that also holds for fans and announcers Others include routines such as eating only chicken before a game like Wade Boggs pitcher Justin Verlander eating three crunchy taco supremes no tomato a cheesy gordita crunch and a Mexican Pizza no tomato from Taco Bell before every start 2 and drawing in the dirt in the batter s box before an at bat Justin Morneau the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player winner wears number 33 to honour his idol ex NHL goaltender Patrick Roy 3 His ritual before every Twins home game entails stopping by the same Jimmy John s Gourmet Subs located on Grand Avenue in St Paul Minnesota and ordering the same sandwich from the menu Turkey Tom with no sprouts Afterwards he drinks a Slurpee from a Slurpee machine in the Twins clubhouse made of one half Mountain Dew one half red or orange flavor 3 In 2013 Bryce Harper said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he eats waffles and takes seven showers before games 4 Certain players go as far as observing superstitions off the field This includes early 20th century second baseman Amby McConnell whenever he was in the middle of a batting slump he would scavenge the streets and pick up any pin he found believing this was a sign he would break out of the slump 5 See also editCurse of the Bambino Curse of the Billy Goat Curse of the Black Sox Curse of Rocky Colavito Curse of the Colonel Curse of Coogan s Bluff Ex Cubs Factor Sports related cursesReferences edit Gmelch George 1978 Baseball Magic Human Nature 1 8 32 40 Kaduk Kevin April 2012 Revised version of Justin Verlander proves he s not a liar downs famous Taco Bell order before opening day start by Kevin Kaduk Thu Apr 5 2012 1 18 PM EDT Yahoo Sports a b Olney Buster January 3 2007 After changing lifestyle Morneau rose to prominence ESPN The Magazine ESPN Internet Ventures Retrieved October 15 2012 Sports Scott Boeck USA TODAY Leggo my Eggo Bryce Harper showers seven times a day USA TODAY Retrieved June 21 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Amby McConnell s Hobby The Pittsburgh Press August 5 1911 p 8 Retrieved October 13 2012 External links editThe Joy of Sox Movie a documentary about Red Sox Nation Red Sox Fans Red Sox ballplayers spirituality and superstition Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baseball superstition amp oldid 1147000129, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
