Baseball Magic: A Study of Rituals, Taboos, and Beliefs in Baseball
Article 32: Baseball Magic by George Gmelch
Introduction to Baseball Rituals
Dennis Grossini, a pitcher on the Detroit Tiger farm team, follows strict routines on game days.
Daily Schedule:
Wakes at 10:00 a.m.
Lunch at 1:00 p.m.: two glasses of iced tea and a tuna sandwich.
Changes into specific attire associated with his last win.
Chews Beech-Nut chewing tobacco one hour before game starts.
Pre-game Rituals:
Touches letters on his jersey and straightens cap after each pitch.
Replaces the pitcher’s resin bag in the same spot as the previous inning.
Washes hands after any inning where he gives up a run.
Importance of Ritual:
Grossini emphasizes the significance of every aspect of his routine, implying a fear of change when successful: "You can’t really tell what’s most important so it all becomes important. I’d be afraid to change anything. As long as I’m winning, I do everything the same."
Comparison to Trobriand Islanders
Trobriand Islanders & Fishing Magic:
Discussed by anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski; they practiced magic primarily in high-risk fishing scenarios (open sea) rather than in safe environments (inner lagoon).
Magic in Baseball:
Players like Grossini utilize similar magical rituals due to the unpredictability and chance associated with baseball performance.
Activities Affected by Chance
Pitching:
Highly affected by chance; a pitcher's control is often limited.
Pitcher’s performance can vary widely game to game regardless of skill.
Example: Andy Benes vs. Omar Daal, both from the Arizona Diamondbacks:
Benes: 14-13 record; Daal: 8-12 record despite better earned run averages for Benes.
Hitting:
Arguably the most difficult task in sports; luck determines if a well-hit ball will result in a hit.
Success rate: average hitter gets a hit approximately 25% of the time.
Best hitters may still struggle, hitting one in three attempts.
Fielding:
Largely unaffected by chance, allowing for more control over outcomes.
Routines and Rituals in Baseball
Daily Routines:
Players tend to adhere strictly to routines to minimize feelings of uncertainty and bring comfort.
Example: Pirates coach Rich Donnelly on players being like "trained animals."
Ritual Definitions:
Distinction between routine and ritual:
Ritual involves prescribed behaviors with no empirical connection to desired outcomes (e.g., tapping home plate).
Often irrational but serve a psychological purpose for players.
Personal Ritual Variations:
Examples of baseball rituals:
Denny Neagle: goes to a movie on starting days.
Jason Bere: always listens to the same song before pitching.
Jim Ohms: adds a penny to his supporter pouch after each win.
Wade Boggs: consistently eats chicken before each game and leaves home at precisely 1:47 p.m. for 7:05 games.
Batting Rituals:
Nomar Garciaparra’s extensive ritual involving adjusting gloves and tapping dirt.
Mike Hargrove’s frequent delays in batting due to his rituals; earned the nickname “the human rain delay.”
Superstitions and Taboos
Taboos:
Defined as prohibitions believed to cause bad luck if broken.
Common taboos in baseball include:
Never stepping on white foul lines.
Avoiding certain activities on game days (e.g., watching movies).
Examples of Taboos:
Jason Bere avoids foods he associates with poor performance (e.g., meatball sandwiches).
Team taboos learned from the culture of baseball (e.g., not mentioning a no-hitter in progress).
Fetishes and Charms
Fetishes:
Objects believed to possess supernatural powers that help or protect players.
Good luck charms may include items like coins, necklaces, or even specific clothing items.
Example: Alan Foster pitched a no-hitter in borrowed shoes and thereafter adopted them as a good luck charm.
Number Preferences: Players may seek uniform numbers associated with luck; for instance, Ricky Henderson paid to wear number 24, while others avoid number 13 due to superstition.
Conclusion: Uncertainty and Magic in Baseball
Psychological and Behavioral Perspectives:
Williams ascribes a benefit to rituals, giving players a sense of control amidst unpredictability in pitching and hitting.
B.F. Skinner's Behavior Analysis:
Similar to pigeons associating actions with rewards, baseball players link successful performance to prior rituals.
End Note:
While rituals do not enhance physical abilities, they improve players' confidence, which can influence performance outcomes.
Bibliography
Malinowski, B. Magic, Science and Religion and Other Essays. Glencoe, IL, 1948.
Mandel, Brett. Minor Players, Major Dreams. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 1997.
Skinner, B.F. Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis. D. Appleton-Century Co., 1938.
Skinner, B.F. Science and Human Behavior. New York: Macmillan, 1953.
Stouffer, Samuel. The American Soldier. New York: J. Wiley, 1965.
The actions and rituals practiced by baseball players, as described by Gmelch, provide several psychological benefits that correlate with the concept of contagious magic. These benefits include:
Psychological Comfort: Rituals create a sense of stability and comfort in an unpredictable environment like baseball. By adhering to specific routines, players feel in control despite the game's inherent randomness.
Enhanced Focus: Engaging in rituals can help players concentrate and mentally prepare for the game, leading to improved performance.
Reduction of Anxiety: Rituals can alleviate pre-game nerves by providing familiar patterns and behaviors that give players reassurance before they partake in high-pressure situations.
Sense of Control: Just as contagious magic operates on the belief that actions can influence outcomes, baseball rituals give players a sense of agency over their performance outcomes, making them feel that their actions may directly influence success in unpredictable situations alike.
Confidence Boost: Following rituals may reinforce a player's belief in their abilities, with successful outcomes linked to specific behaviors, similar to how ritualistic beliefs in magic can enhance confidence.