Superstitious?

[YankeeMan]

Do you have any baseball superstitions?

Stevie Wonder wrote:
Very superstitious, writing's on the wall,
Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass
Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way

Very superstitious, wash your face and hands,
Rid me of the problem, do all that you can,
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong,
You don't wanna save me, sad is my song.

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way, yeh, yeh.

Very superstitious, nothin' more to say,
Very superstitious, the devil's on his way,
Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass,
Seven years of bad luck, good things in your past

When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no

<YankeeMan is dancing -- not a pretty sight ;)>

[Bat_Boy_17]

this is kinda weird, but every time this year, before I start a game, I eat 2 ice cubes, and it works, i'm having a great season. Also in my warmups I always throw fast-fast-fast-curve-fast, i decided one day to try something different and I ended up losing that game, giving up 2 Hr's.

[NickG]

I always got dressed the same way before every game.

If I started the game on the mound, you would see me during batting practice (after my turn, of course :) )with a pair of headphones on, staring off into space...

Always, always jump over the foul line on my way back to the dugout, especially if I'm pitching.

Nothing on the order of the infamous chicken, though ;).

[The Commissioner]

Before I ever post anything on this site I perform a religious ceremony involving a giant squeegee, a Tibetin mountain llama, and about 5 gallons of Pepto Bismol. One time I inadvertently poured the Pepto incorrectly and made Choo Choo Coleman instantly materialize in my bathtub. Needless to say, the man was not happy about that.

[racosun]

...or at least cracking me up!! :laugh

Before Sammy ever did it, I would run to my post in centerfield full speed. I did this to bring in good karma. I thought that if I always gave it my all, I would some day get it all. I never got it.:(

But I do love that Stevie Wonder song. My buddies play it at every gig, and my youngest son always dances around like YankeeMan whenever he hears it.

[MetsFan11368]

If the Mets and/or Yankees are winning, I won't go to the bathroom until the game's over...AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!

[Sandman]

Originally posted by MetsFan11368
If the Mets and/or Yankees are winning, I won't go to the bathroom until the game's over...AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!!!
Good thing you never have to hold it in when you're watching Mets games. :( :(

[MetsFan11368]

Originally posted by Sandman
Good thing you never have to hold it in when you're watching Mets games. :( :(


AND Benitez is pitching....

[Hammerin Hank]

I guess you just don't go at all during the current Subway Series.

[TigerNut]

When the Tigers are playing I HAVE to wear my lucky cap!

On game day I have to get dressed the same way everytime, I have to listen to the same song before the game to get me pumped up and when I am warming up my arm to start pitching I have to throw to my catcher! I won't pitch unless I am throwing to my catcher!

[Hammerin Hank]

Originally posted by TigerNut
When the Tigers are playing I HAVE to wear my lucky cap!


I'd hate to tell you this but....perhaps your lucky cap isn't so lucky?

[Sandman]

Originally posted by Hank Aaron
I guess you just don't go at all during the current Subway Series.
He has the first half of the first inning in Yankee Stadium, maybe 10 seconds of the first inning in Shea Stadium.

[Sandman]

11368 stands for the zip code for Shea Stadium

[TigerNut]

Originally posted by Hank Aaron
I'd hate to tell you this but....perhaps your lucky cap isn't so lucky?


LoL maybe not but you can't blame me for trying! at least I am loyal right? :D :gt

[drillerman]

whats the point you make your own bad luck

[The Dude]

I have a couple superstitions. I never put my leg guards on until after all 3 of our outs are recorded. I think it's kinda like already condeming our team. Another, I always sit by our pitcher on the bench so we can talk about the approach for next inning. I don't know if you could that superstition or not.

[FlashinTheLeather]

I ALWAYS dress left first then right, for example, I always put my left socks on before I put on my right socks. I ALWAYS wear two pairs. Every sport. Every event. Always left before right. For baseball games during the summer, I get my under items on (Sliding shorts, cup, jock) 2 1/2 hours before the game, go out in the yard (living out in the country is an advantage:D) and stretch my legs. Then I put on my pants, left leg first, mind you, and then my shirt.

As for the game, I always jump over the line. When I am ump to bat and the batter's box is on the other side, I ALWAYS go behind the umpire. I then do my vintage Viña batting stance.:D and that is my superstition.

[bluezebra]

No. Knock on wood.

