By Cassidy Dover: "Superstitions"

I have been struggling with things to share!  I am such a storyteller; it surprised me that lately I've been feeling at a loss for words.  I think it comes from the fact that for so long my life has been, in my mind, described only as Ray's wife or Sheridan's mom.  I didn't think anyone would really care much about what I have to say.

So, Jimmy helped me out this week.  He asked me if I have any superstitions.  I really laughed out loud.  Then I called on some trusted friends in baseball and asked for their input.  In the end, these two seem to be the most entertaining stories to share.

Personally, as the wife of a (usual) starting pitcher, I find it imperative that Ray stay in a game for no less than five innings.  You need to have pitched five innings to be the pitcher of record for a win.  You only need to throw one pitch to lose, but if you can't last five innings than you don't get the "glory" of having that win by your name.  There are so many opinions on this point, but I won't bore you with those.  Let's focus on the five innings to be the pitcher of record.

With that point, I slowly evolved to feeling that I must stay in my seat and not move from it until Ray had completed five innnings.  As time went on anyone who came to the game with me, too, was bound to that metal for those same five innings.  During one particularly difficult season, anyone who spoke to me became part of the group who needed to stay in their spot. 

I would purchase beer, pretzels, ice cream, soda, for anyone who would oblige to my craziness.  If someone had to use the facilities I'd tell them it wasn't allowed.

Well one game Ray was pitching against a good friend of ours.  This other wife held my same belief (maybe I got it from her, she was the veteran wife back then).   We sat together as we hadn't seen one another in quite some time.  She had a suite for this particular game and we were chatting and laughing and having a great time. 

As we got to the fourth inning, Ray's team went ahead!  I was so excited!  Only three more outs and Ray would be in the position to win against his friend. Bragging rights were nearly ours!  My friend turned to me and said, "Cassidy, you need to leave right now". 

"But I can't!  I will after the fifth" I said laughing.

"No, I'm pulling the seniority card here.  This is my suite and my husband needs the win.  You can come back after our team goes ahead".

I couldn't tell if she was kidding or not.  I sat sort of stunned.  She was looking at me and waiting for me to stand up.

"Well couldn't I stay and we can hope for a no decision for each them?" I said.

"Nope.  You can go.  Come back after we get some more runs," she said.

I stood up with fear in my heart.  What if my moving really somehow affected how Ray's game turned out?  I hadn't moved for the first five innings in so long, and while Ray had lost some games, he had won some too.

"Talk to you after the game!" I said I as I left the suite.  I went down to the stands and sat in my assigned seat.

For the next three innings I prayed we would win more than anything in the world.  Ray did great!  He came out in the seventh and had held a one run lead.

In the ninth the closer gave up the run.  Suddenly we were tied.  There, both of our husbands indeed, had ended up having great outings but neither figured into the decison.

After the game the four of us got together and took our picture together.  I still have that photo and laugh at how each of us wives had been so certain that where we sat, and for how long, would somehow determine just how our husband's game would end up.

The extra innings of that game bring me to the other main superstition.

You are NEVER to say, "This sure is a quick game!"  You can't make plans for after a game, either.  If you do, inevitably, the game will go into extra innings.  Games that appear to be quick moving are like perfect games or no hitters, you must act as if you just don't notice it.

An example of this took place earlier this season.

In AAA there are no babysitters in a the family rooms.  Kids sit in the stands with their moms.  This can be both fun, and at times, grating on the nerves.

On this particular evening our team was down six runs by the second inning.  In the seventh I turned to another wife and said, "At least we'll get out of here on time tonight!".

"NO!  Don't say it!" she yelled at me.

"But really, our team hasn't been hitting well this past week, how are we going to get six runs in two innings?" I said.

Well yes, you guessed it, that very inning our team batted around.  We ended up tying the game.  The game ended up being twelve innings.

"See, you jinxed it" she told me.

For weeks after that when the kids would ask, "How many more outs in the game mommy?" I would look at my friend and she'd put her fingers up to her lips.

"Unless you want to stay here all evening again, we'll just wait and see."  We'd tell them how many outs until the bottom of the ninth, but never call it the end of the game.

I'm sure there are supersitions of hitters' wives, relievers' wives, and coaches' wives.  These two examples came to mind when I was asked the question.

So you see, not only do the fans and the players have their own superstitions, but the wives carry their own as well.

Thanks for reading!
Cassidy

Cassidy Dover has been a baseball wife for more than 10 years.  Her husband Ray, currently in the minor leagues, has spent part of 7 seaons in The Show.  To read more of her columns, just click HERE.  Cassidy lives somewhere in America with her daughter Sheridan.  Right now, they're probably waiting for Ray to come home.