Undoubtedly, former umpire Ron Luciano, who puts little stock in superstition, speaks for many. “Wearing a hat some silly way can’t possibly bring good luck,” says the arbiter. “The only things that really work are talent, hard work, and sitting with your right leg crossing your left knee, with your arms folded across your chest.”

Jack Connelly, a retired schoolteacher based in Webster, New York, has written
frequently about the national pastime.