Bob

[Captain Cold Nose]

Originally posted by drillerman
whats the point you make your own bad luck

If your superstition isn't working, try something different. Turn the cap around, or wear a team shirt instead of a cap. Maybe your lucky cap is really a jinx.



When you believe in things that you don't understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain't the way, no, no, no

That's the first song I sang doing karaoke. I couldn't quite get as high as Stevie Wonder did on his scream, though. And the people were just staring at me while I did my Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar solo imitation.

[MetsFan11368]

Originally posted by Hay Fever
[B]
I'd just like to say that there isn't enough written on this forum about Bob Murphy, who I consider one of the best baseball announcers in baseball, and certainly a long-time favorite of New York Mets fans.

A Mets game wouldn't be a Mets game without Bob Murphy on the radio (he used to be on T.V., too, of course, and occasionally still does).



Or anywhere else, for that matter. Maybe the fact that he spends most of his time behind the mike has something to do with it. I loved the old system WOR used to have where Kiner, Nelson and Murphy would rotate between the TV booth and the radio every 3 innings and they'd all get a chance to do a little of both. And last but not least, Kiner's Korner after the game interviewing members of the winning team. It didn't get any better than that!:D

[MetsFan11368]

Originally posted by Sandman
He has the first half of the first inning in Yankee Stadium, maybe 10 seconds of the first inning in Shea Stadium.



Of course, all bets are off if....

1) The Mets/NYY are playing against each other or
2) The game goes into extra innings.

One thing I'm not, is a masochist.......:D

[insanefishpossay]

This has happened to me many times, and I guess it's come to be sort of a superstition.

The Twins are on, I have to miss the first few innings, due to one thing or another. I come back to find the twins are doing great, we've hit a couple homers, our pitcher is pitching a gem. I'm glad I got back in time to watch at least most of it.
However, soon after I start watching, our pitcher starts giving up homeruns, the players start making errors.
At this point I figure that they did better when I wasn't watching, so I leave. They usually win when this happens =)

[racosun]

Originally posted by insanefishpossay
...soon after I start watching, our pitcher starts giving up homeruns, the players start making errors.
At this point I figure that they did better when I wasn't watching, so I leave. They usually win when this happens =)

Maybe you should just check the box score the next day. The Twins might win it all if you quit jinxing them. ;)

[YankeeMan]

...where'd your pretty Yankee digs go Racosun? Tisk tisk.

[racosun]

Originally posted by YankeeMan
...where'd your pretty Yankee digs go Racosun? Tisk tisk.

I chucked 'em in the trash, along with some used toilet paper and the rest of the Tigers season. ;) :laugh

[Steffo]

racosun, maybe throwing away the season wasn't bad. They just won!!!!!

My ritual was ALWAYS, but the glove on my head while I was in the dugout. I also have a Sammy Sosaish stance so maybe thats a ritual, but anyhow, it didn't work cause I sucked.

[third_base_4ever]

If my team is in the first base dugout, I have to round the bases over to third, tap the base twice with my left cleet, and draw two parallel lines in the dirt. If we're in the 3rd base dugout, I walk to the bag, stand on it, and put some infield dirt into my glove. I do each of these before each inning.

When I bat, I never warm up in the on deck circle. A take a few practice swings near the batters box. I hold my bat on home plate and scan the field, looking for a decent hole. After every pitch, I step out of the box, hit my cleets with the handle of my bat, and repeat my pre-at bat warmups.

When on base, I take six long strides away from the bag. I rock from side to side, ready to dive or take off in either direction. I round the bases as wide as I can, and I always slide head-first. When I hit a homerun, I casually walk around the bases. Once when my coach told me to hustle, I went hitless the next game.

If I ever error or miss a tag, I spit in my glove. Whenever I make a good play, I sprinkle a handful of dirt into my glove.

[racosun]

Wow, is this ever an old thread!?! When I saw it tonight, I thought: "Cool, my old buddy YankeeMan is back!"

Oh well...perhaps one day....:atthepc

[hudsonharden]

I've been known to employ the rally cap when necessary...

[brewcrew82]

I've been known to employ the rally cap when necessary...

Whilst you were playing or watching? I'm ashamed to admit I have employed the rally cap at home, whislst watching a game on TV.

[redlegsfan21]

Well, I started keeping track of the standings with all 30 teams' pennants last year and after a Reds win, I don't change it what so ever. Now if the standings did change, the Reds seem to win the next day (See why they had a great April this year). If the standings didn't change, they lose. I always change them after a loss and sometimes they win, but if they don't change, the Reds lose again.

