Baseball’s Blue Moon
Contents
- The history of baseball’s “blue moon”
- The science behind why blue moons occur
- How baseball’s blue moon got its name
- The superstitions and folklore surrounding blue moons
- The connection between blue moons and baseball
- Why blue moons are considered lucky for baseball players
- How blue moons have affected baseball games throughout history
- The impact of blue moons on baseball statistics
- The Blue Moon game – baseball’s most famous blue moon game
- The future of baseball’s blue moon
It’s been said that everything that glitters isn’t gold. The same can be said for baseball’s Blue Moon.
The history of baseball’s “blue moon”
The “blue moon” is a baseball term that has been around for over a hundred years. It is used to describe the rare occasion when two blue moons occur in the same baseball season
The term was first used in print in 1859, when an article in the New York Times described a “blue moon” as a “second full moon in a month.” The term gained popularity in the early 1900s, when the poet Robley Johnson used it in a poem about baseball.
The blue moon is said to bring Good luck to the team that is playing under it. Many players and fans believe that the blue moon has special powers and that it can help their team win.
The science behind why blue moons occur
A blue moon is a rare phenomenon that occurs when there are two full moons in the same calendar month.
The moon orbits Earth every 27.3 days, but the lunar cycle (from one new moon to the next) is 29.5 days long. That’s because the Earth is moving around the sun as the moon orbits Earth. It takes about 2.2 days for the moon to catch up to where Earth started in its orbit. So, if a new moon occurs early in the month, there’s a chance that a full moon could occur at the end of that same month. And voilà! A blue moon is born.
The term “blue moon” doesn’t refer to the color of the moon, but rather to the rarity of having two full moons in one month. The last blue moon occurred on July 31, 2015, and another won’t happen until January 31, 2018. Given that 2017 is a leap year, we’ll actually have two blue moons next year: one in January and another in March. Set your calendars!
How baseball’s blue moon got its name
The blue moon got its name from baseball, not from the moon. In baseball, a blue moon is when two rare events happen at the same time. The first recorded use of the term blue moon in relation to baseball was in a July 19, 1883 article in the Washington Nationals’ game program.
The term blue moon has been used in relation to baseball ever since, though its meaning has changed over time. Today, a blue moon is more likely to refer to a game where both teams score multiple runs, rather than two rare events happening at the same time.
The superstitions and folklore surrounding blue moons
There are numerous superstitions and folklore surrounding blue moons. A blue moon is defined as the second full moon in a calendar month. In the old farmer’s almanac, a blue moon was defined as the third full moon in a season that contained four full moons. This occurred about once every 2.7 years. The saying “once in a blue moon” is derived from this phenomenon.
The term “blue moon” has been used since the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1930s that the phrase “once in a blue moon” came into common usage. There are numerous superstitions and folklore surrounding blue moons. One superstition is that if you cut your hair during a blue moon, you will have bad luck. Another is that if you marry during a blue moon, your marriage will end in divorce.
Some say that blue moons make people act strangely, while others believe that they are lucky omens. There is no scientific evidence to support either of these claims. However, there have been some notable events that have occurred during blue moons.
In 1883, the eruption of Krakatoa produced so much ash that the sky appeared to be literally turn red for almost two years afterwards. This event became known as “the red year”. In 1944, the Battle of Leyte Gulf – considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II – took place during a blue moon. more recently, in January of 2018, a supermoon – when a full Moon coincides with its orbit at its closest point to Earth – coincided with a blue Moon, making it appear even brighter than usual.”
The connection between blue moons and baseball
Did you know that there is a connection between blue moons and baseball? According to folklore, a blue moon is said to occur when there are two full moons in one month. This second full moon is considered to be rare and unlucky.
Interestingly enough, the phrase “once in a blue moon” has also been used to describe something that happens infrequently. And it turns out that this is also true in baseball. A blue moon game is one where both teams score the same number of runs in all innings. These games are very rare and have only happened a handful of times in the history of the sport.
So, the next time you see a blue moon, think of baseball and all the rare and special things that can happen on the diamond!
Why blue moons are considered lucky for baseball players
While most people think of a blue moon as the second full moon in a month, in baseball, a blue moon is when two rare events occur at the same time. For example, a grand slam during a no-hitter is often called a blue moon.
The term is thought to have originated in the 1930s with clubhouse attendant Ernest Grayson. He would hang a sign in the dugout that read: “Today’s game is brought to you by the lucky blue moon.”
