Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-07
BALL PLAYERS suPsasrIrIoNs.
Matters Other Than Skill Upon which
They Believe Victory Depends.

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. It Is not generally under
stood that skill has very little to do with
the result OF a match. A bird flying over
the field, the nag blowing In a certain
direction, little boy picked up by one
Of thenines, a goat or 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 bah 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 mascot helps club
to win is undoubtedly good thing, as
II 1t 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 a 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 80 impressed upon his MIND
that he surely would lose the game. In
st. Louis last season, the jersey was al
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 th'
nick of time, and Porter won the game
The Detroit club have colored boy
born with teeth, and they would not ok
change him for his weight in gold. Tn
Metropolitan club, as whole, believe
that white stockings and blue caps ar
the only lucky dress that player car
wear. If the club see load of empt,
barrels going in the same direction a
themselves, it is a sign of good luck.
Last fall, when there was great dc
mand for the pictures of the New Yorl
team, they refused to have them taken
~ they were laboring under the belle
that it would bring them bad luck
Their recent bad luck was owing, the,
say, to their not having mascot Nov
that they have one, they are playing
good ball.
Smith, of the Brooklyn club, has
mascot all to himself. He takes him Of
the field every day, and has him bat a.
balls which Smith catches. Thus Smit
says he is sure of getting two or tire
base hits in the following game.
The Brooklyn club don't take to DO
mascots, but they have mascot all tn
same. 1t is black pigeon. Wheneve
this pigeon circles around over the ba
ground the Brooklyn club will win
When the black pigeon flies out wit
two white ones the score will be elose.
A yellow dog once wandered upon tn
Polo grounds, and was adopted by tn
New York club as a mascot. 1t did Nc
bring the club luck, but it got its poun
OF beefsteak every day. kt 4
Another great idea that the ball plays
gets is that some certain person bring
his side bad luck, and that they wi
never win q game when the person
present.
Players have been known to trlr
shirts wrong side out before beginnin
play, and 10 sleep at night always on IL
same side, with their heads in certai
position. York Sun.