Baseball Fans of New York Yankees Are Known for Their Superstitions
Patrick Ewing once stated that New York Yankees fans are the most superstitious in Major League Baseball (MLB), with a fervent following that is the fourth-most superstitious in all major professional sports. The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Cowboys share the top spot for most superstitious fan bases, followed by the Green Bay Packers in second and the Pittsburgh Steelers in third. The Yankees, however, are a close fourth.
These passionate fans believe that by performing a specific ritual or repeating a behavior, they can influence the outcome of a game.
One such superstition is the fear of jinxing a no-hitter or a perfect game. To prevent this, teammates will avoid pitchers during no-hit attempts in the dugout and announcers will avoid using the words "no-hitter" during their broadcast, while fans would refrain from even uttering the phrase.
During a game in 2019, New York Yankees starter Domingo German successfully threw a perfect game against the Oakland A's, with no hits or walks allowed. This achievement comes with a unique story: German was so deep in thought about pitching a perfect game throughout the night that his teammates, especially catcher Kyle Higashioka, didn't mention it out of fear of jinxing it.
Another notable example is Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez, who meticulously avoided stepping on the foul lines while pitching for the Yankees during the late 1990s. This superstition is shared by many players but El Duque took it a step further with his vigilance.
Roger Clemens, a Yankees pitcher in the late 90s, had his own ritual as well. After finishing his warm-ups in the bullpen during home games at Yankee Stadium, he would rub the sweat on his forehead on Babe Ruth's plaque in Monument Park to bring him luck.
Five-time batting champion Wade Boggs continued his well-known ritual when he joined the Yankees, which included consuming chicken before every game, regardless of whether it was day or night.
In 1996, Jason Giambi donned a gold thong for the simple reason of snapping his hitting slump. He passed the tradition along to teammates Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon, both of whom tried it. Jeter said he only wore it once, hitting a homerun on the first pitch.
Jeter was also known for rubbing the head of bench coach Don Zimmer for good luck. Zimmer would take off his cap and Jeter would then rub his head.
Personally, as a lifelong Yankees fan, I don't believe in superstitions. However, when I moved away from New York City, I developed some playoff-time rituals to feel closer to home. Every time the Yankees won a playoff game, I'd wear the same outfit until they lost and then retired it. A few of my favorite hats were sacrificed in this manner.
In the 2019 ALCS against the Houston Astros, relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman gave up a walkoff home run to Jose Altuve. The Yankees were eliminated in this agonizing defeat. Aroldis' garments were also given the axe.
In conclusion, Yankees fans are some of the most superstitious in MLB and this can be seen through the rituals performed by teammates and players over the years. Although there may be no scientific basis for these acts, they illustrate how deeply devoted they are to their team and their desire to influence the outcome of games.
In 2019, I owned a branded hoodie that the Yankees wore during their batting practice that season. I haven't put it on since that upsetting night. The hoodie is now deep in a drawer, covered in dust, as it would bring back terrible memories.
People's Silliest Superstitions
People have these little absurd superstitions they follow when watching the Yankees. It's anything from wearing a favorite hat to drinking certain drinks, or sitting in specific seats. I reached out to some friends and family members, trying to find some unique superstitions they have while cheering for the Bronx Bombers.
"In 1996, during the World Series," Jerry Engel, a Miami-based attorney narrated. "A group of us truly dedicated Yankees fans would meet daily, always at the same place and in the same seats. We'd drink the same beverages."
"During college, we'd drink these special 'rally' beers when the Yankees' starting pitcher was about to be taken out," Derek McGuire, an insurance underwriter and ardent fan from the Bronx, reminisced.
"We only used certain glasses for our beers during the playoffs," Will Lambert, an environmental engineer and Yankee lover from Denver, chimed in. "We'd also toast to every Yankees home run."
"If the Yankees are ahead, towards the end of the game, and the commentators are about to announce that the Yankees will win, I always turn down the volume," Jay Sheer, a musician from Manhattan and loyal supporter, admitted. "I'm not keen on predicting a victory before it's certain."
Regardless of these superstitions, the Yankees have not won an AL pennant since 2009, which is also the last time they claimed a World Series victory.
The once-powerful Yankees sport bettors are giving them +2200 chances to win the 2023 World Series, and +1300 to secure the AL pennant in October. If fans want to help the Yankees restore their former glory, they must wear their lucky charms - hats and jerseys - as the Yankees are $-170 to miss the playoffs this year, as per a DraftKings prop bet.
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