It always amuses me and I get a kick out of seeing the various "nuances" of players getting ready for a game or an at-bat. Sometimes it is just how they adjust their batting gloves, or eating a special meal, or special music they listen to. But I'm curious to hear the different "rituals or superstitions" your sons utilize in preparation for a game, pitching, or an at-bat. Anyone care to share?
Posts: 2634 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: December 30, 2002
Luvbb - I could make a huge list here. I think son and I tend to be very superstitous.
First of all, I tend to look for "signs" in all parts of my life. They're easy to find, just not easy to read!
Son has had many "traditions" that I'm sure he will probably continue in college. He keeps his batting gloves in his back pocket - doesn't wear them to hit. However, he holds one when running the bases. He also has a certain ritual he does with his bat when up to bat. I won't mention it, because if I was a pitcher facing him, I'd disrupt that ritual if I had the chance!
When our HS were state runner up in my son's junior year - they wouldn't wash the uniforms for each "section" of the playoffs. Let me tell ya, three games in 90 degree heat!!!! All I can say, it was a good thing he could drive and had a jeep that the top came off. The uni had to be left in the garage too!
Posts: 5357 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: December 30, 2004
I'm very much the same way...superstitious. Not ONE thing in particular, it depends on the game. IF my son gets a hit at his first at bat...then I have to duplicate EVERYTHING I was doing at the time. For example, one game I was at began at 7 p.m. and the sun was really shining so I had on my sunglasses. Son laces a double first at bat...so of course I had to keep my sunglasses on. BUT...the game didn't end until 10 p.m. and there I was with my sunglasses still on so as not to break the spell. Now if he DOESN'T get a hit his first at bat....I've got to try something different for each subsequent at bat until he gets a hit. Funny....I act like I actually have the POWER to keep him doing GREAT things, or to break the bad spell.
Posts: 2634 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: December 30, 2002
Running onto and off the field after defense - never ever step on the lines.
Tape your white undersocks to your calves.
Place the glove down on the bench with the face open.
Before every play in the field - three shuffles with the feet - right left right.
And on and on it goes.
I passed them all on to my son.
LOL
You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
Posts: 5809 | Location: Huntersville,NC | Registered: December 27, 2002
Luvbb - The playoffs that I spoke of earlier had many superstitions tied to them. We actually sent one mom back out to her car because she showed up to a game without wearing her "lucky" shirt. Fortunately for the boys, she had it in the car! A friend of mine that came to the games was asked by another friend of his, who I was. The other person asked him "who is the woman that wears that pink shirt all the time". LOL That would be me!!!!! However, unlike the boys, I did wash it between each and every game! It can be hard work to win those ballgames!!!
Posts: 5357 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: December 30, 2004
My son probably has a few but they just don't come to mind right now. But one that does is that when he's at bat he'll step out of the box to get the signs, step back in then he twirls the bat by the knob before getting his stance. It looks dorky and it drives me up a wall. Funniest thing ever was when he did it once and conked himself on the helmet.
***************************** "Hey dad.......wanna have a catch?"
Posts: 2747 | Location: NE Ohio | Registered: January 10, 2004
Don't think my son has any that I am aware of but last year the parents had one that was pretty funny.
Our team was notorious for slow starts, finally in the 2 or 3rd game I bought a bag of shelled peanuts in the 5th inning and everybody had to have at least one. We made a nice comeback and won the game. From that game on we had to start the peanuts in the 5th inning and it was almost comical how many times it seemed to work. Even got to the point where someone was responsible for bringing them to away games in case the snack bar didn't carry them.
Posts: 800 | Location: Boynton Beach, FL | Registered: December 26, 2002
jme - this is another thing that we started son's junior year.... bubble gum. We had a mom who brought a huge bag and wound pass around to everyone. It was imperative that everyone chewed a piece.
In the spring of son's senior year, this mom was still in Florida when we started our year although her son had graduated. I received a phone call at my condo that she was coming over. She brought a huge bag of gum and had a "passing of the gum" ceremony! We looked for any reason to celebrate!!!
Posts: 5357 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: December 30, 2004
My son's team had their routine down going to the state semis last year. Go to the mall. Eat at the same place. Play the same game at the video arcade. Go by one of the players' houses to use the bathroom. Go to the field. Same thing--througout the season. Only time they did NOT get to do it was the day of the state semis since it was out of town. We lost.
JT
Posts: 3522 | Location: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: January 15, 2003
Interesting question. I don't know of any specific ones my son may have. He doesn't appear to have rituals but I am sure he probably does. I'll have to ask him the next time I talk to him. Neither of us are very superstitious but baseball seems to cause one to act this way sometimes
Posted February 06, 2006 06:40 PM February 06, 2006 06:40 PM
quote: Originally posted by lafmom: Beez - I can see you have little appreciation of the finer aspects of baseball. "Dorky" is not dorky if it works!
Speaking of "Dorky", Kevin DORKO has to chime in. Now I thought I was nuts but it sounds like all of you or your sons do the same thing. I eat chicken and chocolate everyday before I leave for the ball park. On the way there I listen to Pearl Jam. Once I get there I unload my stuff, here is a list all in it's own 1) Leg guards out shell down, side by side 2) catcher's helmet under mask 3) batting gloves in batting helmet 4) Bat on bat rack with the side that says "Platinum" facing out. After I unload my stuff I jog down behind home plate and pick up a handful of dirt and say all negative words in it and "throw it away", that last one sounds a little corny but I worked the first time I did it so now I keep doing it. Finally before every plate appearance, I hold the bat at my letters and drastically wave it three times (toward the pitcher, backstop, pitcher) and I step with my right foot in first and get ready to hit.
My name really is Kevin Dorko so, naturally, on top of all this people think it suits me. IDK, an long as I think it works and it gets me in the zone than there is nothing wrong with it, right?
-Kevin
#Pop 'n Glide, Pop 'n Gilde, see the ball before you stride.
#Pop 'n Glide, Pop 'n Gilde, see the ball before you stride.
Posts: 228 | Location: Latrobe, PA | Registered: November 06, 2005
i have a weird one if i strike someone out to end the inning i walk back if they fly out or ground out i trot back ( but never touching the foul line. )
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for life.
Posts: 121 | Location: bayonne, new jersey | Registered: November 25, 2005
I like the "picking up dirt, saying negative words in, and throwing it out"
Between my freshman and sophomore year in Junior Legion, I went over a month wearing a long sleeve Under Armour shirt for all of our games. That was in 100+ heat, mind you.
Other things I do is I almost never take my left-hand batting glove off. The only time is when I'm tying my shoes or am not actively involved (not in the lineup).
Ball cap I've worn since 8th grade thru freshman and sophomore years as well as Junior Legion last year. Never been washed. Sadly I have to start with a new cap this year as we are getting new unis and a new cap.
I try to always sit in the same seat on the bus on road trips.
Finally, during infield practice, I wear full gear the entire time.
"The Harder You Work, The Harder It is to Surrender"
Posts: 869 | Location: Waterloo, IL--Cape Girardeau, MO | Registered: February 05, 2006
I'll tell ya on the ball cap thing, my son always tried to do the "can't wash" thing, but I'm way too obsessive and would always locate and wash it when he wasn't around or wearing it. Always respected his other supersititions but just couldn't get on board with that one!!!
Posts: 5357 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: December 30, 2004
