Tag Archives: baseball

Folk Metaphor – United States

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Hinsdale, Il
Performance Date: April 28, 2008
Primary Language: English

Folk metaphor- United States

“Can of Corn”

This is a popular metaphor used in baseball. When a player makes an easy catch, it is known as a “can of corn.” Alex said has known this saying since he was very young, as he played and watched baseball in his youth and it is a popular saying. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois, a small western suburb of Chicago, but the metaphor is used throughout the country.

Alex thinks he knows the origins of the metaphor. He learned the origin of this metaphor while playing a computer video game. He doesn’t remember the name of the game but thinks it could have been Triple Play 2001. During the game, the commentators explained that “can of corn” originates from the very early days of baseball (baseball was invented in the mid 1800s). In the grocery stores back in those days, they used to keep the can of corns high on the shelves, and whenever they needed one, they would use broomsticks to knock it down and catch the can as it came falling down. It was easy catching the can of corn and thus, an easy catch in baseball was called a “can of corn.”

I’m not sure how the phrase “can of corn” became a baseball metaphor, but it is easy to see why people call an easy catch a “can of corn.” The process of catching an easy fly ball in baseball is very similar to catching a can of corn falling from the top shelves of a grocery store. Back in the mid to late 1800s, baseball was much more of an intimate sport between the community and the players (the community was part of the team, rather than the team being part of the community, which is what commercialization has done to the game today), and many players held side jobs because baseball players didn’t get paid a lot of money. It is possible that a baseball player worked at a grocery store and caught actual cans of corn, and then related this to catching easy fly balls.

Folk Superstition

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Fairfield, NJ
Performance Date: March 14, 2008
Primary Language: English

Folk Superstition

“Lending a bat to a fellow player is a serious jinx.”

“Some players actually sleep with their bat to break out of a hitting slump or stay in a groove.”

George told me that this superstition regarding baseball is really common and that baseball players are apparently very careful about how they treat their bats.  As he stated, there are a couple specific superstitions that players follow in order to bring good luck or play well in a game.  A lot of superstitions, understandably, are related to the items that the players use during the game.  Bats in particular, along with mitts, hats, and uniforms, happen to carry a lot of weight in terms of bringing good luck.

The first superstition is associated with a players unique batting skills on a team.  Each individual is chosen on a sports team because of their abilities and what they have to offer as players.  When a player has a specific bat they play with, or bats, they associate that bat with their strength, power, and ability to succeed during the game.  The bat is also like a token that signifies a player’s ability to help carry the team.  If players were to switch bats, it most likely believed to be bad luck because it carries the significance of another player’s skills.  Though this clearly can’t be proven, exchanging bats would be like trying to exchange vibes or comfort zones.  Additionally, it is probably simply more comfortable to play with a bat that one has been practicing with and using over and over.  If it is a bat that has brought the player luck and has helped them score, exchanging the bat could be believed to be bad luck because it will stop the luck.

This is similar to the second quote which associates winning/losing streaks with bats.  If a player is doing really well and helping his team win games, he might sleep with the bat to try to stay on that winning streak.  However, if the player stops playing well and the team starts to lose, sleeping with the bat might also help get them out of that slump.  Players most likely believe on that having the bat close to them will literally give them extra playing powers.  Also, some players may believe that the bat will send good luck vibes to their subconscious while they are sleeping.  Being with the bat as often as possible makes the player feel more comfortable with the item they will be using on the field later in games.

The reason these superstitions are probably so popular and common is that they may actually have an indirect effect on the players.  Even though technically sleeping with a bat or consistently using the same bat doesn’t actually give the players physical powers or lucky necessarily, it still has a subconscious effect.  If the players believe that the bat is bringing them good luck, it probably gives them more confidence and as a result they perform better during the games.  Though it can’t be proven, these superstitions are widely held on baseball teams and believed to be true on both a conscious and subconscious level.

Sports Ritual – Houston, TX

Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Primary Language: English

Sports Ritual-Houston, Texas

Ritual, Performer’s Analysis: Before every Astros baseball game, me and the other batboys would spit out gum, drop kick it from the dugout onto the field for good luck. It was for good luck, and the winner

For the Rockets games, as a pre-game ritual, all the ballboys woud huddle up on the court and chant  “THIS IS OUR HOUSE, NOBODY’S WINNING IN HERE!”. The ritual was started by all of the ushers at Toyota Center, and the ballboy’s adapted their own form of it.

Collector’s Analysis: Rituals as we have discussed in class are very common. Often times sports teams use perform a certain ritual to bring good luck or good health during the games. Ironically, in Sam’s first year as ballboy for the Houston Astros the team went to the World Series, with the gum kicking their lucky charm. Perhaps the Astros’ success explains why Sam and the other ballboys continued the ritual before every game for the following two years, even if the team did not do as well.

Baseball Tradition – California

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Jose, CA
Performance Date: April 11, 2008
Primary Language: English

The Rally Cap- Baseball Superstition

Although I myself am I participant in this tradition as well I felt by interviewing Mark, a NCAA Division 1 athlete, the collection would benefit more thoroughly. Mark has been playing baseball for nearly 14 years. I myself have been on many teams with him throughout that period, including little league when he learned of the practice of the rally cap when he was 9 years old while playing baseball in our hometown of San Jose, CA. Mark recalls the coach explaining to him the rally cap is used late in the game when your team is down and you need some support. While batting and trying to score the winning runs, those not playing in the game will turn their hats inside out and flip the bill (as displayed above). Marks states that this is the most popular form of the rally cap.

Mark sees the rally cap as a way to inspire your team and provide a little motivation to overcome the deficit and win the game. Why the rally cap is used for this is simple according to Mark. In order to succeed at the game you have to relax and let things happen. If you try too hard, you will fail. The best thing to do when you get up to the plate is be loose and let your body do what comes natural. Baseball is such a head case game that if you get down on yourself too much you will pay the price. When Mark is on the bench and his team is down he is always very vocal and supportive of the team making sure everyone has their rally caps on.

In my own personal experience with the rally cap I have come across several different styles in which to wear it. One other form of the rally cap is to fold it to one side and where it only on one top half of your head. By demonstrating different versions of the rally cap this tradition follows in proper form of folklore by having multiplicity and variation. The rally cap is seen in use from little league all the way to the big leagues where both fans and players will don the rally cap to provide their team with a little extra motivation.

I feel the rally cap is a very humorous and light hearted thing, the notion and appearance of the rally cap is a fairly comical one and therefore gets the players feeling a little bit looser and relaxed, ready to play the game. Although the rally cap does not have any true power, it adds a little energy to the players and it does nothing but create positive feelings amongst the players. Baseball is meant to be a fun game and the rally cap reminds us of that fact.