Today is Friday the 13th and for many than means
bad omens, curses and generally just some bad luck throughout the day. I’m not
a huge believer in coincidences, although I am a firm believer in karma, and I
believe Friday the 13th to just be another day on the calendar that
was dramatized by a Hollywood movie. It’s hard to deny though that some freaky
things have happened on this day in history and some of the most superstitious
people in America being baseball players really step up their games on this
day. Let’s focus on a few of the more superstitious players in MLB history and
some of the “contrary to popular belief” facts that come along with this day.
Contrary to popular belief a black cat can walk across your
path and you’ll probably be okay. Unless you’re the Chicago Cubs or the Boston
Red Sox. Then I may be worried.
Contrary to popular belief on Friday the 13th it is NOT okay
to refuse to change your underwear during a Tigers winning streak in 2011 like
Jim Leyland did.
Contrary to popular belief on Friday the 13th it
IS okay to sleep with your bat while on a hot streak. Ask Richie Ashburn.
Contrary to popular belief on Friday the 13th you
HAVE to make right-handed turns. Kevin Rhomberg refused to make right-handed
turns on a baseball field and he also had this weird obsession that if you
touched him he had to touch you back. I’m serious, his nickname was “Touch Me,
Touch Me.” If you don’t believe there is a story of Rick Sutcliffe once
reaching under a bathroom stall to touch Rhomberg on the toe. Rhomberg didn’t
know who touched him so he proceeded to go around the clubhouse and touch and
each every player, coach and manager.
Contrary to popular belief on Friday the 13th you
CAN ask for a new ball after every hit. Mark Fidrych did it and this, along
with his “Bird” routine on the mound, and no one really seemed to mind. They
have plenty of baseball and Fidrych didn’t give up that many hits anyway. The
mistrust of the ball probably stems back to him talking to the ball before the
pitch, quite vividly sometimes, as a bond or friendship was obviously formed
before being broken when hit for a single.
Contrary to popular belief you can have WHATEVER you want to
eat before and after a MLB game. Justin Verlander eats tacos before every
start, Wade Boggs ate fried chicken and half of the Boston Red Sox pitching
staff ate chicken and drank beer in the late 2000’s and early 2010’s. It’s
baseball and we’re all adults.
Contrary to popular belief the Yankees can beat Chris Sale
on Friday the 13th… Let’s make it happen.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)