The Curse of the Billy Goat & Other Baseball Superstitions

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball or if you’ve ever played baseball down from Little League all the way to the show chances are there is at least a little superstitious blood running through your body. I can remember wearing a red power rangers shirt under my jersey back in my early Little League years and the first time I did I went 3-4 and we won. So what did I do? I wore that same shirt under my jersey every single game until the superstition ran out. If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball you probably also believe in curses no matter what you say out loud. The Curse of the Bambino was a real thing, even if it was just in the heads of the Boston Red Sox fans and players, and until the Curse of the Billy Goat and other superstitions around baseball are broken by Cubs players and fans alike those traditions will remain a part of the game as well.


While the Cubs were looking to break the Curse of the Billy Goat every fall I wanted to take a look at some of the superstitions in baseball and some of the attempts to specifically end the curse surrounding Wrigley Field. Fans have tried to smuggle in goats into Wrigley Field and one local food company, Carnivore Inc., even went as far as to butcher a goat that lived 90 minutes south of Chicago to turn into sausage that would be served in the Chicago suburbs. Was it the thousands of Cubs fans eating a goat during the playoffs that reversed the Curse of the Billy Goat? Stay tuned, but I doubt it. I have a feeling it had more to do with Theo Epstein, a great farm system and a tad bit of luck.


Some other superstitions around baseball include Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Burnett putting a poker chip in his back pocket before taking the mound, Wade Boggs eating fried chicken before every start, Derek Holland watching scenes from “For the Love of the Game,” Jason Giambi and his gold thong he passed around the Yankees clubhouse, CC Sabathia keeps a picture of his children in his jersey while he pitches and so many other superstitions.

Players won’t step on the white line when entering or leaving the field, players won’t get a new hat or batting helmet if they are hitting well, no matter how disgusting they look. Roger Clemens would not take the mound without first rubbing the forehead of Babe Ruth in Monument Park, Phil Hughes doesn’t shave the day he is scheduled to pitch and so many more. Superstitions run rampant in Major League Baseball! Especially on Friday the 13th.


FYI, they Cubs did break the curse in case you missed it. I know you didn’t, but still. So did the Red Sox and their Curse of the Bambino, so I heard anyway. I'm still skeptical. What is your biggest superstition?

Friday the 13th Article Revisit: The Curse of the Billy Goat & Other Baseball Superstitions

You have to admit that if you watch baseball, play baseball or have talked to anyone who has played or watched baseball that there is a certain level of superstition in the game. You also have to admit that if you talk to enough people about Friday the 13^th that there is a similar set of superstitions surrounding the day. What do you get when you have Game One of the ALCS on Friday the 13^th? Well besides the Yankees bombing Dallas Keuchel, my prediction, you also get this article revisit from the 2016 season covering some of the weird known superstitions in baseball as well as the now outdated Curse of the Billy Goat that the Chicago Cubs broke last season. Enjoy the article revisit as we wait on the game tonight inside Minute Maid Park. Go Yankees!!

Sunday, October 9, 2016

The Curse of the Billy Goat & Other Baseball Superstitions

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball or if you’ve ever played baseball down from Little League all the way to the show chances are there is at least a little superstitious blood running through your body. I can remember wearing a red power rangers shirt under my jersey back in my early Little League years and the first time I did I went 3-4 and we won. So what did I do? I wore that same shirt under my jersey every single game until the superstition ran out. If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball you probably also believe in curses no matter what you say out loud. The Curse of the Bambino was a real thing, even if it was just in the heads of the Boston Red Sox fans and players, and until the Curse of the Billy Goat and other superstitions around baseball are broken by Cubs players and fans alike those traditions will remain a part of the game as well. 

With the Cubs once again looking to break the Curse of the Billy Goat this fall I wanted to take a look at some of the superstitions in baseball and some of the attempts to specifically end the curse surrounding Wrigley Field. Fans have tried to smuggle in goats into Wrigley Field and one local food company, Carnivore Inc., even went as far as to butcher a goat that lived 90 minutes south of Chicago to turn into sausage that will be served in the Chicago suburbs. Will thousands of Cubs fans eating a goat during the playoffs reverse the Curse of the Billy Goat? Stay tuned, but I doubt it. 

