While every sport has its own quirks, baseball is ripe with it superstitions that drive how the games are played and how players behave and participate. Most of these rules are unwritten but have evolved into pivotal facets of the sport. Here’s a list of some unspoken do’s and don’ts of baseball.
What Not to Do:
Step on the White Lines
If you pay attention to baseball players running off or onto the field, you will notice they jump over the white foul lines. While this habit has existed for as long as anyone can remember, it is continually practiced because it is thought that stepping directly on the white lines causes bad luck.
Cross the Mound
While it may accidentally happen in games, most baseball players abide by the unspoken rule to never run over the pitcher’s mound. It is uncertain whether there is any superstition attached to this rule, or whether avoiding the mound is out of respect for the pitchers who meticulously prepare it, but most baseball players will play it safe and run around the mound.
Talk to a Focused Pitcher
If a pitcher has progressed several no-hit hittings, it is universally understood to refrain from talking to the pitcher. While encouragement may seem the proper route, baseball players acknowledge the pitcher is incredibly focused and any distraction could break the concentration. Players who do not want to be the jinx will avoid talking to a pitcher until after the game.
Baseball players who hit well—especially those who either tie the game or secure a lead—might flip the bat into the air as they run bases. This gesture, however, is considered disrespectful by most players. Players who are not aware of the unspoken rule to refrain from bat flipping often invoke pitchers hitting players with their pitches, verbal fights, and physical brawls. Seeing as teams do not tend to forget when they have been disrespected during games, it is best to leave the bat flipping in the dirt.
What to Do:
Backup a Brawl
It’s not uncommon for brawls to erupt on the field, often between pitchers and batters. When a brawl breaks out, it is an unspoken rule that everyone clears the dugout to support the action. Regardless of who is in the right or in the wrong, this gesture is about proving your loyalty and dedication to your team and teammates.
Bring Out the Rally Caps
When a team has been struggling to make headway during a game, it is not uncommon for teams to bring out the rally caps for encouragement. Rally caps are regular baseball hats, but worn sideways, backward, with the bill propped up, or inside out. While it has not been proven whether rally caps guarantee a spark or win, rally caps boost camaraderie and enthusiasm, which might be enough to turn games or losing streaks around.