Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-07
Rail- Players Super~ttttons.

MATTERS OTHER THAN SKILL UPON WHICH
THEY BELIEVE VICTORY DEPENDS.
From the New York Sun
Few persons who attend the great ball earnes
In this vicinity know that base ball players are
the most superstitious of men. 1t is not yeper.
ally understood that skill has very little TO do
with the result Of a match. A bird flying over
the held, the nag blowing In a certain direction
little boy picked up by one OF the mines. a
goat or dog wandering across the diamond
while the game 10 going on-these are tho
things which incline victory TO one side or the
other. Mascots seem To he the latest craze
among ball players. Last season the mascot of
the chicago club was tue cause OF their win.
ming the cEampionship-that IL, the players saw
So and IL would be hard work 10 change their
opinion. TIE Detroit club are trying tue mss-
cot business this season, aud they thiuk vim
success. Managers say that the idea that mas
cot helps Clue 10 win Is undoubtedly - good
thing, as II serves 10 make them play with
more spirit and greater sharpness. TO show
what superstitious ideas bail play ers have here
Is n little list:
Porter, the Brooklyn player, is the owner OF q
red jersey, which he has worn In every game
he has pitched for the Brooklyn club. he
thinks that IL would be impo,sb lie 20 win a
game without IL, and should lac DE tor ced 10 40
On the held without IL, the idea that he would
lose would he 50 Impressed upon his IN nd that
last season. the jersey WAS at the laundry and
he could not get IL OUT. he was Affected that
ne ne cried. The jersey was recovered. however.
Dy one o1 The directors vi the club lust in the
nick OF time, aud Porter wOn the game.
Tue Detroit club have a coloreI bow born with
teeth, and they would not exchange him tor his
weight in gold.
Last Iali, when there was q great demand for
the pictures vi the New YORK team, they re.
fused to have them taken, as they were labor.
Ing under the belief that IL would bring them
bad LUCK. Their recent bad luck WAS owing
they say, TO their not having a mascot Now
That they have one, they are playing good ball
Smith, Oh The Brooklyn ciuo, mas a mascot all
10 himself. lie takes HIM on the neld every
day, and has him lat DIV balls, which smith
catches. Thus Smith says he is sure of get
ting Two or three base hits In the following
game.
TIE Brooklyn club don't take to boy mascots
put they have u mascot ali the same. It In q
black pigeon. Whenever this pigeon circles
around over the ball ground the BROOKLYN CLUB
wil win. W hen the black pigeon flies out with
Two white ones the score Will De close.
yellow dog once wandered upon the Polo
grounds, and was adopted by the New YORK.
club as a mascot 1t did not bring the clue luck
but ii got It's pound OF beefsteak every day.
Another great idea that the ball player gets Ia
That some certain person brings his side bad
luck, and IL Il they Will never win "A game when
the person Is Present
Players have been known TO turn shirts wrong
side out before beginning play, and TO sleep az
nisht always GA Tue same side, with their heads
IN a certain position.
Jimmy Roseman, Of the Metropolitan club.
always lakes up his position on the forward
part of the Staten Island ferryboat and looks
that uoat over the grounds. Ii the green one 10
there, the club is sure OF victory. IL has nos
been there very much this year. The Metro
poiitan club, as whole, believe that white
dress that "A player can wear. In the Tub see q
load OF empty barrels going In the same direc-
uon as themselves, IL Is sign OF good luck.
These are only y the beliefs entertained
by our local players. All subs are alike Ina the
respect OF superstition, though what will bring
one luck WAL bring another misfortune.