Some other superstitions around baseball include Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Burnett putting a poker chip in his back pocket before taking the mound, Wade Boggs eating fried chicken before every start, Derek Holland watching scenes from “For the Love of the Game,” Jason Giambi and his gold thong he passed around the Yankees clubhouse, CC Sabathia keeps a picture of his children in his jersey while he pitches and so many other superstitions. 

Players won’t step on the white line when entering or leaving the field, players won’t get a new hat or batting helmet if they are hitting well no matter how disgusting they look, Roger Clemens would not take the mound without first rubbing the forehead of Babe Ruth in Monument Park, Phil Hughes doesn’t shave the day he is scheduled to pitch and so much more. Superstitions run rampant in Major League Baseball! 

So will the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series since 1908 and will any other superstitions or outlandish beliefs be put to bed before the end of the 2016 season? Stay tuned. 

FYI, they Cubs did break the curse in case you missed it. I know you didn’t, but still. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/10: Babe Ruth, the Contract and the Curse

On this day in 2005 “Gotta Have It Collectibles” won the bid for the actual contract signed on December 26, 1919 by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and by Babe Ruth himself. The winning bid was for $996,000 which was five times what the Yankees paid for the Bambino and the curse that came with it.


Also on this day in 2002 the Yankees Marcus Thames hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his Major League career, off Randy Johnson in his prime no less. Thames would be the 17th player in history to hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his career. John Miller in 1966 was the only other Yankee to achieve the feat.


Finally on this day in 1921 the Yankees Babe Ruth became the All-Time Home Run record holder in the Major Leagues with 120 home runs. The historic home run would come off the Indians Jim Bagby. Ruth would hold the record until Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in 1974.

How Have the Yankees Done in "Star Wars Years"

Okay guys, I know I'm late to this party as usual but I finally, FINALLY, saw the new Star Wars movie recently and I loved it. Truth be told I was never a huge Star Wars movie guy. I watched the movies and I liked the movies but I was not one to dress up as a Storm Trooper and go to conventions and stuff, you know? Recently my son got into Star Wars though and we've been growing our fandom together. While playing Star Wars Commander on our iPads I got thinking about how I could link Star Wars to the New York Yankees. I know the Bronx Bombers have a lot of success in the years that a Democrat is a President of the United States so I got thinking about how well the team did in the year of a Star Wars movie release.


Well the first year that a Star Wars movie was released was 1977. I don't need to tell you how that worked out for the Yankees. Reggie Jackson had three home runs in three at bats in Game Six and had a home run in his final at bat of Game Five to win the World Series and bring the trophy back to the Bronx, despite the fact that the Bronx is Burning.

Episode II, which is now Episode V, came out in 1980 but despite this being a thing in the movie the empire did not strike back in the Bronx. Well that depends on if you follow the whole "World Series or Bust" mantra. The Yankees did finish with 103 victories but the team was swept in the American League Championship Series 3-0 by the Kansas City Royals. Tommy John won 22 games and Ron Guidry won 17 games this season and Reggie Jackson said goodbye to the Bronx just one year later.

Episode VI, the Return of the Jedi came out in 1983 but the Yankees did not make the cut in Jedi training. The Yankees did win 91 games that season but it was only good enough for a third place finish in the American League East. At least the team had plenty of time to watch what was thought to be the final movie of the trilogy.

The prequel trilogy began in 1999 when the Phantom Menace came out and it came out just in time for the dynasty years of the New York Yankees. The Yankees would win their third World Series title in four seasons in 1999.

Episode II Attack of the Clones came out in 2002 but the Yankees were not able to clone their success from 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Yankees won the World Series in 1999 and 2000 and were one out away from another in 2001 but the team did not make the cut in 2002. The team did win 103 games and win the AL East but an ALDS loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim left a bitter taste in the Yankees mouth.

Episode III Revenge of the Sith came out in 2005 and the Yankees were looking for revenge. The year prior the team had lost a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS and watched from home as they broke the Curse of the Bambino and the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was not happy about it. Once again New York won 95 games and once again won the AL East but one again the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim did them in. Another season and another ALDS loss.

In closing the Yankees have had success in almost every single season that a Star Wars movie has been released. The team has won World Series or at worst won 90 games in every single season besides the most recent 2016 season giving New York some hope for 2017, well if the past is any indicator of the future anyway. Well, unless the 2015 movie is the reason for the successful 2015 season despite coming out after the MLB season. I guess we'll have to stay tuned for 2017 to find out. Stay tuned and Rogue One!

