As a baseball player I have come upon several superstitions that belong to other players as well as some superstitions that I live by. When a pitcher is throwing a no-hitter or a perfect game, no one on the team is supposed to talk to the pitcher, who is usually isolated on one side of the bench. A superstition I partake in is having the same "batter's box dance." For as long as I remember before the first pitch to me, I dig out the back of the batter's box (even if the batter's box is turf!) then I touch the left corner of the plate with the bat , then lightly half swing the bat towards the pitcher. Every single time I come up to the plate I practice the same routine as if it makes me a better hitter. While there is surely no correlation between my routine and hitting the ball, it makes me feel more comfortable at the plate. If this were to be considered Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), I would have to say that 95% of baseball players have OCD. While it seems like a humorous thing for an average person, most baseball players absolutely live by their superstitions. Another example comes from Minnesota Twin Frank Viola. In 1984, a fan started to display a banner in the Metrodome that read "FRANKIE SWEET MUSIC VIOLA." Frank believed he pitched better when the sign was hung. In 1987, Viola pitched to a record of 15-0 when the sign was up and won the American League Cy Young Award (best pitcher). The Twins reached the World Series that year and Frank discovered that the fan that the banner belonged to did not have tickets. So Frankie bought the fan tickets for Game 1 and 7, Frank won both of those games and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. So next time you are at a baseball game and see a player doing something odd, realize that it is what makes that player comfortable, even if it is only a superstition that has an illusory correlation.
Baseball Superstion: real or fiction?
This was interesting to read--wayy back in elementary/middle school I played softball, and I always swang my bat three times while warming up on deck. I also only pitched a certain number of pitches during warm-ups (I was the team's pitcher.) I wonder if it makes us more confident, having these routines, which could make it less of a superstition and maybe something that just helps calm us during the game? Cool comparison!
Good insight and real-life examples on superstition. Keeping with the theme of baseball, the book also highlights an example of illusory correlation with Wade Boggs, a baseball player who ate chicken before every game, believing that it made him pitch fastballs. As human beings who clutch to "control over their own fate", we often fail to overlook the more practical reasons for these outcomes (and stick to our confirmation bias'). For example, perhaps the protein in the chicken better allows for his muscles in his arms to repair before and after each game, thus allowing him to pitch fastballs. The book also mentions that adults are subject to illusory correlation because they've built up expectations about events, which causes the confirmation bias.
Your blog is very interesting. I am not a big baseball fan but that is really cool. I feel that is kind of superstition,but also it makes the player more comfortable and Frank must of been a really good pitcher. Some diseases I believe are way to over-diagnosed. Especially OCD, because everybody probably has some form of it. Good Job!
I agree with your blog that even if superstitions aren't "real," it does make people more comfortable. When I go to sporting events and the team wins, I wear the same jersey to the next game. If the team loses, I don't wear that jersey for a long time. I know that my superstitions have absolutely nothing to do with the game, but like you said it makes people more comfortable such as Frank Viola and the banner.
It's very interesting to read this because, although I am not an athlete, I am a musician. When I was in high school, I did believe in a few superstitions that I believed made me a better player. Like, if it was a hot day, I had to do a certain thing to my reed to make sure it played alright or if it was too cold I would pull out my bell to make my instrument sound perfect. It is interesting how much the human mind can play in perfecting or performing a skill regardless of its validity.
This is very interesting how much your perception really makes a difference in the effect that a habit, ritual, or whatever you call it has in your confidence and performance. I think that in physically stressful situations, having a pattern or habit that makes you comfortable is a natural way to hold control over yourself. The body is a mysterious thing with all those reflexes and elements of the psyche, using something physical to grab the moment seems reasonable.
Even though superstitions aren't real, I do agree that it calms people down to a point where their mind can focus and do a better job at something. I was in band and orchestra in high school and I had different rituals to make my reed sound good. Even if it didn't actually do anything physically to the reed, it cleared my mind and made me feel more confident which, in turn, made me play better.
Being an "alpha-male," even in female athletics, contributes to success at a sport. If one does not believe they are good, or the best, their actions will generally follow. These superstitions that all-star athletes follow may not correlate directly with athletic success, but I believe it is worth testing to see if they improve self-confidence. A confident player is a good player, (for example: when a player is "in the zone" or has "the hot hand"), and so if superstitions make athletes more confident in themselves then by all means they should continue to do them.
I have noticed the same thing with golfers. Almost all golfers have a practice swing routine that they do before they hit every single ball. I would agree that this superstition is a is extremely common with the majority of golfers and baseball players. Many of these superstitions show positive results and thats why I think that everyone has these superstitions.
I absolutely love going to baseball games! I have definitely noticed that baseball players have the same batter's dance every time they go up to the plate. Also I am have the same superstition of being isolated while I play sports. No one can disrupt me before I perform. (I'm a cheerleader) For some reason, in my mind, it really throws off my game and focus.
I too am very superstitious when it comes to playing sports. I played soccer through high school and had the same routine before every game. I wouldn't even use the restroom after I started warming up. I agree with you, if these superstitions were considered OCD nearly every athlete would have it. I also agree with many of the commenters,in that these superstitions are a way to help us relax and concentrate. It would be interesting to see what are the best methods for cooling "nerves" because psychology plays such a large role in sports.
I thought this was a great post! I used to play baseball as well and I know that I had superstitions or routines that I would go through before going to bat or going out to my position. I think that these routines are truly helpful to players. It puts a players mind at ease and allows them to have a little bit of confidence before playing. I think that sports, as well as many other activities in life, are largely mental. If you are not mentally prepared or if you think you will fail, then chances are you will not succeed.
I found this very interesting! I am also an athlete (gymnastics), so I kinda have an idea of what you're talking about. It seems to me that a lot about doing well in a sport is just feeling comfortable in knowing that you are able to do what your sport requires. These "superstitions" may not actually make you a better player, but I feel like they let your feel comfortable wherever you are and allow you to relax and just do what you've practiced.
Once again: very interesting!