Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-22
BASEBALL PLAYERS.
Their Superssitions Concerning
CrOss.ESYed MAE.

Cross-Eyed rgeH.
a cross-eyed man is the especial
horror OF the profession OF the bat and
ball. A spectator SO dlsfgured will
cause bigger commotion at base
ball game than the entrance of the
grand executive OF the nation would
If baseball player meets a cross.
eyed man on the street the effect is
magical. If the cross-eyed man insists
upon holdings d Conversation with the
player the effect is even more start
ling. 1t is the common practice among
players whan man is met who looks
in every direction except
straight ahead to yell "Muggins"
and skip. Other players will
expectorate over the little finer,
thinking in that way that the evil
spell will be broken. A careful can
vass has been made and the result
shows that among the hundreds OF
players who get their bread and but
ter by base ball there is NOT a full
blown, cross eyed man in the busi-
ness. There is one who looks slightly
askew and his debut in the Chicago
club will be watched with great deal
of interest. His nama is "Bob,
Petit, but as he looks in four direc-
tions at once, he cannot be said to be
a fuil-blown cross-eyed beauty. They
say he looks at the pitcher when
catching u bail going over his head in
lett field.
Great things are expected in a
baserunning from this PLAYER. He
will be terror to pitchers and ca a,ch-
efs. They say when he makes a
home-run his eyes start for third base
and his feet for first. 1t is Thought
that when Petit slides for second
base and the baseman sees him COM
ing with his eyes playing at cross
purposes, the baseman will utter a
yell OF dsmay and flee from the field.
Whether the signing of cross -eyed
player Will cause mutiny in a club
can be told better later in the season.
What do you know about cross
eyed people ?" was asked Of Manager
James Murrie the other day.
"Oh, l don't know. l don't think
there is a cross-eyed player in the
profession. That's hard to tell. The
other Giants might object to playing
with cross-eyed man. 1t is foolish,
OF course, but if 1 should see half a
dozen men with eyes askew coming
into the Polo Grounds | would 20
down under the grand stand and
drink a soda cocktail"
"Have you noticed any peculiari-
ties among the spectators who 20 to
the games ?' was asked John B. Day,
President Of the New York club.
"Yes. The greatest crank is the
man who thinks he must have the
same seat in the grand stand. If they
can't get that one eeat they think
they will Jonah the Giants. One
man will think that if he sits in the
sun that will bring good luck to his
baseball favorites.
Others want to always get into
the grounds by the same entrance"
continued the manager.
"Others Will always drop their tick
cts into the box with their left hand,
firmly believing that if the right hand
is used the home club will be beaten.
Others must get to the grounds at a
certain time to bring good luck with
them tor the Club"
"What do you know about baseball
superstitions ?' was the question put
to Manager Patrick Powers, OF the
Jersey City Club.
Powers face wrinkled, and then
smile stole out of the corners of his
mouth, and his eyes twinkled merrily.
"Lots," said he. "There is Billy
Keinzli. He believes that if he sees
a funeral in the morning that the
honre club will surely win that day.
Lots OF play ers believe that if they
see load of barrels or a hand-organ
before lunch hour it is good luck.
There is old 'Juce' Latham, who has
a little superstition all his own. If
sJuce' meets a negro on the way to the
ball grounds ne must make that
.colored gentleman laugh or his club
will be beaten. 'Juce' is miserable if
the darkeys refuse to grin, for he firm
ly believes that there is no luck for
his nine that day. A good many
players yell 'Mugsins,' spit over their
shoulder or turn their hat around
when they meet cross-eyed man.
l don't believe these silly things, OF
course"
"Would you hire cross-eyed play
er ?" asked the reporter.
81 IL guess l would, ii he was a
good player" replied Manager Pow
ers, with a smile.-[N. Y. Morning
Journal.