13 Baseball Superstitions
Baseball has a long history of superstition. They go back to beginning of the game and are embedded deep in baseball lore. It's add mystique, romance and just plain entertainment to the game of baseball. I know you're all familiar with the curse of the Bambino but are you aware of these other thirteenth? I'm not superstitious now - am I?
13 Baseball Superstitions
- Don't Step on the Foul Line!
baseball players are superstitious of stepping on the the foul line coming on and off the field.
Chicken Before Every Game? Wade Boggs, who finished his career with the New York Yankees was infamous for eating chicken before ever game.
Don't Talk about a No-Hitter Without question the number one taboo in baseball. Players believe if you talk about it while it is happening it won't. I've seen teams go so far as to clear the bench where the pitcher is sitting between innings - that is really funny.
Not My Lucky Bat? There are players who swear that a lucky bat is the reason for their success. But what happens when they break their lucky bat?
Sign of the cross/pointing up to the heavens You see it everyday in the game, players pointing up to the sky to give thanks. But the biggest example is a player who makes the sign of the cross before getting in the batter's box.
Tapping the bat on Plate It seems every player does this. I guess it's similar to knocking on wood!
Favorite Spot in the Dugout If you follow your favorite team you'll notice players sit in the same spots with the same players each game.
Growing a Mustache or Beard Earlier this year there was a sensation in New York. Jason Giambi hadn't shaved for a couple of days and he went on a major hitting streak. So he a mustache. This became all the rage with the NY fans and media. So much so, that the Yankee front office promoted it with a mustached Jason Giambi Bobble Head Doll day. This is a classic - how funny!
Going to the Same Restaurant or Eatery Before Every Playoff Game
Jim Leyritz, while playing with the Yanks in 1996, hit a three run off Atlanta Braves closer Mark Wohler to win Game 4 of the World Series. This game propelled the Yankees to win 4 of the next 5 world championships. After hitting that home run, Jim returned to the same restaurant he had eaten at on the day he hit the three run homer. Funny stuff!
Refusing to Wash Clothes Some baseball players have been known to wear the same undershirt for the entire season without washing it. I'm sure he sat by himself in the dugout.
Hit By A Pitch? Don't Rub It! What is up with these guys? This makes absolutely no sense. Oh maybe it's to intimidate the opposition - I get it!
Don't Clean My Batting Helmet - Ever You see this very often. Batter's use what is called Pine Tar to give them a better grip on the bat. Pine tar will stick to anything. Each time the player re-adjusts his helmet at the plate he's adding more pine tar. I think Craig Biggio was one of them. By the end of the year it looks like a clay formation on the helmet.
Batting Routine Before each pitch a batter might: step out of the batter's box, secure the bat between his legs, readjust his batting gloves, grab the bat again, take a big deep breath and get back in the batter's box. And after every pitch? Every batter has their own routine.
So there you have it, the thirteen baseball superstitions that make baseball what it is. What a great sport with a bunch of men acting like little kids. It makes the game really entertaining!
Why not tell your kids about the funny superstitions of major leage baseball players. I'm sure they'll get a laugh.
