In April 2013, a peculiar delivery arrived at Wrigley Field in Chicago: a severed goat head in a cake box. The delivery person’s identity remains unknown, and security only discovered the bizarre gift after it was too late. No note was included, but the message was clear: this was a desperate cry from Chicago Cubs fans, who have long engaged in various superstitions to break the supposed curse that has plagued their team.

As a lifelong Cubs supporter, I understand the lengths to which fans will go to reverse their team’s misfortunes. Throughout the years, I have participated in many rituals, despite never resorting to delivering animal parts. Baseball fans often engage in strange practices, believing these actions significantly influence their team's success. Missing a ritual during a losing streak leads to immense guilt, while adhering to these practices feels euphoric when victories occur.

During the Cubs' quest for their first World Series title in over a century in 2016, I stood in a crowded sports bar, sporting my stained Anthony Rizzo jersey, convinced that washing it could bring bad luck. I even limited my drink choices to local breweries to avoid jinxing the team. Thankfully, the Cubs won, ending a long-standing curse, but superstitions have crept back into my routine in subsequent seasons.

The question arises: why do I, a rational editor at PopSci, succumb to baseball superstitions? This irrationality begs a deeper exploration into the realms of psychology and statistics, tied to America's historical narratives.

To grasp the roots of baseball superstitions, we can look back to 17th-century Massachusetts, where fear and hysteria led to witch hunts. The residents, unable to rationalize inexplicable events, blamed the supernatural — a behavior not unlike that of modern baseball fans when confronted with their teams' unexplained losses.

Leslie Heaphy, a history professor at Kent State University, points out that humans have always been fascinated by the unexplainable. In the past, this often meant attributing phenomena to divine beings; today, we turn to superstitions when confronted with situations we cannot rationally explain.

Baseball, with its rich traditions dating back to the 1830s, has woven itself into the American identity. Although its origins trace back to British games like cricket, early 20th-century America rebranded baseball as a purely American invention, promoting it as a cultural export. This deep-rooted connection has fostered a love for the sport, allowing legends and rituals to flourish.

Among the most famous of these is the "Curse of the Bambino," which began when the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. This transaction seemingly cursed the Red Sox for 84 years, during which they endured heartbreaking losses and near-misses, fueling fan attempts to break the hex, such as bizarre acts of devotion and hiring exorcists.

The Cubs have their own infamous curse, stemming from the 1945 incident involving local fan Billy Sianis and his goat. The team faced decades of misfortune, leading to extreme measures like hanging a goat outside the stadium and hiring priests for blessings. Ultimately, they broke the curse with their 2016 championship win, but the shadow of superstition lingers.

Even teams without specific curses can experience bizarre occurrences. For instance, in a 2007 playoff game, a swarm of midges disrupted the Yankees, leading to their defeat and further fueling tales of supernatural interference.

The unpredictability of baseball — with its 162-game season and countless pitches — lends itself to chance and statistics. However, the unique characteristics of each ballpark and the myriad elements involved in gameplay add layers of complexity that defy simple mathematical predictions.

Despite advanced statistics like Sabermetrics aiming to demystify the sport, a sliver of unpredictability remains, where extraordinary events can occur — moments that give rise to curses or break them.

Luck also plays a significant role. Stanford mathematician Keith Devlin explains that what we perceive as “lucky” outcomes are merely the consequences of chance. While skill is important, luck can drastically alter the game’s trajectory, creating a blend of skill, chance, and psychological factors.

As Jonathan Fader, a sports-performance psychologist, notes, humans are inherently troubled by uncertainty. In a high-pressure environment like baseball, players often resort to rituals to mitigate this anxiety, whether it’s adjusting batting gloves or specific pre-game routines.

Fans, too, engage in rituals to alleviate their own anxieties about the game’s outcome. These collective behaviors can create a sense of community among supporters, reinforcing the belief that their actions can influence the game.

However, there’s a fine line between fun rituals and harmful extremes. The infamous incident involving Cubs fan Steve Bartman in 2003 exemplifies the darker side of fan culture. After a controversial play cost the Cubs a chance at the World Series, Bartman faced severe backlash, leading to public harassment and a lasting stigma.

In 2016, when the Cubs finally secured their championship, they extended an olive branch to Bartman with a championship ring, highlighting the complex relationship between fans and the superstitions that bind them.

As I reflect on the intricate layers of superstition within baseball — from historical roots and psychological implications to the rituals we create — I realize the need to recognize the line between harmless fun and harmful obsession. Maybe one day, I’ll muster the courage to wash my jersey post-game, but for now, I’ll continue to navigate the world of baseball with its enchanting blend of luck, history, and a touch of the supernatural.