Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker described some of the superstitious activities he partakes in during games.
Baseball is inherently superstitious, with well established traditions like stepping over foul lines when entering the field or not talking about in-progress no hitters becoming generally accepted rules. Players have taken it to another level while trying to maintain good form, though, and have adopted their own special routines during games.
“I think a lot of it kind of comes from like my routine, like stuff that I do every single day, and if things aren’t necessarily going my way or whatever, I just try to switch batting glove or cleats or just get a different bat,” Tucker told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson.
“Like, even today, my first at bat, I had two bats that I had wrapped and one that wasn’t. In my first at-bat, I struck out and I had a feeling I wanted to use a new bat. So I went and wrapped that and I got a hit and barrel and stuff. So I’m going to use that one from now on. But it’s little things like that that. I’m a little superstitious. I’ll always be chewing gum. If I get out, I’ll switch it out. If I get out with a good at bad and stuff, I’ll keep it. Just whatever’s working, whatever’s having success at the time, I’ve just got to ride with.”
It’s not just his equipment, though. Tucker said he also experiments with different types of gum to see how he performs with each.
“I’ll switch it up if I’m struggling,” Tucker said. “For the most part, I’ll go three pieces. If I’m struggling, I’ll go two. If I’m still struggling, I’ll go one or sugar-free or something. It’s just little things like that. It also just kind of switches things mentally. You’re like, ‘Oh, maybe this will help’ and you’ll stop thinking about it.
“Just whatever works, I’m down to try.”
Tucker isn’t the only superstitious Dodger either, as the LA Times’ Karen Garcia compiled several fan superstitions ahead of the final couple of games of the 2025 World Series.
What Superstitions do Fans Have?
Altadena resident Tom Horner has a candle which he has had since Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series, and he kept it lit for the entirety of the 18-inning thriller in Game 3 of 2025’s Fall Classic.
Other superstitions listed in the article range from common — things like an unwashed shirt — to obscure things like avoiding watching live games entirely.
Do you have any gameday superstitions?
LA Baseball Report
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