Superstition in baseball is universal

CALIFORNIA — American baseball players are notoriously superstitious. Baseball lore is filled with tales of batters who obsessively have to adjust their batting gloves and helmets during an at-bat, tug their sleeves or knock dirt from their cleats between each pitch. Some players kiss religious necklaces and even practice voodoo rituals in the belief it will help them perform better. There are players on a winning streak or other success on the field, who may refuse to wash their socks or underwear — thereby creating an unpleasant aroma in the clubhouse.

But there are many, many more — like the dictum it is bad luck to discuss a no-hitter in progress by a pitcher who is a teammate, or step on the foul lines coming on and off the field. We discussed the Billy Goat curse on the Chicago Cubs in an earlier column.