It's no secret that professional athletes are always looking for an edge over their competition. Whether it's a new training regimen, the latest nutritional supplement, or something as simple as a lucky talisman, pro athletes will try just about anything to give themselves a boost. It turns out that some Major League Baseball pitchers have been turning to an unlikely source for help on the mound: their hats.
That's right, there's been a recent trend of pitchers using Vaseline or another type of petroleum jelly on their hat brim to help them get a better grip on the ball. The theory is that by coating their fingers with a little bit of Vaseline, pitchers can get a better feel for the ball and therefore have more control over their pitches.
So far, the results have been mixed. Some pitchers swear by the technique and say it has helped them immensely, while others have found that it doesn't make much of a difference at all. As with anything else in baseball, it probably comes down to each individual pitcher and what works best for him or her.
If you're curious about trying this out yourself, there's no harm in giving it a shot. Just be sure to use a small amount of Vaseline so you don't end up making too much of a mess!