Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-10-16
BALL PLAYERS suPERsTlTIoNs.
Matters Other Than skln Upon who

Matters Other Than Skill Upon Which
They Believe victory Depends.
Few persons who attend the great base
ball games in this vicinity know that
base ball players are the most supersti-
tious of men. 1t is not generally under
stood that skill has very little to do with
the result of match. A bird flying over
the field, the flag blowing in a certain
direction, little boy picked up by one
of the mines, goat or a dog wandering
across the diamond while the game is go
ing on-these are the things which in
cline victory to one side or the other.
Mascots seem to be the latest craze
among ball players. Last season the
mascot of the Chicago club was the
cause of their winning the cham
pionship-that is, the players say
SO, and it would be hard work to change
their opinion. The Detroit club are try
ing the mascot business this season, and
they think with success. Managers say
that the idea that a mascot helps club
to win is undoubtedly a good thing, az
it serves to make them play with more
spirit and greater sharpness. To show
what superstitious ideas ball players
have, here is little list:
Porter, the Brooklyn player, is the
owner of red jersey, which he has worn
in every game he has pitched for the
Brooklyn club. He thinks that it would
be impossible to win game without it,
and should he be forced to go on the
field without it, the idea that he would
lose would be so compressed upon his mind
that he surely would lose the game. In
st. Louis last season, the jersey was at
the laundry, and he could not get 1t out.
He was SO affected that he cried. The
jersey was recovered, however, by one
of the directors of the club just in the
nick of time, and Porter won the game.
The Detroit club have colored boy
born with teeth, and they would not ex-
change him for his weight in gold. The
Metropolitan club, as whole, believe
that white stockings and blue caps are
the only lucky dress that player can
wear. If the club see a load Of empty
barrels going in the same direction as
themselves, it is sign of good luck.
Last fall, when there was great de-
mand for the pictures Of the New York
team, they refused to have them taken,
as they were laboring under the belief
that it would bring them bad luck.
Their recent bad luck was owing, they
say, to their not having mascot. Now
that they have one, they are playing
good ball.
Smith, of the Brooklyn club, has q
mascot all to himself. He takes him on
the field every day, and has him bat fly
balls, which Smith catches Thus Smith
says he is sure of getting two or three
base hits in the following game.
The Brooklyn club don't take to boy
mascots, but they have mascot all the
same. 1t is black pigeon. Whenever
this pigeon circles around over the bal
ground the Brooklyn club will win
When the black pigeon flies out with
two white ones the score will be close.
A yellow dog once wandered upon thu
Polo grounds, and was adopted by thu
New York club as mascot. 1t did no
bring the club luck, but it got its pound
, of beefsteak every day.
Another great idea that the ball playel
gets is that some certain person bring
his side bad luck, and that they viii
never win game when the person il
present.
Players have been known to turn
shirts wrong side out before beginning
play, and to sleep at night always on tn
same side, with their heads in a certain
position. Anew York Sun.