The Curse of the Billy Goat & Other Baseball Superstitions

If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball or if you’ve ever played baseball down from Little League all the way to the show chances are there is at least a little superstitious blood running through your body. I can remember wearing a red power rangers shirt under my jersey back in my early Little League years and the first time I did I went 3-4 and we won. So what did I do? I wore that same shirt under my jersey every single game until the superstition ran out. If you’re a fan of Major League Baseball you probably also believe in curses no matter what you say out loud. The Curse of the Bambino was a real thing, even if it was just in the heads of the Boston Red Sox fans and players, and until the Curse of the Billy Goat and other superstitions around baseball are broken by Cubs players and fans alike those traditions will remain a part of the game as well. 

With the Cubs once again looking to break the Curse of the Billy Goat this fall I wanted to take a look at some of the superstitions in baseball and some of the attempts to specifically end the curse surrounding Wrigley Field. Fans have tried to smuggle in goats into Wrigley Field and one local food company, Carnivore Inc., even went as far as to butcher a goat that lived 90 minutes south of Chicago to turn into sausage that will be served in the Chicago suburbs. Will thousands of Cubs fans eating a goat during the playoffs reverse the Curse of the Billy Goat? Stay tuned, but I doubt it. 

Some other superstitions around baseball include Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Burnett putting a poke chip in his back pocket before taking the mound, Wade Boggs eating fried chicken before every start, Derek Holland watching scenes from “For the Love of the Game,” Jason Giambi and his gold thong he passed around the Yankees clubhouse, CC Sabathia keeps a picture of his children in his jersey while he pitches and so many other superstitions. 

Players won’t step on the white line when entering or leaving the field, players won’t get a new hat or batting helmet if they are hitting well no matter how disgusting they look, Roger Clemens would not take the mound without first rubbing the forehead of Babe Ruth in Monument Park, Phil Hughes doesn’t shave the day he is scheduled to pitch and so much more. Superstitions run rampant in Major League Baseball! 

So will the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series since 1908 and will any other superstitions or outlandish beliefs be put to bed before the end of the 2016 season? Stay tuned. 

My Goodbye Letter to David Ortiz

David,

What can I say that 29 other teams haven’t already said to you this season? The truth. Now before you simply wad this letter up and throw it away at least give me a chance to explain myself. When I say the truth I don’t mean I am going to be disrespectful or that I’m going to slander you or anything. Instead I am going to give you a fan’s perspective, specifically a Yankees fan’s perspective, on your career and what comes after you hang up your cleats after this season. 

You failed a drug test. We all know you failed a drug test. It may have been “some damn thing you got over the counter at GNC” but you failed a drug test nonetheless. Just admit it. Be the poster child for forgiveness and be the first player with a failed drug test to enter the Hall of Fame. Honestly, I want you to. Set the tone and allow others who did what was in the full spectrum of Major League Baseball’s rules at the time get in as well. I’m asking you to lead the charge and I’m definitely not bagging on you. We’ve forgiven all steroid users here including Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun and we can do the same for you, we just ask for a little help and getting the rest of the world and the rest of the game caught up to the idea is all. 

You killed the Yankees. You killed them from pretty may day one as a member of the Red Sox. You killed them in the regular season and you killed them in the playoffs. Chill! But really what you have done stats wise, numbers wise and clutch wise is truly amazing. You were a huge part of the team that broke the Curse of the Bambino and you didn’t do it backing in, you walked right up to the Yankees and slapped them in the face four times in a row and you did it a couple times against the greatest closer of all-time in Mariano Rivera. You have to respect that, much respect. 

I may not agree with everything that you say or do on and off the field and I have may have called you a baby or self-entitled at times but coming from a Yankees fan that’s got to be the biggest and most sincerest form of respect. You hurt the Yankees? The fans boo you. It’s as simple as that, it’s a rite of passage. Haters keep you famous. You must be doing something right. So as you step into the batter’s box one last time inside Yankee Stadium I leave you with one bit of advice. Blink. Blink and so much will pass you by. 

Much love and much respect,

Daniel Burch

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/10: Babe Ruth, the Contract and the Curse

On this day in 2005 “Gotta Have It Collectibles” won the bid for the actual contract signed on December 26, 1919 by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and by Babe Ruth himself. The winning bid was for $996,000 which was five times what the Yankees paid for the Bambino and the curse that came with it.