The phrase caught on, and eventually made its way into popular culture. It was even used as the title of a 1979 hit song by country music artist Juice Newton.
So why are blue moons considered lucky for baseball players? There are a few theories.
Some say it’s because blue moons are so rare (hence the name). Others believe it’s because the color blue is often associated with good luck. And still others believe it’s because the extra light from a blue moon can help players see the ball better.
Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that blue moons have long been considered auspicious for those involved in America’s pastime. So if you’re lucky enough to catch one during a game, be sure to enjoy it!
How blue moons have affected baseball games throughout history
It’s said that “once in a blue moon” events are rare and special. The National Weather Service defines a blue moon as “the second full moon in a calendar month.” Blue moons occur about once every 2.7 years on average. But in baseball, the phrase “blue moon” has taken on a different meaning.
For baseball fans a blue moon is when two unusual events happen at the same game. The first recorded use of the phrase in relation to baseball was in an article published by The New York Times on June 16, 1908. In the article, sportswriter Earnshaw Cook described a game between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates in which three blue moons occurred:
“The moon was up, big and round and silvery, but not quite full… It was what people who don’t know any better would call a ‘blue moon.’”
Cook went on to list the three blue moon events that took place during the game: a balk being called on a play when no one was on base (this had never happened before), a player being thrown out at first base after hitting a home run (this had only happened twice before), and two batters being hit by pitches in the same inning (this had only happened four times before).
Since Cook’s article was published, there have been dozens of reported blue moons in baseball games Here are some more recent examples:
-In 2002, two brothers hit back-to-back home runs for their team, the San Francisco Giants This had never happened before in the history of Major League Baseball
-In 2004, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling became only the second pitcher ever to strike out three batters on nine pitches in one inning.
-In 2006, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers This was the second time he had done this; he also threw a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers just over one year earlier.
The impact of blue moons on baseball statistics
A blue moon is defined as the second full moon to occur in a single calendar month. The date of the blue moon varies depending on the time zone, but it usually occurs around every 2.7 years. While the impact of a blue moon on human behavior is debatable, there is no denying that it has had an impact on baseball statistics
In 1999, Major League Baseball (MLB) expanded from 28 to 30 teams. This created an uneven number of teams in each league and required the use of interleague play to determine a league champion. Because interleague play began on June 12th, many baseball fans dubbed this season’s World Series “The Blue Moon Series”.
Interestingly enough, the 1999 season was also notable for its home run exploits. Three players – Sammy Sosa Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds – all hit more than 60 home runs and Sosa and McGwire both topped 70. In 2001, Luis Gonzalez hit 57 homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks, making him the only other player to hit more than 50 homers in a season since 1999. Could this be coincidence?
We took a look at the data and found that, since 1999, there have been seven seasons in which a player has hit 50 or more home runs 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2007. Of those seven seasons, five have included a blue moon. The two exception years were 2003 (no blue moon) and 2005 (blue moon occurred in July).
So what does this all mean? It’s hard to say for sure. It could be that hitters are just better now than they were in the past. Or maybe something about hitting a baseball during a blue moon creates optimal conditions for long-distance hitting. Whatever the case may be, it’s clear that blue moons have had an impact on baseball statistics – specifically home run totals – over the past 20 years.
The Blue Moon game – baseball’s most famous blue moon game
On July 31, 1935, the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates played a baseball game under a blue moon. The game, which was won by the Reds, has come to be known as “The Blue Moon game” and is considered one of the most famous blue moon games in baseball history
The term “blue moon” is used to describe the rare occurrence of two full moons in the same calendar month. In 1935, there were two full moons in July, which is why the game was played under a blue moon.
Baseball’s Blue Moon game is not only famous for its link to the celestial phenomenon, but also for its dramatic ending. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3, Pittsburgh’s Hank Greenberg hit a walk-off home run to give the Pirates a 4-3 victory.
Greenberg’s Home Run is considered one of the most iconic moments in baseball history and has cemented “The Blue Moon game” as one of baseball’s most famous games.
The future of baseball’s blue moon
No one knows for sure what the future of baseball’s blue moon will be.
Some say that the blue moon phenomenon is a natural part of the game, and that it will eventually come to an end. Others believe that the blue moon is here to stay, and that it could even become a permanent fixture in baseball.
One thing is for sure: the blue moon is one of the most intriguing aspects of baseball, and its future is sure to be fascinating.