Chicago Cubs Author Interview - Haunted Baseball - Ghosts, Curses, Legends, and Eerie Events
Haunted Baseball digs deep into territory in the game of Major League Baseball. Dan and Mickey go the extra mile to bring forward the ballpark
stories around ghosts, curses, and paranormal events surrounding baseball stadiums and the players that play the game. One a diehard Red Sox
fan, and the other a diehard Yankee fan, Bradley and Gordon bring out the scary, humorous, and heartwarming stories related to the paranormal
side of baseball.
View the interview with the authors of Haunted Baseball - Ghosts, Curses, Legends, and Eerie Events, Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon below.
What gave you the idea to write a book about ghosts and superstitions in baseball?
Mickey Bradley - Dan and I are both big baseball fans and we thought this was an interesting way to look at the history and tradition of the game – legendary players, great moments from the past, historic ballparks, etc. We also love those fun behind-the-scenes stories that players share among themselves, but which fans don’t always get to hear.
Since one of you is a Yankee fan and one is a Red Sox fan, how was it working on a book about baseball?
Mickey Bradley - That’s the great thing about a neutral topic like this – we could both enjoy it! In fact, I learned a lot about the history of many other teams, and got a new appreciation for all of them.
It seems to be quite hard to find information on the curses and paranormal activities associated with baseball. Did you find it difficult to write this book?
Mickey Bradley - We started out having heard the famous curses of the Cubs and Red Sox, and a few whispers about ghosts in Yankee Stadium. We really didn’t know what we might find beyond that, but figured a sport as old and as beloved as baseball must have accumulated a lot of lore. Once we started researching it, we found plenty of stories. In fact, more than we could fit in this book, which is why Volume 2 is now in the works.
How long did it take to research the book?
Mickey Bradley - We spent about two years and interviewed over 800 major league players, managers, and coaches – as well as fans, stadium workers, and others associated with the game. it was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
Have you ever experienced any paranormal events?
Mickey Bradley - I had a couple of strange experiences while researching the book, the kind that believers might classify as “paranormal.” But I’m a skeptic myself – I think the stories we heard are great fun and often quite meaningful, but for me, the meaning is not literal. We wrote the book in a very objective way so that readers can decide for themselves.
How did you get players, coaches, and MLB executives to open up about the superstitions, paranormal encounters, and curses?
Mickey Bradley - We expected that some might be reluctant to share stories that were really “out there,” but the vast majority were perfectly willing to talk about this. It’s a topic they’ve never been asked about before, and some really liked that.
However, most players will not admit to believing there is a curse on their team, and this is not surprising. What Cubs fan wants to hear Alfonso Soriano or Derrek Lee say that the team can’t win? Lou certainly doesn’t want to hear that!
Why do you think superstition plays such a large role in baseball today?
Mickey Bradley - There are probably a number of reasons but I think the main one is that baseball is so unpredictable – unlikely hitting streaks, long 0-fer stretches, bizarre plays that turn the game around – that players quickly realize logic cannot explain everything that happens on the field. They start looking outside logic for explanations.
You make many references to legends of curses and superstitions that surround the Cubs and Wrigley Field. Do you think they are the considered to be the most 'cursed' and haunted team in professional sports?
Mickey Bradley - They are probably the team we heard the most about – I think they figure in more chapters than any other team. Which is a testament to their incredibly rich history and the cultural monument that is Wrigley Field. In addition to the famous Billy Goat curse, we heard about ghosts in the ballpark, strange activities in the middle of the night, fans spreading the ashes of loved ones on the field, etc. In 1998, the Tribune Company even brought ghost hunters into Wrigley to check for the spirit of Harry Carey.
What baseball player seemed to have the strangest encounters with the paranormal?
Mickey Bradley - That’s a tough call, but Johnny Damon stands out as one of the strongest believers. He says there are ghosts in Yankee Stadium and that the Curse of the Bambino torpedoed the Red Sox when he was with them in 2003. He also claims a first-hand encounter with a ghost in his home in Florida.
What surprised you most when researching the book?
Mickey Bradley - For me it was the range of the stories. We expected to find “chilling” tales, which we did. But there were also funny stories and even heartwarming ones. For instance, we heard a number of stories connected to 9/11 and the healing role of baseball after the attacks.
