Johnny Evers “Ardent Worshipper of Hoodoo Lore”
Edward Lyell Fox was a war correspondent in World War I; after the war he was accused of taking money to write stories favorable to the German government. Before that he wrote extensively about baseball for several American magazines.
In 1910, writing for “The Columbian Magazine”, Fox interviewed Johnny Evers of the Chicago Cubs about the “almost unbelievable efforts made by ballplayers to offset what they firmly believe to be ‘hoodoos.’”
Evers was one of the most superstitious players in the game, “an ardent worshipper of voodoo lore,” according to Fox, and Evers said the Cubs “are more superstitious than any team in the big leagues,” and that manager Frank Chance “is one of the most ardent respecters of diamond ‘hoodoos.’”
It’s not certain that Evers’ claim that “most players firmly believe in,” the superstitious he listed for Fox, but it’s clear he believed them:
“If any inning is favorable to a player, he will try to lay his glove down on the same spot where he had placed it the inning before.
“While going to different parks in cars, the sight of a funeral cortege is always regarded as an ill omen.”
Evers also said the sight of a handicapped person was also an “ill omen…unless you toss him a coin.”
On the other hand Evers said a wagon load of empty barrels was a sign of good luck.
Johnny Evers,
“Too much of a Good Thing”
Even in baseball’s infancy that were critics that said the popularity of the game was “too much of a good thing.”
In September of 1865 The Philadelphia Inquirer editorialized:
“Let us take, for instance, the base ball (sic) pastime, which is now assuming the proportions of a violent and widespread mania.”
The culprit, according to the editorial, was the athletic club teams that were growing in popularity and no longer “satisfied with a game or two a week.”
“(S)ome of these associations devote, three, four or five days at a time to their games; that they are not satisfied with playing on their own grounds for their own benefit and amusement, but that they thirst for popular applause, and are rapidly transforming their members into professional athletes…They issue their challenges, and hotly contend for mastery with clubs belonging to other cities.”
The Inquirer did predict one aspect of baseball’s new popularity:
“It can be easily seen that this spirit must soon lead on to gambling. So far the only prize of the base ball and cricket matches has been a ball or some implement of the game, but private wagers have undoubtedly been laid upon the playing of certain clubs, and money has changed hands upon results.”
The Enquirer was also concerned that the game defied “common sense” because “during the heats of summer violent bodily exercise should be avoided; but upon this subject common sense and the base ball mania seem to be sadly at variance.”
The editorial concluded that “the young men,” make sure “they do not depreciate themselves to the level of prize fighters or jockeys, who expend their vim on horse races and matches made for money.”
Athletic of Philadelphia versus Atlantic of Brooklyn, in Philadelphia October 30, 1865–“a violent and widespread mania.”
Odds, 1896
Early in 1896 The New York Sun reported on “an early development of interest.” A local bookmaker had issued odds on the 1896 National League race:
“He lays odds of 3 to 1 against Baltimore finishing first; 7 to 2 against Cleveland and Boston; 4 to 1 Philadelphia and New York; 7 to 1 Chicago; 8 to 1 Brooklyn and Pittsburgh; 15 to 1 Cincinnati; 40 to 1 Louisville; 100 to 1 Washington, while (Christian Friedrich “Chris”) von der Ahe’s outfit (St. Louis) is the extreme outsider on the list. Any lover of the German band can wager any amount and “write his own ticket.”
The final standings:
1. Baltimore Orioles
2. Cleveland Spiders
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Boston Beaneaters
5. Chicago Colts
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
7. New York Giants
8. Philadelphia Phillies
9. Washington Senators
10. Brooklyn Bridegrooms
11. St. Louis Browns
12. Louisville Colonels
1896 Orioles, 3 to 1 favorites, won the National League Championship.
Baseball History Daily 
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