‘Royals’ Banned In SF By Giants Fans? Five Baseball Superstitions MORE Bizarre Than This Lorde Diss!
If you’re a non-baseball fan or even a non-sports fan, hearing about how San Francisco has banned Lorde’s “Royals” from the radio probably left you scratching your head.
It’s one thing to ban a Lorde song for being annoying and overplayed. However, banning “Royals” because it was vaguely inspired by rivals? That might be considered by some to be a bridge too far.
But wait!
Believe it or not, the move to take this one song off the air doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of bizarre baseball stories. Here are five superstitions far stranger than San Francisco getting rid of Lorde’s hit song.
Selling A Car Because It’s Bad Luck
If you’re experiencing a run of bad luck, there are probably a number of things you’d blame it on before settling on a new car.
Especially if that car happens to be a Mercedes Benz.
Ken Griffey Jr. took one look at his brand new car and decided it just “didn’t have any hits in it.” Like that, it was gone.
Say what you want to about San Francisco’s decision to do without the Lorde hit “Royals,” the decision to say goodbye to an “unlucky car” easily tops it!
Curse Of The Billy Goat
Think Giants fans are going to be mad at Lorde if “Royals” proves a definite jinx? Chicago Cubs fans have long blamed their club’s misfortunes on a man and his pet goat!
The story goes that Bill Sianis, the owner of The Billy Goat Tavern was attending game 4 of the World Series with a pet goat.
The spectators allegedly grew offended at the animal and its smell, and requested that both it and Sianis be promptly thrown out.
When he and his goat were put out, the man was said to have promptly laid out a hex on the Cubs that would prevent them from ever winning another World Series. Since that year, Chicago has not been back to the World Series.
Larry Walker And The Number Three
The decision to place Larry Walker third on the list is no mere coincidence.
Walker didn’t just wear the number 33 jersey, the number three itself is something he believed played a HUGE role in his career.
Larry would take practice swings in multiples of three, set his alarm clock for 33 minutes past the hour. And he even married on November 3rd… at 3:33 p.m.
While there are no specific numbers associated with “Royals,” a Kansas City radio station has said the Lorde song will be played every hour on the hour. If the Kansas City Royals win the World Series, do you think this superstition will catch on?
Curse Of The Bambino
This is one that even non-baseball fans may be familiar with as it is one of the most pervasive myths in modern American history.
The story is that in 1920 Red Sox owner Harry Frazee needed some extra cash. So he reportedly thought nothing of selling off the contract for one George Herman Ruth, or “Babe” Ruth, to the New York Yankees.
What followed was the Yankees becoming the most successful baseball franchise in history and “The Babe” becoming a sports demigod. As for the Red Sox, they failed to win the World Series for decades following his sale. This World Series streak was finally broken in 2004, with another win in 2007.
It’s hard to think Lorde or her “Royals” hit will possible last as long in the minds of rival baseball fans as this legendary superstition.
Ronald Reagan’s “No Hitter” Policy
If things go terribly for the Giants, the entire city of San Francisco may never mention Lorde, “Royals,” or any of her songs ever again.
Would it be sour grapes or a method of avoiding a jinx?
Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan had a career as a radio announcer, during which time he vehemently refused to mention the possibility of a “no-hitter” during the course of the game. His steadfast refusal to say anything to jinx the pitcher is something that broadcasters continue to abide by even to this day.
As you can see, Lorde’s “Royals” isn’t nearly as bizarre as the various beliefs that baseball fans, players, and teams hold close to the vest.
What other famous or bizarre baseball beliefs are you aware of?
[Image Credit: Annette Geneva]
