Baseball superstition
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2008-07-06T03:48:48Z
Ukexpat
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/71.198.201.166|71.198.201.166]] to last version by PinkTiger12 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
'''Baseball''' is a sport with a long history of '''[[superstition]]'''. From the very famous [[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—[[batting (baseball)|batters]], [[pitcher]]s, and fielders alike— excuse excessive, repetitive routines prior to pitches and [[at bat]]s to superstition. 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 players rely on a level of meta-superstition: by believing in superstitions they can focus their mind to perform better. Many players and fans also believe that superstitions propagate their own fulfillment by influencing players and fans.
For further reading, see George Gmelch's analysis of the role of superstition in baseball.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dushkin.com/olc/genarticle.mhtml?article=27128 | title = Revised version of "Superstition and Ritual in American Baseball" from Elysian Fields Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 3, 1992, pp. 25-36 | last = Gmelch| first = George | year = 2000 | month = September | publisher = McGraw-Hill/Dushkin| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5OHaQX4IE | archivedate = 2007-04-21}}</ref>
==Famous or common superstitions==
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}
*The [[rally cap]]
*Not stepping on the foul line when taking the field.
*Not talking about a [[no-hitter]] or [[perfect game]] in progress
*"Statting" a player by mentioning his excellent [[statistics]] in this situation is seen to [[jinx]] that player.
*A lucky [[baseball bat|bat]] or [[baseball glove|glove]].
*Equipment related (most famous example being [[Craig Biggio]], who did not wash his [[batting helmet]] for the entire season)
*Not talking about the outcome of a 7 game series before it is over.
*Not shaving after the first postseason win
*Chewing only three wads of gum per game
*Tapping one's bat onto the home plate before an at-bat
*Drawing in the batter's box before each at-bat
*If a batter is hit by a pitch, they should not rub or touch the spot of impact
*If winning a game as guest one year and going back next year, going the same direction as before, if it was a loss go the other direction.
*If going to a game sitting in a certain way and won, sit the same way until a loss.
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Baseball lore|Superstition]]
[[Category:Superstitions]]