New book explores magic and superstitions in baseball's history
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 5, 2026, 9:00 AM
Last updated Jun 5, 2026
A new book titled "The Magical Game: The Spirit and History of Baseball’s Superstitions, Rituals, and Curses" by Addy Baird highlights the role of superstitions in baseball. It recounts legends like the Curse of the Billy Goat, linked to the Chicago Cubs, and discusses practices from players across eras. Baird, a New York Mets fan, shares how personal superstitions developed while following her team. The book examines how the structure and nature of baseball contribute to its unique connection with luck and rituals. It was released this week.
- •Addy Baird's book released this week on baseball superstitions.
- •Cubs' Curse of the Billy Goat dates back to 1945 World Series.
- •Baird discusses personal superstitions while supporting the Mets.
- •Baseball's unique game structure emphasizes luck and rituals.
- 9:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — The strange history of baseball’s superstitions: ‘Magic is in the sport’s very structure’
- 9:00 AMYahoo Sports — The strange history of baseball’s superstitions: ‘Magic is in the sport’s very structure’
"A new book looks at how rituals, charms and curses are central to the identity of America’s pastime It’s a Chicago legend, nurtured like a hot dog with everything except ketchup. During the 1945 World Series, local bar owner William Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, to a game between the hometown Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Murphy was denied entry, because he smelled. Thus began the Curse of the Billy Goat, dooming Chicago’s NL entry to decades of also-ran status. As Sianis reportedly wrote team owner Philip Knight Wrigley after the Tigers won in 1945, “Who smells now?” The Cubs would not win another title until 2016. Welcome to the world of magic in baseball. On the macro level, a goat can apparently change the fortunes of an entire team; on the micro level, batters engage in elaborate rituals at the plate, and no one dares to say “no-hitter” until the final out. It’s a narrative that goes back to baseball’s 19th-century origins, and it’s all chronicled in a new book out this week – The Magical Game: The Spirit and History of Baseball’s Superstitions, Rituals, and Curses by author, journalist, astrologer and New York Mets fan Addy Baird. Continue reading...
"A new book looks at how rituals, charms and curses are central to the identity of America’s pastime
Sources
External links- The Guardian SportJun 5, 2026, 9:00 AMThe strange history of baseball’s superstitions: ‘Magic is in the sport’s very structure’
A new book looks at how rituals, charms and curses are central to the identity of America’s pastime It’s a Chicago legend, nurtured like a hot dog with everything except ketchup. During the 1945 World Series, local bar owner William Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, to a game between the hometown Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Murphy was denied entry, because he smelled. Thus began the Curse of the Billy Goat, dooming Chicago’s NL entry to decades of also-ran status. As Sianis reportedly wrote team owner Philip Knight Wrigley after the Tigers won in 1945, “Who smells now?” The Cubs would not win another title until 2016. Welcome to the world of magic in baseball. On the macro level, a goat can apparently change the fortunes of an entire team; on the micro level, batters engage in elaborate rituals at the plate, and no one dares to say “no-hitter” until the final out. It’s a narrative that goes back to baseball’s 19th-century origins, and it’s all chronicled in a new book out this week – The Magical Game: The Spirit and History of Baseball’s Superstitions, Rituals, and Curses by author, journalist, astrologer and New York Mets fan Addy Baird. Continue reading...
- Yahoo SportsJun 5, 2026, 9:00 AMThe strange history of baseball’s superstitions: ‘Magic is in the sport’s very structure’
A new book looks at how rituals, charms and curses are central to the identity of America’s pastime
Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
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