Baseball, a sport of superstition

By Rick Thomas

Baseball is so highly competitive today that coaches, players, and fans search for anything that will allow them to win — consistently.

And when they find something that paves the way for victories, they may try to create that same winning formula game after game.

That’s where superstition comes into play.

Players often have very specific rituals and superstitions they follow, aiming to enhance their performance or to bring good luck.

These range from simple routines like not stepping on foul lines or wearing a particular hat or other attire they consider lucky to more eccentric practices like naming your kids after your baseball accomplishments.

Some baseball players say they would rather be “lucky than good” because the most talented team doesn’t always win.

The excitement and emphasis put on winning puts an added pressure on teams to win. And to keep winning.

Players, coaches, and fans seek to duplicate a victory into a string of victories. That’s where superstition comes in. Do the same thing you did before winning, and it’ll bring you good luck.

Here are firsthand accounts of Pleasant Grove players and Liberty-Eylau family members, and fans concerning superstitions:

Players

PG’s Jace Elrod:

“I have a lot of superstitions, with some being how I have the same routine every morning. The craziest probably being how I try to do a lot of the same things every day. I perform them throughout the day before and after games. 

“I develop them after a really good team win because that’s the best feeling is when you win and everybody does good.

“I don’t know if it has paid off this season — it is not the reason why we have done so good, but I believe I can’t break them when we are so close to our goal. 

“My uncle was very superstitious during baseball when he played back in the day.

“I have heard about people who don’t wash their pregame shirts after they play good or win, and don’t wash that shirt until they lose. 

“This season has easily been my favorite by far. Every single one of us are so close and it's like a brotherhood because of how much time we spend together and all the adversity we go through with life, games, practice, and more.

“We have the best coaching staff in the state because of their coaching ability but also love for us and care they talk to us on a daily basis as one of their friends and not just a player, and that helps so much with confidence, to believe and trust because they help us in so many ways.”

PG’s Ty Boozer

“I always wear the same thing, no chains, same socks, same wrist tape. I do it every game. It started in my sophomore year, I think it’s fun and gives me confidence.

“I think it has paid off.

“The weirdest (superstition) is probably wearing the same socks because sometimes they forget to get washed.

“Superstitions or not, we’re ready to win state.”

Family members, fans

Allison Brown:

“My baseball superstitions normally don’t start until playoffs, but this year I wore my Championship necklace from last year and my hair in braided pigtails every game we won during the regular season, so I kept it up and have carried that part over into my playoff routine. “Some of the moms wear the same outfits for playoff games. Amy Moore (Maddax Moore’s mother) has a Game 1 and Game 2 outfit. I wear the same one as long as we win, and carry an extra “neutral juju” outfit in case of a Game 3. 

“Same shirt, same jeans, same shoes. (All washed in between games). I did end up wearing shorts for a Game 2 that were “neutral juju,” and thankfully, it worked out.

“I also carry the same bag to every game with the same items in it. Even if it’s not allowed in the facility, it’s in my car.

“Something new this year I have brought with me is a rock that has a scripture written on it. A former student gave it to me in the RaceTrac parking lot one night, and I’ve had it in my pocket every game since.

“I also pray during the national anthem for safety for the players and for God to guide them and help them play the best game they can.

“During the game, I have a superstition, but it differs…I find the “right” way to hold my cowbell and ring it — horns down, on a certain part of my knee, etc., and sometimes bring out the “lucky” Blow Pop sucker — strawberry is the only one that works (this was started by my sister Stacia) and find the right spot (left or right cheek or sometimes just holding it). It’s only dumb if it doesn’t work. 

“Amy Moore has to sit right by the dugout, and if we start doing bad, she goes and finds her 'lucky' trash can to stand by. If Maddax is pitching, she’s standing by the trash can.

“We know none of this really makes a difference, but we won’t stop either…it truly helps us feel like we are doing a little something to help the boys out, the only way we can.”

Brooke Haugh 

Liberty-Eylau baseball has a few superstitions that we take very seriously,” said Brooke, Triston’s mother.

“We always bring our cowbells (because good luck is LOUD!), the same group of "baseball dads" stand faithfully on the left side of the dugout every game. And the moms? Well, we’re usually rocking the same shirts or outfits we won in — because why mess with a good thing? 

“I am not sure these ‘superstitions’ have anything to do with it, but we always want all the good vibes to come our boys' way!”

Kelly Turner

“My husband and I both have game day outfits,” said Kelly, Collin Evans’ mother. “We each have a certain outfit to wear on playoff Day 1 and playoff Day 2.

“The first year of Austin, my husband was so concerned about his Gameday outfit, we went to a friend's home in Austin to wash clothes! 

“Also, every time I leave work to head out to a playoff game, one of my employees says ‘Go Leopards!’ Once I forgot and got in the car to leave and I stopped and went back inside so she could say it before I left. I did not want to mess up our normal routine!”

Stacia Plant

I would say my biggest superstition is having to have strawberry Blow Pops,” said Stacia, Richie Plant’s mother. “That dates back to when my son Richie started pitching at 8 years old in the fall before his 9-year-old season. 

“I had gotten a strawberry Blow Pop and was trying to stay calm, as all pitching moms do, and he pitched great for his first time on the mound. After that, I always had to have a strawberry Blow Pop. No other flavor will work has to be strawberry. 

“To this day, when I get nervous or it’s a close game, I will bring out a bag of strawberry Blow Pops, and all the moms are sitting there waiting with their hands out. During playoffs, even now, I will hit every gas station in town and buy every single strawberry Blow Pop I can find until I think I have enough to last.

 “Also, during playoffs, I have an outfit for Game 1, Game 2, and if necessary a Game 3. I will wear them every week for the same game unless we lose a game and they get tossed out of the rotation, then I find something different for that game the next week. 

“My son didn’t have anything he would do before he pitched, but he would wear the same outfit every game day. His red pregame jersey, his hot pink shorts with blue flamingos on them, his red socks and black slides, and cutting his hair during the playoffs was not an option. If we were playing, it was still growing.” 

Local writer Rick Thomas can be reached for comment or other suggestions at his email: rickythomas7140@icloud.com