The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-06-06
A BALL PLAYERS LUCK.
HE WOOS FORTUNE WITH ALL
MANNER OF CHARMS.

ross-Eyed Man is an iII-Omeis,
While a Cross-Eyed Woman Brings
Victory Some Mines Have Their
Mascots.
The element of superstition is very
strong among ball tossers. This is
due in large measure to the fact that
in former years the class were mostly
illlterate men, who knew nothing bat
how to play bali, and whose supersei-
tions have become traditional in the
fraternity The mascot and 'shoo
doc" is recognized in everything, and
almost every act is believed to exert a
potent influence for good or bad in the
result of a game.
Nothing brings more joy to the
player than to have the coach which
is conveying him to the grounds meet
wagon loaded with barrels, provid-
ed the heads are in them. It is a sign
of good luck, and he goes into a game
with confidence that is in itself halt
the victory. He is a different player
and will play in manner to set the
bleaching boards wild with delight.
But woe betide him if he meets cross
eyed mau He will keep the scorers
busy mai king down errors opposite
his name, and his work will be char
acterized by listlessness and care
lessness that is begot of the knowledge
that it is perfectly useless for him to
attempt to play. He is under the ir-
fuence of an evil genius and cannot
get rid of it. On the other hand
when one meets a woman similarly
afflicted he is delirious with Joy, and
if it is the day of game be viii follow
the woman for squares and endeavor
by every artitice he possesses to attract
her attention and make her look at
him. There are some who are unchar-
| liable enough to say player Will not
take this trouble unless the woman is
comely, cut they all deny it.
When Wiz I'd" Shaw played Oh
| the Washingtons, he would never -
into the pitchers box except trom the
rear, aud he could never be induced
to'step into it without kicking a pebbie
cut. He kept supply on hand, and
before the game enough would be pur
| in conner of the box so he could kick
| oneout when he started to pitch
Shaw had another popularity Of al
ways talking to the batter, and al
though he did this for the purpose O
| diveTting the attention of Tie batter
it became such a fixed habit that l.,
| could not avoid doing it when nractic
ing.
Jack Farrell, when he captained
the Washington team, used % posses;
al iliosyncrasy that many Of his col
leagues haye. He would make lit
tie mound Of pebbles near the position
he was playing, AMI busted himsei1
during the game throwing them iut,
the field He limited himself to .
certain number each inning, and it Ha.
common sight to see Captain Jack
during the morning industriously eli
deavoring to find the same pebbles h.
had thrown away the day before.
Billy O'Brien, the big, hard hitting
first baseman Of the Washingtons, ha:
but one superstition. When he frs
went there he discovered l,Ltle bunc:
Of clover near the base, and thereattet
he made a practice OF placing his glove
over it at the conclusion Vi each il.
ming. So reIigiously does he beliey,
this will bring him good luck tha
when the season commences he plant
ii lot of clover seed near the base, an,
! he IS on hand when the grass i trim
med to see that his clover patch isnD
disturbed.
There are many other Instance Q
individual attempts to influence -
fates. Some players wear charm.
those from the South usually ear yin.
rabbits feet and the ot.ier charms {
all kinds and varieties. Ad Gum
bert, cf the Chicago Club, u.e,i t
wear garter when he WAS ~iln y
Steubenville Club, but h. wol.,l neye
tell where he obtained il. i'hr reccl
T journey around the worlti las furnish
ed the men who MADE it with ch.ic
colIec, ION ,f articles supposed - r..
sess soothsaylng properties Ell Gran
has u monkey he proposes 10 make h
special divinity daring the season, All
Fogarty, Of the Pniladelplias, varris
with him i lock OF hair which he ot
tanned from dusky maiden at ii3nt
lulu.
\ number OF the players wear ring
they believe possess magic powers, an
if it is given to them by some trie4
after lucky game II makes the pre-
cut all the more valuable. But unde
no circumstances ever give d ba
. player an opal. They regard the ston
= as an omen of bad luck, and will g
rid of it at the first opportunity, eve
, if they accept it, which is doubtful.
: Players do not like to receive pre-
ents OF Il ,wers just before they 90 |
the bat, for the reason ii 'hoadovs
. them and they cannot hit the ha
throughout the remainder Of Il
E game.
, The carrying of a mascot by the V.
rious clubs has gone oot of fashid
somewhat. It originated in the vii
and woolly West, and for the ne,
two years afterwards every first ella
g club had mascot. The style ran
! freaks of nature, and q dwarf, "a hum
back or giant was sure Of an e
gagement and good salary. II
only club in the country oday th
: has mascot is the Chicagos.