Baseball Magic Gmelch Summary

INTRODUCTION

In “Baseball Magic”, Gmelch explores how baseball players perform rituals in order to receive good luck during their tournament. Gmelch compares the rituals of American baseball players to those of the Trobriand Islanders. The baseball players use magic, specifically rituals, taboos and fetishes to control their fear of failure. These rituals are primarily focused on players who pitch or hit since their positions in the game allow one to score points for their team (1). If a baseball player does gain points for his team, he will do the same ritual he did for the previous game because he believes it will lead to another successful outcome for his team. The baseball player may chew on the same piece of gum each game or wear religious medallions around his neck (2). Gmelch demonstrates how rituals do not change the outcomes for the baseball players nor does it facilitate the process of catching fish for Trobriand Islanders. However, rituals give believers, like the baseball players, a sense of control and confidence to succeed.

DISCUSSION

Glenn Davis, a former hitter in the National League, chewed on the same piece of gum each game and saved it underneath his cap for the next game (2). This ritual is personal because only one individual is performing this behavior and not the whole team (2). By chewing on to the same piece of gum each game, Davis is certain that his luck will remain present. The piece of gum is not only part of his ritual, but also symbolic in the sense that it is a resource to bring out luck. Juan Gonzalez, a former Major League Baseball right fielder, visibly wore religious medallions around his neck (2). Jewelry can be seen as good luck charms in the domain of rituals since they are believed to bring good luck to