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MLB·June 10, 2026 02:33 PM ET

Passan revisits Turk Wendell, baseball's king of superstition

The reliever who tried to bribe the baseball gods.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 101 min read
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Pennies = outs. Or: How Turk Wendell, the king of baseball superstition, tried to bribe the baseball gods. https://t.co

What happened: A new Jeff Passan feature looks back at Turk Wendell, the relief pitcher remembered as one of the most superstitious players the game has ever seen. The piece centers on Wendell's private logic — captured in the line 'Pennies = outs' — and the rituals he used in an attempt to tilt luck in his favor on the mound.

Why it matters: Wendell's quirks long ago became part of baseball folklore, a reminder of how far players will go to find an edge in a sport defined by failure. Revisiting his rituals speaks to the enduring culture of superstition that still runs through every clubhouse, from untouched rally caps to fixed pregame routines.

What to watch: Whether the full account adds new detail to Wendell's well-worn legend, or simply reframes a familiar one, is the draw for fans of the game's stranger corners.

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