[west coast orange and black]

i wear black shoes with orange stripes for friday night games.

[Brannu]

I don't have any superstitions that I observe, HOWEVER, I will probably wear my 1982 Cardinals Jersey today....

:)

[Williamsburg2599]

I never put my glove or hat on before stepping OVER the foul line, and always take them off before I step over it on my way back off. I also have, or never will wear a yankee cap ;), despite many tries from Yankee fans.

Note: Maybe the Between Innings forum would be a better place for this?

[SoxSon]

Wow, is this ever an old thread!?! When I saw it tonight, I thought: "Cool, my old buddy YankeeMan is back!"

Oh well...perhaps one day....:atthepc


It sure is, racosun...way before the whole Between Innings thing. That being said, it's exactly what the Between Innings forum was made for. Thread moved, now that it's been given a second life. :)

[RBi]

If I ever error or miss a tag, I spit in my glove. Whenever I make a good play, I sprinkle a handful of dirt into my glove.

I like this one alot..

:)

What ever happens, it happened because of your glove.

:)

[Dalkowski110]

Whenever I watch a Mets game, although not really a superstition, I stick my Dad's 1962 Mets cap on. He bought it at the Polo Grounds during the first couple weeks of the 1962 season, and while not a "lucky" cap, I wear it just because, I dunno, it makes me feel more like a fan. When I played Babe Ruth League ball, I had a single superstition...I leapt over the foul line as I went to the mound, and I mean Oliver Perez-style leaping. I'd absolutely hurl myself over the foul line. But I more or less did it to look cool (or weird...) than anything else.

[rwolfe09]

I don't have much but I know the Oliver Perez is superstitious. His long sort of jump over the foul line is pretty funny.

[Dodgerfan1]

Nope. When I was a lad and was a pitcher, I had this one great season where I was 10-0 with two no-hitters, and my mother MADE me drink a glass of V8 juice before every game I pitched. She said it was a lucky charm. Since those days, I've had some success at the high school and college level, as well as a competitive fast-pitch softball league, and it never once dawned on me to credit the socks or underwear I was wearing at the time, the food I ate before the game or any rituals before, during or after the games. I just never even thought about those things. Just went out in whatever gear I was wearing and played hard.

It's fun to read about the superstitions of others, but it never gave me any pause to think about any I may have, because I just don't. I don't know why, because it's obvious so many do. I never bought into the rally cap, the Babushka (with apologies to Bob Prince), voodoo, tarot cards, palmists, numerology, astrology or rabbits' foots. Oh well. Maybe I'm the oddball, and not everyone else!! :noidea

[hellborn]

Run to my position with my glove draped over my right hand.
Try to toss one rock/pebble out of the OF each inning.
Always wear real baseball pants with (fake) stirrups.
Slam the bat to the ground with the right hand on popups.

[Murderer's Row]

I didn't have any, but once I decided to tap my Willie Mays signed baseball-card and my Yogi Berra autographed postcard. We lost, 23-1. I missed a flyball and let a ground ball go through my legs. Our catcher quit in the fifth inning.:( That put an end to any superstitious thoughts of mine.

[Erik Bedard]

I have a few. I would always listen to The Clincher by Chevelle on the way to the game. Then I lost that CD. There goes that superstition. I used to always sit on my glove on the bench (though that probably arose from a glove-stealing game my team used to play when we were nine years old), when there's no fence in front of the bench I stand behind it (not a superstition, just a habit), when we're winning I turn my hat backwards until the ump makes me fix it, when it's a blowout I untuck my shirt, I never wear an undershirt when I pitch, and I never wear blue, red, green, or purple socks. Well, I guess some of those are superstitions.

[Dodgerfan1]

Erik,

Some other names you can add to your RIP list, all who died this year:

Craig Kusick
Moe Drabowski
Jimmy Delsing
Curt Gowdy (well, sort of baseball related)
Eric Gregg
Billy Hitchcock
Steve Howe
Billy Johnson
Paul Lindblad
Ivan Murrell
Kirby Puckett
Sibby Sisti
Russ Swan

[Nolan_Ryan]

Well, since I'm 12 and can still perform superstitions, what I normally do is get up real early in the morning so I'm nice and tired. Then, I sleep all the way on the drive to the diamond. When, I wake up I'm rested and ready to play ball. Oh, and I also, when, I play SS throw as many rocks as I can out of the infield and at the outfielders, who normally don't pay attention.