I think that says something about how meaningful the sport is beyond all the stats and rules and records. It’s part of our culture and our lives, and no one should be surprised that these colorful stories have developed over time.
CBB thanks Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon and and appreciates their time. Purchase the book through Amazon.com
.
View the interview with the authors of Haunted Baseball - Ghosts, Curses, Legends, and Eerie Events, Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon below.
What gave you the idea to write a book about ghosts and superstitions in baseball?
Mickey Bradley - Dan and I are both big baseball fans and we thought this was an interesting way to look at the history and tradition of the game – legendary players, great moments from the past, historic ballparks, etc. We also love those fun behind-the-scenes stories that players share among themselves, but which fans don’t always get to hear.
Since one of you is a Yankee fan and one is a Red Sox fan, how was it working on a book about baseball?
Mickey Bradley - That’s the great thing about a neutral topic like this – we could both enjoy it! In fact, I learned a lot about the history of many other teams, and got a new appreciation for all of them.
It seems to be quite hard to find information on the curses and paranormal activities associated with baseball. Did you find it difficult to write this book?
Mickey Bradley - We started out having heard the famous curses of the Cubs and Red Sox, and a few whispers about ghosts in Yankee Stadium. We really didn’t know what we might find beyond that, but figured a sport as old and as beloved as baseball must have accumulated a lot of lore. Once we started researching it, we found plenty of stories. In fact, more than we could fit in this book, which is why Volume 2 is now in the works.
How long did it take to research the book?
Mickey Bradley - We spent about two years and interviewed over 800 major league players, managers, and coaches – as well as fans, stadium workers, and others associated with the game. it was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
Have you ever experienced any paranormal events?
Mickey Bradley - I had a couple of strange experiences while researching the book, the kind that believers might classify as “paranormal.” But I’m a skeptic myself – I think the stories we heard are great fun and often quite meaningful, but for me, the meaning is not literal. We wrote the book in a very objective way so that readers can decide for themselves.
How did you get players, coaches, and MLB executives to open up about the superstitions, paranormal encounters, and curses?
Mickey Bradley - We expected that some might be reluctant to share stories that were really “out there,” but the vast majority were perfectly willing to talk about this. It’s a topic they’ve never been asked about before, and some really liked that.
However, most players will not admit to believing there is a curse on their team, and this is not surprising. What Cubs fan wants to hear Alfonso Soriano or Derrek Lee say that the team can’t win? Lou certainly doesn’t want to hear that!
Why do you think superstition plays such a large role in baseball today?
Mickey Bradley - There are probably a number of reasons but I think the main one is that baseball is so unpredictable – unlikely hitting streaks, long 0-fer stretches, bizarre plays that turn the game around – that players quickly realize logic cannot explain everything that happens on the field. They start looking outside logic for explanations.
You make many references to legends of curses and superstitions that surround the Cubs and Wrigley Field. Do you think they are the considered to be the most 'cursed' and haunted team in professional sports?
Mickey Bradley - They are probably the team we heard the most about – I think they figure in more chapters than any other team. Which is a testament to their incredibly rich history and the cultural monument that is Wrigley Field. In addition to the famous Billy Goat curse, we heard about ghosts in the ballpark, strange activities in the middle of the night, fans spreading the ashes of loved ones on the field, etc. In 1998, the Tribune Company even brought ghost hunters into Wrigley to check for the spirit of Harry Carey.
What baseball player seemed to have the strangest encounters with the paranormal?
Mickey Bradley - That’s a tough call, but Johnny Damon stands out as one of the strongest believers. He says there are ghosts in Yankee Stadium and that the Curse of the Bambino torpedoed the Red Sox when he was with them in 2003. He also claims a first-hand encounter with a ghost in his home in Florida.
What surprised you most when researching the book?
Mickey Bradley - For me it was the range of the stories. We expected to find “chilling” tales, which we did. But there were also funny stories and even heartwarming ones. For instance, we heard a number of stories connected to 9/11 and the healing role of baseball after the attacks.
I think that says something about how meaningful the sport is beyond all the stats and rules and records. It’s part of our culture and our lives, and no one should be surprised that these colorful stories have developed over time.
CBB thanks Mickey Bradley and Dan Gordon and and appreciates their time. Purchase the book through Amazon.com
.
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