Are baseball players superstitious? And does it help them when they are on the field?This is a debate that can go back as far as the creation of hot dogs. And thank goodness hot dogs were created and for that matter, apple pie.
First off, let's look at the definition of superstitious as defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.
If you look at the one part of the definition, it explains that it is trust in magic or chance. Now, back to the ball field. Do players engage in magic or chance when playing? The ones who try to use magic usually get tossed by the umpire for cheating. But if they trust in chance because they are doing a specific routine, then yes, they do engage in superstition.
In my big league career, I witnessed numerous times players using a specific routine in hopes of the same outcome, which was usually getting a hit or winning a ball game. This often involved wearing the same t-shirt under their uniform if it meant they got a hit that day. And it also meant not washing it sometimes! Smelly but effective.
There was one pitcher who insisted on taking the same path to the mound when he was pitching and hopping over the white line. Always using the same routine. Does this really help the baseball player? Let's look at what it does to some players.
I believe that it improves your psychological edge because you have a belief system that it is helping you. Therefore, it works. I also believe that it promotes consistency in what you are doing. And since the game is about repeatable actions for success, this is just one of the things players do that helps their game. Same routine, same actions, same belief system and hopefully the same outcome. If for some reason it is not working, then usually the player will adjust his routine or superstitions in hopes of a win or a hit.
Have you ever seen teams do this collectively? Of course you have. Have you ever seen a team reverse their hats in the ninth inning in hopes of a rally? It's called the rally hats. Superstition? You bet. Not all players engage in this type of routine, but there are certainly many that do.
Baseball players are superstitious and do follow routines. It often helps in their psychological thinking and their daily routine when dealing with the everyday actions of a baseball game.I wonder if the Chicago Cubs wished the billy goat never showed up in 1945? Superstition or a curse? What do you think?
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