Earlier this season, the Minnesota Twins sparked their offense by utilizing a summer sausage as a good luck charm. However, the New York Yankees’ pitching staff has been thriving all season with their own talismans, in the form of scented candles. These candles have not only added pleasant aromas to the clubhouse but have also helped the team find success on the field.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Stephanie Apstein, scents like butterscotch, citrus, and bamboo now fill the air in the Yankees’ locker room, thanks to the starting pitchers’ love for candles. This trend was started by Marcus Stroman, who brought his candle-burning habit to the team when he signed with the club. Stroman’s calming ritual of lighting a candle before each start has caught on with the rest of the rotation.
Initially, the players’ wives helped in selecting scents for the candles, with Clarke Schmidt’s mother even contributing from her boutique in Atlanta. However, the pitchers now take pride in choosing their own candles and often take group trips to local stores to find their preferred scents. The players believe that the refreshing aromas and calming effects of the candles have played a role in the team’s success this season.
The Yankees currently boast the best record in the American League and have the top pitching staff in MLB with a 2.90 ERA. The positive impact of the scented candles is evident in the team’s performance on the field, with the pitchers finding success and creating a harmonious atmosphere in the clubhouse.