Superstitions have always been a major aspect of the practiced routine in the game of baseball, even going as far back as the era of Barry Bonds and Turk Wendell. These superstitions, while they may be odd, are still apparent in high school baseball, especially here at Oakmont.
Why are superstitions widely known as part of the game? Why do absurd routines continue after multiple generations of playing baseball?
It starts in childhood, as most habits do. Some are instilled through parents’ past superstitions, while others are found naturally. Maybe they stemmed from watching baseball classics, like Bull Durham and The Sandlot, which displayed superstitions that varied from somewhat unusual to completely irrational. Or, watching your favorite players on TV as a child, absolutely in awe at their talent.
Famous players like Wade Boggs, Barry Bonds, and Turk Wendell were not just recognized for their exceptional statistics but also for their odd game day routines that quickly captured fans’ attention.
- Wade Boggs – nicknamed the “Chicken Man” for his strict pregame meal of, you guessed it: chicken. He drew a Hebrew letter “Chai” (meaning life) in the box before every at-bat. He also stepped on the foul line when returning to the dugout, but over the foul line when going out to third base, where he performed exceptionally well.
- Barry Bonds – kissed his golden cross after every homerun and pointed to the sky. He is also the world record holder of most home runs in a single season (73)
- Turk Wendell – He chewed black licorice instead of gum or tobacco, and was obsessed with the number 99 (signed for $9,999,999.99 before the 2000 season). He whipped the resin bag to the ground after using it, and HAD to have the umpire roll him the ball (if the ump threw it, he’d take it off the chest or let it fall). Wendall would wave to his center fielder and wouldn’t finish prepping for the inning until he got a wave back. Lastly, he exaggerated a hop over the foul line, and he brushed his teeth between every inning.
While these superstitions seem completely illogical, Oskmont psychology teacher Ms. Melissa Martin suggests that they impact these players on a much deeper level. You wouldn’t have to know much about baseball to understand that it is a very unpredictable sport, filled with error and uncertainty. In order for the players to feel some sense of control before or during a game, they instill these strict routines, which creates a placebo effect in their brain that gives them a sense of confidence and control.
This placebo is not just a coincidence. According to Martin, fulfilling a superstition can actually reduce anxiety levels, which then allows the athlete to perform better. When a player completes their routine – whether it’s tapping the plate twice or refusing to step on the line – their brain interprets that consistency as control. In a sport where failure is common and even the best hitters only succeed 3 out of 10 times, control matters.
Martin explained that many superstitions form through what psychologists call “positive reinforcement”. For example, when a baseball player adjusts his gloves before stepping into the batter’s box and then hits a double, he begins to associate the success with the glove adjustment. Since the outcome was positive, the behavior is reinforced. The next time he steps up to bat, he repeats the action – just in case.
As time passes, that routine becomes non-negotiable.
But what happens if that routine is interrupted?
Psychologically, it can do more harm than good. Martin also noted that if an athlete cannot follow through with their superstition, it may actually cause heightened anxiety. Without the routine to “soothe” the nerves, it messes up the player’s mental state.
While these psychological explanations help us understand professional athletes, superstitions are not limited to the MLB. They are alive and prevalent here at Oakmont.
Varsity baseball players admitted that many of their routines are habits that “just started one day” after a good game, and haven’t stopped since.
Varsity player Trevor Ewing (RHP & OF) shared that he never steps on the white foul line when entering or leaving the field. Before stepping into the box, he sifts the dirt first until it “feels right”, taps both sides of the plate with his bat, and gives two small wiggles. Ewing humorously shared that he gets a foot massage from his grandma before every big game or tournament. “I’m not sure when they started exactly. I guess it was just like I started to do it one day and did good so I kept doing them.”
Similarly, Varsity players Declan Lynch and Will Ducet follow nearly identical foul line rules, refusing to step on the line pregame. However, Ducet’s habits date back even further, as he stated, “It started when I was really little, and my dad said never step on it because it is bad luck, so I just never have.”
Superstitions are not always individual, either. The baseball team shares a collective ritual – playing the same song before away games and after every win. It may seem small, but traditions like these create unity. They give the team a shared sense of rhythm before a game.
Interestingly, when asked whether superstitions actually “work”, most players hesitated. They weren’t convinced the success was from some sort of outside force, but they also weren’t willing to stop their routines.
And maybe that’s the point.
At its core, superstition in baseball is less about magic and more about the mindset.
Superstition may not change the physics of a fastball or the spin of a curve, but they do change something just as important: the players’ confidence stepping into the box.
