Baseball superstition
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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—batters, pitchers, and fielders alike— excuse excessive, repetitive routines prior to pitches and at bats 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.
Famous or common superstitions
- Curse of the Bambino
- Curse of the billy goat
- The Sports Illustrated curse applies very strongly to baseball
- Not stepping on foul lines unnecessarily (most famous adherent was manager Sparky Anderson)
- Routines before pitches or at bats
- Pregame rituals (especially meals eaten before games, see, e.g. Wade Boggs)
- Uniform numbers
- Not talking about a no-hitter in progress
- A lucky bat or glove.
- Equipment related (most famous being Craig Biggio who does not wash his cap for the entire season)Template:Baseball-stub