Example Of Essay On Baseball

In the article Baseball Magic, the author George Gmelch gives an account of the rituals performed by the players before the game with the belief of good luck. Gmelch describes the distinction between two cultures, namely the American baseball and the baseball played by the Trobriand Islanders. He mentions about the magic, such as rituals, taboos and fetishes used by the players in order to control their anxiety regarding the loss of control rendered by unpredictable events in the game. The author narrates a story, which involves distinct opportunities of fishing and the way fishermen use rituals when they have no control over the environment. The article considers pitching and hitting as activities with highest degree of chance, unlike fielding. Although the rituals performed by the baseball players do not expect something to happen, they offer a sense of control to the players and enhance their confidence levels.
I find the article interesting as it gives a great background detail of the rituals used by the baseball players across various cultures. It is fascinating to know about the magic and routines, which various baseball players consider lucky to win the game. I agree that rituals emerge from exceptionally great performances. The way the author exemplified the experiences of various players has impressed me. I accept that clothing has a great role to play in the game as the numbers on the sweatshirts deliver great outcomes in most of the games. The article makes sense as it relates to real life experiences in a majority of the situations. It reminds me of the rituals, which I followed as a child before attending examinations and asking my parents for pocket money. The article made me realize how the magic used by the people of different cultures brings great results in today’s technologically advanced world.