Even those who have never played baseball or watched a game will likely have heard of Babe Ruth and his curse.
George, for that was his Sunday name, is mostly associated with two teams.
The Boston Red Sox, where he made his name, and the New York Yankees to where he was traded and became a superstar.
But he actually hailed for Baltimore and started out with the Baltimore Oriioles.
And it is the Maryland city where you will find the Babe Ruth birthplace and museum.
On this day back in 1935 the Babe retired at the age of 40 with all manner of records to his name.
His records were to last long after his death alas too early at the age of 53.
And his reputation would grow with the years.
Not least because the Red Sox did not win a World Series after he left only breaking that 86-year run in 2004.
As is the way with these sporting sensations, and readers will know about the curse around the Philadelphia teams, there is a Bostonian superstition too.
A ‘reverse curve’ road sign on Longfellow Bridge over the busy Storrow Drive was graffittied.
And it came to read the ‘Reverse the Curse’ and it was left in place until the hoodoo was broken.
After which the sign was edited to read ‘Reversed Curse.’
You want to hear about some other curses from across sport? Thought you did.
Ghoulish Gaels
Mayo Gaelic Football team: And in superstitious Ireland it comes as little surprise that there is a curse hanging over Mayo.
The story goes that following their last All-Ireland victory in 1951 the returning heroes failed to wait quietly for a funeral cortege to pass.
And that the presiding priest pledged that they would never win another Sam Maguire Cup until all that team had died.
Mayo have played in the final ten times since without success.
And while Pat Prendergast and Mick Loftus defy the Grim Reaper we doubt they will.
Romani revenge
Birmingham City FC: And you can take your pick of gipsy curses on football teams but it might be because we’re fans of Peaky Blinders that we’re going for this one.
Birmingham lived to regret building their new ground back in 1906 on gipsy land .
When they were cursed not to win a major trophy for 100 years.
High-profile managers Ron Saunders and Barry Fry tried to break the curse.
Saunders putting crucifixes on the floodlights and painting the soles of the players’ boots red.
While Fry urinated in the four corners of the pitch, supposedly because a clairvoyant told him so.
In 2011 Alex McLeish who had no need to empty his bladder there led the Blues to the 2011 League Cup.
Talladega tremors
Talladega Superspeedway: And, of course, it’s never good to build on an Indian Reservation.
Drivers have been known to hear voices as they steered their cars around the Alabama track.
Although petrolhead fans just say it adds to the appeal of the races.
Duck, it’s Drake
Drake and sport: And this is more a sports-mad rapper being a Jonah rather than a curse but the Torontonian is in because he’s showbiz.
The musician brings bad luck on whoever he supports.
Whether it’s Paris Saint-Germain, UFC champ Conor McGregor, boxing king Anthony Joshua, Manchester City footballer Sergio Aguero or basketball great Kevin Durant.
These strange turns of luck might just all be in God’s Plan.
But Drake wasn’t taking any chances when he used the curse against him.
And he wore a pair of Philadelphia 76ers shorts when watching the Pennsylvanians against his home Toronto Raptors.
The oft-times cursed Philly sports fans really needed that and lost!
So we’ve given you Babe Ruth and his curse and a few others.
But what’s your fave and let’s hope your sports team has lifted it?