Also on this day in 2002 the Yankees Marcus Thames hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his Major League career, off Randy Johnson in his prime no less. Thames would be the 17th player in history to hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his career. John Miller in 1966 was the only other Yankee to achieve the feat.


Finally on this day in 1921 the Yankees Babe Ruth became the All-Time Home Run record holder in the Major Leagues with 120 home runs. The historic home run would come off the Indians Jim Bagby. Ruth would hold the record until Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in 1974.

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/31: The Curse of the Drilled Bambino

On this day in 2001 the Boston Red Sox finally beat the New York Yankees for the first time since Pedro Martinez laughed off the Curse of the Bambino. On this day yesterday in 2000 Martinez, who was 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA, said that someone should "Wake up the Bambino and let me face him, I'll drill him in the $@#." After the comment the Red Sox lost seven consecutive games against the Yankees.


Also on this day in 1938 Yankees first basemen Lou Gehrig played in his 2000th consecutive game and collected an RBI single. The Yankees would beat the Red Sox 12-5 on this day.

How Have the Yankees Done in "Star Wars Years"

Okay guys, I know I'm late to this party as usual but I finally, FINALLY, saw the new Star Wars movie recently and I loved it. Truth be told I was never a huge Star Wars movie guy. I watched the movies and I liked the movies but I was not one to dress up as a Storm Trooper and go to conventions and stuff, you know? Recently my son got into Star Wars though and we've been growing our fandom together. While playing Star Wars Commander on our iPads I got thinking about how I could link Star Wars to the New York Yankees. I know the Bronx Bombers have a lot of success in the years that a Democrat is a President of the United States so I got thinking about how well the team did in the year of a Star Wars movie release.


Well the first year that a Star Wars movie was released was 1977. I don't need to tell you how that worked out for the Yankees. Reggie Jackson had three home runs in three at bats in Game Six and had a home run in his final at bat of Game Five to win the World Series and bring the trophy back to the Bronx, despite the fact that the Bronx is Burning.

Episode II, which is now Episode V, came out in 1980 but despite this being a thing in the movie the empire did not strike back in the Bronx. Well that depends on if you follow the whole "World Series or Bust" mantra. The Yankees did finish with 103 victories but the team was swept in the American League Championship Series 3-0 by the Kansas City Royals. Tommy John won 22 games and Ron Guidry won 17 games this season and Reggie Jackson said goodbye to the Bronx just one year later.

Episode VI, the Return of the Jedi came out in 1983 but the Yankees did not make the cut in Jedi training. The Yankees did win 91 games that season but it was only good enough for a third place finish in the American League East. At least the team had plenty of time to watch what was thought to be the final movie of the trilogy.

The prequel trilogy began in 1999 when the Phantom Menace came out and it came out just in time for the dynasty years of the New York Yankees. The Yankees would win their third World Series title in four seasons in 1999.

Episode II Attack of the Clones came out in 2002 but the Yankees were not able to clone their success from 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Yankees won the World Series in 1999 and 2000 and were one out away from another in 2001 but the team did not make the cut in 2002. The team did win 103 games and win the AL East but an ALDS loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim left a bitter taste in the Yankees mouth.

Episode III Revenge of the Sith came out in 2005 and the Yankees were looking for revenge. The year prior the team had lost a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS and watched from home as they broke the Curse of the Bambino and the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was not happy about it. Once again New York won 95 games and once again won the AL East but one again the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim did them in. Another season and another ALDS loss.

In closing the Yankees have had success in every single season that a Star Wars movie has been released. The team has won World Series or at worst won 90 games in every single season giving New York some hope in 2016, well if the past is any indicator of the future anyway. Well, unless the 2015 movie is the reason for the successful 2015 season despite coming out after the MLB season. I guess we'll have to stay tuned for 2016 to find out. Merry Christmas everyone, we'll be back at full strength tomorrow.

Watch Game 6 of the 1986 World Series

The "Bill Buckner Game" was probably more enjoyable to watch than this one because of the historical impact, well that and the continuation of the Curse of the Bambino, but this one will do as well as the New York Mets clinch the 1986 World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/10: Babe Ruth, the Contract and the Curse

On this day in 2005 “Gotta Have It Collectibles” won the bid for the actual contract signed on December 26, 1919 by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and by Babe Ruth himself. The winning bid was for $996,000 which was five times what the Yankees paid for the Bambino and the curse that came with it.

