Baseball Magic George Gmelch Analysis

Rituals and Superstitions

In various risky or uncertain situations many people find comfort in creating a routine providing them with a sense of security and control. This type of routine has the possibility to progress into a ritualistic practice that changes depending on the results. In George Gmelch “Baseball Magic,” he looks at the variations of superstition in America's national pastime of baseball. Gmelch compares the superstitious fishing practices of Trobriand Islanders to the superstitious practices of baseball. He argues that both are professions which use “a great deal of magical ritual to ensure safety” (pg.267). The game of baseball has various superstitious origins linked to it. Gmelch primarily focuses on hitting and pitching in his article. Daily rituals and fetishes are adopted to attract luck and keep it for as long as possible (pg.267).

George Gmelch compares the Trobriand fishermen to the U.S. baseball athletes. He uses a fishing story that involves two different opportunities for fishing. One being risky and out in the rough water, where the catch was far a few between. The other, was in the lagoon, which was safe and provided much fish. These fishermen did not need to use any sort of ritual for the calm lagoon, as they depended on their skills and intellect. On the other hand, they did need to

call upon some magical thinking when it came to the rougher environment. In which they had no control over.
When it comes to baseball players and their rituals, they use these because they feel it helps with having a successful performance every time.

These are mainly associated with pitching and hitting because these activities have the highest degree of chance, and fielding does not. When a player has a great home run, he will try to do the same thing he did prior to that home run. He may eat a taco or wear a long sleeve blue shirt, or wear dirty underwear. Clearly the rituals and superstitions of baseball do not guarantee anything in reality. However they do provide their believer a sense of control, and the added confidence they may need to

succeed.
In conclusion most people believe in some kind of superstition or have certain rituals they practice. This was an interesting article explaining the differences in rituals people believe in using baseball as an example. I do not think of myself a superstitious person in my daily life but now I am rethinking maybe I do.

Work Cited
Glench, George. "Baseball Magic." Mc Curdley and Spradley. Conformity and Conflict