After 15 minutes of jackhammering at an estimated cost of $50,000, construction workers excised a Red Sox jersey buried in the foundation of the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx yesterday, putatively neutralizing a "curse" placed on the team by a "traitorous" Boston fan. According to the New York Post, the would-be hex was revealed just last week to Yankee officials, who took immediate steps to reverse what President Randy Levine termed a "dastardly act."
The perpetrator has been identified as one Gino Castignoli, who says the planting of Red Sox player David Ortiz's worn-out jersey in the Yankees' home turf was "done in fun," and "didn't hurt nobody." The Yankees beg to differ and are considering criminal prosecution.
Curses have long been a staple of baseball lore, which despite the game's emphasis on statistical precision is rife with superstitous beliefs. "Superstition is good for a ballplayer," rationalized baseball great Lefty O'Doul. "It keeps a player's mind revolving around baseball."
It's also good for marketing.
Read more about it:
• 'Hex-cavation' Is a Success - About.com: Baseball
• A Yankee 'Hex'cavation - New York Post
• High'Jinx' Hits Yankees - New York Post
• Baseball Curses - About.com: Baseball
The perpetrator has been identified as one Gino Castignoli, who says the planting of Red Sox player David Ortiz's worn-out jersey in the Yankees' home turf was "done in fun," and "didn't hurt nobody." The Yankees beg to differ and are considering criminal prosecution.
Curses have long been a staple of baseball lore, which despite the game's emphasis on statistical precision is rife with superstitous beliefs. "Superstition is good for a ballplayer," rationalized baseball great Lefty O'Doul. "It keeps a player's mind revolving around baseball."
It's also good for marketing.
Read more about it:
• 'Hex-cavation' Is a Success - About.com: Baseball
• A Yankee 'Hex'cavation - New York Post
• High'Jinx' Hits Yankees - New York Post
• Baseball Curses - About.com: Baseball
Comments
As a longtime Red Sox fan, I applaud the attempt to put a curse on the Yankees as a bit of payback for the 86 years we had to endure the Yankees fans contemptuous arrogance. However, I believe that the gesture was totally unnecessary as the Yankees seem to have been cursed ever since they acquired A-Rod!!
Burying the jersey was not necessary to curse the Yankees. When the Yankees tear down “The House that Ruth built” and move into the new stadium, they will be cursed by Ruth for 100 years for tearing down his house.
How stupid people react over curses in ballgames. Maybe they were cursed to begin with. Burying a shirt in concrete sure isn’t gonna curse anyone. If they truly beleive that then they are doomed to from the beginning.