Also on this day in 2002 the Yankees Marcus Thames hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his Major League career, off Randy Johnson in his prime no less. Thames would be the 17th player in history to hit a home run on the first pitch he saw in his career. John Miller in 1966 was the only other Yankee to achieve the feat.

Finally on this day in 1921 the Yankees Babe Ruth became the All-Time Home Run record holder in the Major Leagues with 120 home runs. The historic home run would come off the Indians Jim Bagby. Ruth would hold the record until Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in 1974.

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/31: The Curse of the Drilled Bambino

On this day in 2001 the Boston Red Sox finally beat the New York Yankees for the first time since Pedro Martinez laughed off the Curse of the Bambino. On this day yesterday in 2000 Martinez, who was 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA, said that someone should "Wake up the Bambino and let me face him, I'll drill him in the $@#." After the comment the Red Sox lost seven consecutive games against the Yankees.

Also on this day in 1938 Yankees first basemen Lou Gehrig played in his 2000th consecutive game and collected an RBI single. The Yankees would beat the Red Sox 12-5 on this day.

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/10

On this day in 1921 the Yankees Babe Ruth became the All Time Home Run record holder in the Major Leagues with 120 home runs. The historic home run would come off the Indians Jim Bagby. Ruth would hold the record until Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run in 1974.

On this day in 2005 Gotta Have It Collectibles wins the bid for the actual contract signed on December 26, 1919 by Red Sox owner Harry Frazee, Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, and by Babe Ruth himself. The winning bid was foe $996,000 which was five times what the Yankees paid for the Bambino and the curse that came with it.

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/31

On this day in 1938 Yankees first basemen Lou Gehrig played in his 2000th consecutive game and collected an RBI single. The Yankees would beat the Red Sox 12-5 on this day.

On this day in 2001 the Boston Red Sox finally beat the New York Yankees for the first time since Pedro Martinez laughed off the Curse of the Bambino. On this day yesterday in 2000 Martinez, who was 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA, said that someone should "Wake up the Bambino and let me face him, I'll drill him in the $@#." After the comment the Red Sox lost seven consecutive games against the Yankees.

Quick Hit: "Wake Up The Babe So I Can Drill Him"

Remember way back on this day in 2001 when the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry was possibly at it's highest and Pedro Martinez spoke up about the Curse of the Bambino? If you don't it was after Martinez ended a streak of five straight losses against New York and was making light of the curse. Martinez states that he wished someone would wake up Babe Ruth so he could drill him with a pitch.

Long story short the Red Sox would not beat the Yankees again during the final seven meetings of the 2001 season. But there was no curse, the Red Sox just sucked for 86 years... right.

Yankees Fans & JuJu Believers, It's Time To Forgive AROD

Everyone reading this I ask that you leave your personal beliefs, personal opinions, dislike or hatred, etc at the door here. What we need from you guys is a clear mind and an open heart here because we are the last hope for the Yankees staff in the next three to five years, no pressure. Whether you believe in the JuJu and its effects it can have on a baseball team or not the facts that I am about to lay forward to you cannot be denied or ignored. This team is in trouble, this organization is in trouble, the future is in jeopardy, this team is cursed, and only we the fans can turn it all around.

Bottom line, I don't like to equivocate, we have to forgive Alex Rodriguez. Alex has screwed up a lot, let's not mince words here. Between his post season struggles, his not one but two mega contracts worth 10 years each, his whole opting out during the World Series, not one but two steroid allegations, not one but two hip surgeries, slapping the ball out of a player's glove against the Red Sox, getting bitch slapped by Jason Varitek, well I could go on all day. It's done, it is in the past, everything up to this point is gone, over, done kaput.

Starting absolutely right now, not in 2014, not in 2015 depending on this whole 211 game suspension, but right now I need you all to say this out loud:

"Hi my name is (fill in the blank), I love the New York Yankees, and I forgive Alex Rodriguez."

This is the only way the Yankees will win anything in the next five seasons. If we do not forgive Alex Rodriguez now and remove the JuJu, much like we did in 2009 when Alex burst onto the scene hitting a home run in his first at bat and not stopping until the World Series trophy was back where it belonged,  then we will continue to make the Curse of the Bambino look like a infant story tale. Nobody wants that, now do they?

End the Curse of the JuJu, Forgive A Rod now.