Superstitious Scrappers pass on shirt promotion

The players didn't wear the special jerseys because they perceive them to be a jinx.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- It wasn't the shirts after all.
Friday the Mahoning Valley Scrappers were slated to wear their tied-dye shirts as part of the annual Grateful Dead night.
But, just prior to game time, the players elected to wear their normal white home jerseys.
It seems that on July 4th the Scrappers put on the fancy shirts and proceeded to lose a franchise-record 11 straight games.
"That started off their 11-game losing streak the night they wore their tie-dye jerseys," said assistant general manager Dave Smith.
"Tonight we broke out the jerseys and they refused to wear them."
The tops were felt to be a jinx and some baseball players are notorious for being superstitious.
Others wore them
Instead, the ushers and several front office personnel slipped on the tied-dye shirts. Even mascot Scrappy had one on.
"We were brutal in them," said left fielder Mike Conroy.
"That kind of started our losing streak. We just didn't want to wear them again."
The team offered a guaranteed win night to appease the fans who wanted to see their players in the unusual shirts.
But the Scrappers lost 4-2 and the fans on hand get in free next Friday.
"The last time the team wore them it sent the team on a tailspin," said acting manager Chris Bando.
"They thought that they didn't want to wear the shirts again because they didn't want to go on a tailspin again."
Grateful Dead front-man Jerry Garcia would have been 63 Friday.
sullivan@vindy.com